Help with friends pony

[Snowyboy]

They have a shetland cross whose about 20 years old

Sort of rescue case, not exactly but sort of

The vet has been out but doesn't know what's wrong - they 've taken cultures but have been told that it will be at least a fortnight before the cultures are back :(

Basically her hair has started to fall out in huge clumps

The vet can't say if its contageous or not

He thinks its bactrial infection of the follicles

They've told her to clip totally - all off

The bathe her twice a week in this special shampoo

This pony is in a wet stable as well :mad:

Cos pony may be contageous, they can't move to our yard even if a space comes up :(

"Mum" is really distressed - as you can imagine

Just wondered if anyone else has had their pony's hair fall out and what it was?

As I say, she is under the vet - just waiting for the cultures back

Family is really distressed

Its not mite's, sweet itch, scabies, etc etc

[Tatooed Lady]

are the areas sore? oozing? dry and scabby? itchy? just bare with no pain?
A friend of mine has a Shetland that rubbed bald patches around her body....and I believe they used Eqyss Micro-Tek Spray. There's also a medicated shampoo (Micro-Tek) to be used with the spray...or a gel that can be used in cold winter weather...anyhow, in their case, I don't remember WHAT caused the rubbing, but she looked really rough. Now she's a little fuzz bomb, no bare patches, even.
Good luck!

[NoviceNic]

If its bacterial its well worth lathering it in pig oil and sulphur. Could it be a form of rain scold especially if the stable is wet....

Why is the stable wet?? :confused:

[Soot]

Definitely try to sort out the stable.
We had two wet stables after gales blew some tiles off -- the owner managed to temporarily fix it by using plastic feed bags (inside the stable). It wasn't ideal, but they trapped the water and so the stables on longer got wet. At the first sign of the rain easing off we got up on the roof and hammered chipboard and feed bags and all manner of rubbish to the roof. It'll hold until the warm weather comes back!

[Snowyboy]

just bumping up for some more ideas as i can update with some more info

I have no idea where the wet is coming from in their stable - but when it rains, the water pours down one wall, its awful

They are on the list for a stable at our yard but till then they are stuck where they are which is sending my friend close to a nervous wreck over it all

I went to see the pony today adn O M G I was shocked. I need to get a camera up so you can see just how awful this is

She is BALD, and and I mean BALD. NO Hair at all. She has some on her legs but that's starting to come out, her face is patchy bald and her tummy is starting to go bald otherwise she is now bald all over.

her skin has these large flakey bits all over it, its like the worst case of dandruff you've ever seen and the skin looks sore

Her mane and tail so far are staying in but her mane is full of these big flakes of grey skin

The skin looks dry

The flakes are dry

The vet told them to put E45 on her, I've said I'd try diprobase instead as it works better on my skin (I have ezcema) and is less allergenic

The pony is getting really really p'd off now as clearly has sore skin

The vet is still scratching his head

Its cleary not contageous as no other pony has gone down with it

She was clipped last week as her the vet but her hair has continued to fall out at an alarming rate

I am off to google but still hoping somone here has come across this before and has some idea what direction to go in

this is very very distressing for the owner and the 5 year old girl

Honestly, its awful

[Soot]

:(
Well I doubt that can be linked only to wet and damp ... Good luck to the pony :((.

[redcomet]

poor little shettie! Cant suggest anything i'm affraid apart from sulphur vits to help the hair grow back.

[Snowyboy]

thanks

there is NOTHING on google worldwide

the vet is taking more tests of skin, hair and bloods as they haven't a clue what's wrong - I dunno where they go if that doesn't throw anything up??? If she becomes totally bald and the hair doesn't grow back would she have to be pts or could she become a well wrapped field ornament?

With no hair, I assume she can't go out in the summer? In winter, she's going to freeze surely?

I know that's worse case senario but if its a possibilty then I'll take the pony we have been offered on loan and keep Snowy (and not eat!) so this poor mite has a pony to love & ride - if things may go bad for the Shettie I'd hate to turn down the pony I've been offered as he's so good & that way we have 2 kids & 2 ponies.

this is just awful - I will try and get a picture next weekend when we go and see the poor mite again

she is pitaful to look at, its quite shocking

still hoping something will come up and they can treat her

the hair that's been gone for 3 weeks now (started on her neck), is still bald - no sign of new hair growth

[Trewsers]

HOw frustrating - I mean if the vets don't know then who does? Really hope the wet stable gets sorted - poor pone.