dry skin patches on face

[Fraggle]

Hello

I have a Dales pony called Sam who is my first pony. He has developed about 8-10 dry skin (bald of hair) patches on his face including one under his eye.
Someone suggested it might be ring worm but he was only 5 stage vetted 4 weeks ago and none of the other horses on his old yard (moved him yesterday) have it. They aren't sore patches just dry and deviod if hair.

I've started treating them by cleaning them thoroughly and usuig purple spray and MSN cream.

Does anyone have any better ideas?

[Spydgal]

Try using some benzyl benzoate lotion (spelling?!) from Boots. You will need to order it a day in advance and it costs about £4.00. It kills any parasites that may possibly have caused the hair loss. Rabsha had some patches like this under her jaw and the only thing that worked was the benzyl. this is also the `baby' for dealing with sweet itch. apply it daily and I think this should do the job for you.

[Wally]

We use 50/50 paraffin cream from the chemist when they get baldy bits on their face. Works well with any sore bits and bobs, dirt cheap too, good for cracked heels.

Benzyle Benzoate will do nothing for ring worm though as this is fungal.

[chev]

Might be worth asking a vet to take a look if the patches are round, raised at the edges or scaly as sometimes ringworm can be triggered by stress (like changing ownership etc). Ringworm can survive in fenceposts, trees and is often found round cattle. It's treated with Grisofulvin, from the vet and is very contageous - people can get it too.

It's probably not but worth checking. One of ours got ringworm following a viral infection, whilst turned out next to cattle, but the three others she was with didn't. Vet took skin scrapings to confirm it and treated all four as a precaution.

Ringworm isn't generally sore so that's not really an indication. Make sure his grooming kit isn't used on anyone else till you're sure, and make sure you wash your hands after handling him.