Patchy Hair Loss/Tail Rubbing

[areias]

Hey all, I was wondering if anyone could help me...
Today I went out to ride my 16yo paint mare, and I noticed she had all but pulled the base of her tail out...it was very ratty and tangled, and the skin just above the tail was scaley and flakey. I couple days ago I noticed she had some hairloss just in front of the girth area, on the shoulder, but I didnt think much of it...now its about twice the size, spreading into the girth area. I'd say about 5inches in diameter. She also looks like she's starting to lose hair around her neck/chest area. The hair loss could possibly be patchy shedding, because now it is shedding season for us (I live in florida, US) but i thought it was wierd that both symptoms showed up at the same time. She is wormed regularly, gets turned out during the day and is in a stall at night, and the stalls are cleaned every day. I've only had her since october, so I'm not sure if thats just how she is in the spring...

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I thought I'd ask around before having my idiotic vet come out.

[martini55]

Does your horse wear a rug? Could be the rug rubbing at the shoulders. Other than that all I can really think of is lice. Or she could just be rubbing herself as she is uncomfortable from shedding.

[notpoodle]

not meaning to scare you but it *could* be some sort of sweet itch (could you check with the previous owners maybe? they should be able to tell you) ... a sweet itch base of the tail often looks like a pompom, sticks out everywhere, looks battered, hairs all different lenghts and is flakey. do the other patches look like they could be rub marks?

julia
x

[areias]

No, she dosen't wear a rug, it's too warm :)

I suppose it might be sweet itch-I can't contact the previous owners, she was sort of a rescue case. But it dosen't seem to be overly itchy, except at the tail. I'll brush over the spot, and she dosent lean into or anything. It's not completely hairless, however, now that I think of it. Its almost like thinning of the hair in certain spots, like the hair's falling out, not being rubbed out.

But yes, the base of the tail does look like a pom pom. I don't know...perhaps I should just call my vet.

[RodeoDreamer33]

For the tail it could just be itching. A horse at our barn itches his tail a lot. Theres nothing wrong with him, he just likes to itch his butt against the busshes :rolleyes:
Here is something that would be worth a try if the tail is getting bad- http://www.statelinetack.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441773022&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302029993&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302024176&bmUID=1112576727542

but I would only use it while your horse is in the stall and keep it to a minimum.

After you get it checked out by the vet, of course. If that's all it is then it could be worth a try! :)

[notpoodle]

ive made very good experiences with Equineem by Bioforce (just google it, you can order it in human pharamcies normally!) on itchy tails. you could also try Aromaheel (www.aromesse.com) on itchy patches and scabs (also helps hair to grow back better!). best of luck with it all!!

julia
x

[entreat]

Sounds alot like ringworm to me. Which is usually a dry, scaly/flaky hair loss. Have a realy close look, and you might be able to see an actual ring (ok, not usually circular) of irritation at the perimeter of the hair loss.

It's easily treated with a product such as Vetadine (or iodine wash), but it can transmit to humans/dogs/cats. If you get an itchy red welt that spreads, you can be pretty sure it's ringworm (aka Jock Itch/Tinea). You can treat yourself (and horse) with any tinea treatments, but I found Vetadine to be cheaper, and it works just as well.