Itchy....any ideas what it could be???

[BayBeau]

Ive got a companion gelding who's 33 years old, he's got a lot of hair and likes to rub, also loves a good brush, especially recently with all his hair coming out, I thought he was rubbing due to moulting (and so much of it!) and did initially check for lice but no sign.
Over the past week or so he got a few little patches where he's rubbed the hair away and it's gone a bit scabby. I've checked for lice again but nothing so Im pretty sure its not that.
Just wondered if anyone had any idea's as to what it could be?
Someone said it could be an idea just to treat him for lice just in case but I don't really want to if it's not.
Could be a simple/silly question :o

[oinkmoooink]

sweetitch? rainscold? give him a good bath in delicing stuff to be safe

[BayBeau]

yeah, hopefully the sun will come back and I can give him a bath!
Its not sweetitch, doubt its rainscold as he always has a rug on in the rain and its only little patches, he's got a bit under his chin and on his face aswell as small patches on his back...:rolleyes:

[kturner]

If he hasnt got rid of his winter coat yet, could he be itchy because of sweating in the hot weather we have had.

Bath with hibiscrub just to be sure. Mine gets very itchy when he is hot, and I now wash his mane and tail every second day, and he's not rubbing it much at all now. So I've stopped all the sweetitch lotions and potions, as they make him very sticky and I think they make him more uncomfortable. The regular washing seems to be working, which is completely illogical if it is sweetitch, maybe it isnt afterall.

[BayBeau]

Thanks, yeah I don't want to be putting loads of stuff on that isn't right as it could make him more itchy!
Hopefully a nice day will crop up again soon and I can give him a good bath.
I get worried about him as he's an oldie!! ;)
You should see his rugs where he's rubbed, so many rips and holes :rolleyes:

[kturner]

If it is certain places only, you could give them a rinse with a sponge twice a day, easy job. As you say leave the full bath for a warmer day if he is older you dont want to chill him, but maybe work on a few places like you would after washing sweat after a ride.

[Portia]

A friends' senior boy does this, poor chap.
Be careful what you use to wash him with. Speak to your vet, see if they have anything suitable for sensitive skin, as even those products marketed as 'gentle' actually contain quite a strong deterrgent! As such they remove all the natural oils from the skin, making it dry and even itchier. Whatever you do use, dilute it by at least a half - much easier to rinse out.

I've been bathing Mrs B with a shampoo prescibed for my dog (!), has soothed her itchy skin so much that <touch wood> she still hasn't rubbed mane nor tail so far this year!

[BayBeau]

thanks for your advice! good idea diluting things, thats what i've been worried about as I dont know exactly what it is so I dont want to make it worse by using the wrong treatment.
I guess it could be an idea to get the vet out but as its not really serious I dont want to fork out money for him to tell me the same as people have on here :rolleyes:
Fingers crossed for nicer weather anyway!