Neurotic TB?

[*Sez*]

My TB keeps coming in with big chunks of fur missing. Initially, we were worried about ringworm and treated for it, but it's not improved. I thought Jacob was probably bullying him, so started "armouring" him up in a HW TO rug and neck rug (my dad won't let me separate them to see if his coat improves :rolleyes: ) but now Sal is coming in with cuts in the oddest places that I don't think Jacob could get to, i.e. under his rug!. He had a shallow cut above his coronet band on Monday night on the outside of his hoof, and has little scabs all over his his rump and legs, as well as some odd cuts on his neck. I've not found anything in the field that he could be catching on and it's all electric fencing, so there's no hedges either. The worst bald patch is about two inches across on his side, and definately looks like the fur was bitten out. His coat is dimpled with little chunks of missing fur around his bum, and I'm starting to wonder if Sal is pulling out his own fur? My dad's siamese cat is very neurotic and plucks the fur on her tummy which was what got me wondering about it. He is still settling in (I got him at the start of October) and Jake is a very bolshy, bully-type cob, so perhaps he is plucking and occasionally biting himself out of nervousness or worry?

I've no idea what to do about it or how to prevent it happening. My dad refuses to let Jake go back to being turned out alone ("because they call for each other when they're apart") and if it is him doing the damage, no one else will want to put their horse out with him. If it's Sal biting himself how do I stop him?

[The Flying Irishman]

My TB went through a stage of having cuts and clumps of hair missing in the summer (was convinced it was my daughters bully of a pony) then it suddenly stopped, I just kept sticking savlon on the cuts and bald bits and he's fine now, I think it would have stressed them more if I had kept them apart and anyway he wasn't physically or mentally suffering

[Jessey]

I have never heard of a horse purposefully harming itself :confused: (I've been around horse for over 20 years) but I am no behaviourist either, normally stress tends to show more in traditional vices such as weaving etc.

From your description I would ask if he has been treated for lice? or rain scald? both can appear kind of like ringworm, bumps under the hair and eventually the hair will start to fall out leaving largeish areas of very sore skin, the itching from this then may cause him to scratch constantly until the areas bleed :( .

I had this last year, our old boy came in with the biggest chunks missing along his spine and they were weepy and sore (but under the rug :confused: ) it turned out to be lice, I now treat all the horses a couple of times a year 'just in case' :o

My other horse had rain scald on his head last year too (heck, all this makes it seem like I don't care for my horses) all between his ears the hair fell out (started off just being little bits but got much worse) and was really itchy, rain scald was the vets thought but we also treated for lice again just to make sure, belt and braces type job, but it worked. Oh and once rain scald is under a rug you have to treat both the horse and rug to get rid of it other wise the rug will just re-infect the horse, actually lice too!!

Best of Luck

J x

[No_Angel]

my tb had a accident prone stage for about 8 months. she alwasy had hair missing and cuts, 2 of my horses are above her in the pecking order, but they dont bite or kick, they chase them away and kick at them, so i knew it wasnt them.
its stopped now tho, she hasnt had an injury for ages (touch wood).
maybe hes itchy? if hes got lice,or his rug itches him or hes too hot, he might be rubbing on things to get it off, i know my cob and section a do it.

[*Sez*]

How do I check for lice? Is it the same as checking a cat/dog? I will have a look later. I don't think he's too warm, as this started when he was wearing a lightweight rain sheet and as it's gotten colder we've progressed up to a HW rug. I will keep an eye out for scratching, but he rarely rubs his itches when I'm around.. doesn't mean he's not when he's out, though!

What should I look for with rain scald? The areas don't seem tender or red.. they're just bald and occasionally a little scabby.

[Jessey]

:D Lice look just like the ones children get, so depending on the colour of you boy they may not be easy to spot at all, they tend to focus around the mane and withers and top of the tail but are also often found in the elbow/girth area, TBH de-lice powder or fluid is pretty cheap (I think about £6-7 for a large tub of powder from our tack store) and even if they don't have any its a good precautionary measure or getting one of those nit combs might help you find them, but its really hard, they look like scurf in the coat - its only when they move you know they are lice. Birds (chickens, ducks ect) are the worst culprits for spreading them, our horses are next to a commercial duck farm :rolleyes: Oh meant to say, just in case it is, humans can't get horse lice!!

Rain scald is just like mud fever but on other areas of the body, you get some scabbing and some hair loss then if it gets bad they start to itch it and it can get infected or just gookey. I was advised to wash the area with Betadine twice a day and to try and get the scabs off and to let it air, neck cover had to be washed so as not to re-infect.

J x

[H & Bailey]

sez- if you think its lice be careful what you buy as the stuff in the tack shops doesnt kill lice just REPELS it as tack shops need to carry a poisons licence to sell the proper stuff (it has perithmitin..well spelt something like that -the same sort of ingredient in flea powder).i know Wilton house vets @ guisborough theirs costs aboout £18 a tub:eek: but you can give both horses a good dose and the rugs.It is spread by contact so chances are if salsa does have lice so will jake.
if you part the coat where its warm eg under the mane and if its greasy scurfy and flaky have a real scrutinize and you will see little tiny grey coloured creepy crawlys..they are hard to see.this is lice.you need to dose a good few times so you kill the adults then again to kill hatchlings as powder doesnt kill eggs. you also need to soak your brushes in disinfectant and when dry put a bit of powder on as well.
if it isnt this is he maybe allergic to something your feeding?

[*Sez*]

Thanks! I had a look for lice yesterday and didn't see anything obvious. The older bald areas are starting to grow over again nicely, and the skin is not obviously scurfy or unpleasant. I had a quick look on Jake, as he's been scratching, but didn't notice anything unusual either - but then, Jake's always got an itch somewhere! I'm getting my RI to come and give Sal a quick once over at the weekend.

I've thought of the possibility of his feed causing a reaction, but haven't a clue how I work out whether it is or not :rolleyes:. At the moment he has:

1 large scoop of chopped molli
1/2 large scoop of cool mix
1/2 large scoop of speedibeet
1 1/2 teeny scoops of garlic powder (amount as advised on tub)
1 1/2 teeny scoops of seaweed powder (amount as advised on tub)
carrots and apples

4-6 slices of hay, depending on how early they come in at night. This is what his last owner said he was on, and I discussed his feed with my RI who agreed that the amounts, etc for his weight and build were suitable.

Do I just try cutting out either the garlic or seaweed for a few days and see if it makes a difference, and if neither of those, try the same for the mix and molli? Or can the vet test for allergies?

[Jessey]

You could cut out feedstuffs one by one but you would have to do it for weeks rather than days to be able to see, once its out of his system, if any new bald patches arrive :p

Just a thought, bread and potatoes when fed can have the effect of causing a skin allergy like Ezhma (I kow I can't spell :rolleyes: ), there couldn't be anyone thinking they are giving him a treat could there?

J x

[*Sez*]

there couldn't be anyone thinking they are giving him a treat could there?

I hadn't thought of that! I know a lot of the younger ones at the yard like to wander through the barns and say hello to the horses (and "awww..." etc :D ). Should I stick a polite notice to his door?

[Jessey]

I don't think that ever hurts if there are kids hanging around unsupervised :p not generally so worried about the treats causing probems, but missing fingers could!!! :D