Dandruff

[Jo Haworth]

I have recently bought a Shetland pony to keep my horse company. However, he had quite bad dandruff in his mane and under his forelock there is a patch of dandruff. It seems to go along his spine and there is a big patch at the base of his tail. Any idea what it is? Could it be rain scald, or sweet itch? My other horse has also started with a bit of dandruff in his mane, but not like the Shetland, I use the same grooming brushes on each horse. Any help much appreciated!

[Mossy]

In rain scald the hairs clump together and fall out, and the skin goes crusty,flaky and greasy, with raw pink tissue underneath. It is very painful, and in susceptible horses usually occurs on shoulders back flanks or anywhere that gets wet. Does that sound like it? Whatever it is it sounds as though it may be catching so I would disinfect the brushes and use separate for the two of them.Sorry not to be more help. What does the vet say?

[Jo Haworth]

There are no pink sores, or any real hairloss, just flakesof skin in the mane, tail and forelock area. My other horse just has a bit of dandruff in the roots of his mane. I have not got the vet up yet, but will be doing shortly, ifit does not clear up!

[LC]

Our little pony guy has always had a lot of dander in his mane and tail. His skin has been healthy and his coat shiny, so I just thought it was from his very thick, coarse hair. I keep his mane and forlock thinned and that seems to help, but he's always had it (21 years) and never passed it on to anyone else.

[Wally]

It could well be that as he is a small hairy you just can't get to the nitty gritty with a brush. These little chaps also have much more grease in their coat to waterproof them. Dust, dirt and grease are a life saver to a Shetland in it's native environment. All ours are a bit scruffy. If in doubt or he's rubbing, scratching or loosing mane or tail, consult a vet or treat him for lice. If he shows no other symptoms apart from being a scruff, don't worry too much.

[Jo Haworth]

I spoke to the lady who sold him to me, and she is sending me some shampoo, in case it is lice. He is scratching, his tail and mane against the gate, so I think it is irritating him. I also washed his mane and tail, yesterday with tea tree shampoo and sprayed him with tea tree spray, and he seems lots more comfortable, so I will see how it goes. I don't really want to wash him too much just before the winter!