moist bleeding welts... unknown cause??

[judesong]

Please can anyone help? My poor horse is in a sorry state covered in moist bleeding welts all over his body. The hair, matted with pus, comes away from the skin leaving red raw patches approx 1 inch in size. It seems to be a recurring problem at this time of year - ie. winter.

I have ruled out feed allergies, rugs, lice, detergent allergies, and having spent a small fortune on vets bills, his skin analysis reveals no evidence of ring worm or viral infection.

Can anyone suggest what could be causing this as I'm desparately trying to ease his pain, but I'm going out of my mind as I have no idea how I can help him.

Does anyone else have any experience of this? I can't think what kind of insect could be prevalent at this time of year...?

Many thanks in advance for your help!! xxx

[Hugo10]

Really sorry to hear about your poor horses condition. Am surprised that the vet couldn't offer any suggestions on what it could be or how to help treat it?!?

The only thing that comes to mind is rain scald, although I've never had any experience of this myself sorry :confused:

I do hope you manage to get it sorted out x

[judesong]

Thanks Hugo - I should have said ... it's not rain scald either!

The vet guessed it may be some kind of reaction to a bite but could not diagnose anything more specific. It normally lasts a few weeks then clears up leaving bald patches, the hair eventually growing back, but this year is particularly bad.

He is turned out from 9am - 4pm but I have just moved to a new yard and his field is next to water... if anyone else can shed any light then please do!! xxx

[Skippys Mum]

I got some stuff which solved a similar problem I had with my dog. Its called Eqyss Mikro Tec gel. I got it off ebay and they do a trial size. Worth a go! They have a whole range of products to help skin and hair growth.

Also well worth using Malaseb. If you google it, you can get a spray version from America which is easier to use on a horse than the shampoo.

[Wally]

We had a pony with a similar skin disorder, turned out to be a staph. Aureus infection.

[artemis]

A broad spectrum antibiotic then?

[judesong]

Hi Wally, sorry but can you maybe explain what a staph aureus infection is exactly... I've never heard of it? How did you treat it? Was it recurring at this time of year as it is in my horse?

Thank you xxx

[Wally]

Stapholococcus Aureus, it's a bug found on the skin anyway that , in certian circumstances can cause infections.

If the horse is a bit down or has other mitigating factors th bug can attack and cause all sorts of problems.

Has the vet done a skin scrape?

ETA, the vet did a skin scrape and isolated the infectious element and prescribed annti biotics to cure it, he was prone to it in winter.

[judesong]

Ah that makes sense... thanks Wally. Yes the vet did a scrape last year and the year previously but has never found anything. I think you may be right though as I recall last year he did prescribe a course of antibiotics which he said was a precaution against secondary infection, and it did help clear it up.

But as there was never any definite diagnosis I was left thinking it was insect bite related and have been trying all sorts of precautionary measures as you can imagine... all to no avail!

Perhaps the move has caused the reaction... he hasn't seemed stressed at all but perhaps the new surroundings have taken it's toll more than I realise?

Anyway, this has been really helpful - thank you so much!! xxx

[Wally]

A change in environment can cause a flare up of something like this. It's one of those things, silly changes can spark things like Staph Aureus, and Strep. types of bacteria.

[Jenny2502]

So what would you do to cure this if that was the case??