“I have this 8 year old Thoroughbred gelding who’s developed an interesting, mild skin condition.”…

It’s not apparent until he’s groomed or rubbed. When he is rubbed, it leaves these tiny whitish/gray oily flakes. It’s not dirt, and he gets groomed regularly, but it hasn’t gone away. I’m wondering if it might be related to his nutrition. We’re trying to raise his weight and he’s on a mixture of soaked beet pulp and flax seed and dry Safe Choice and soybean meal. I’m thinking it might be the soybean meal causing it. He just had a lot of blood work done and he’s perfectly healthy internally as far as we can tell. Advice?? Thanks

Dr. Kimberly Gryl’s Answer:

Grant:

It sounds as if he’s on a good diet, and that he has dry skin. Sometimes the addition of Omega fatty acid supplements can add just the amount of moisture to their skin and coat. This is usually in a balanced diet, but a little supplementation usually does not hurt. Corn oil at 1 cup/day (started slowly and worked up) is a great source of fatty acids. If that doesn’t resolve, seek further veterinary attention.

 

“My horse has scabs on one side of her body…?”

My horse has scabs on one side of her body. When the scab comes off they leave baldness where their scab has been. They itch her when she is a little hot. They do not increase or decrease in size. I have had a saddle fitted and have her own equipment. The vet has been down to look at them but she does not know what they are. Can you help?

Dr. Jack Sales’ Answer:

Hi Laura,
It sounds as if the scabs are localized skin infection. Bacteria or fungus can infect skin, generally. Skin becomes infected when exposed to irritation or contaminated tack or surroundings. Betadine or chlorhexidine shampoos are pretty effective in controlling most bacterial or fungal infections of the skin. When scabs are present, if they are softened and removed while you are bathing, the skin below them can be exposed to the shampoo ingredient and kill the bacteria or fungus. After the bath, a betadine or chlorhexadine ointment can be applied to the open sores to help heal them.

 

“He had all kinds of bare spots all over his body with a large amount of puss…?”

I went out to my horse this evening and he had all kinds of bare spots all over his body with a large amount of puss dripping from all of them, some of the puss had hardened and some was still oozing. I currently use Equine Solutions (for about 4 months). I washed and rinsed his entire body and removed all of the puss. He has not been in any brush or on any trails recently. Yesterday we were at a branding at a ranch that has a large amount of sulfur in the water. After the gathering I rinsed him off at the ranch. He also was drinking their water all day. Could the sulfur cause skin irritation? His skin was fine up until this morning and I had given him a bath with the Equine Solution the day before the branding.

Dr. Jack Sales’ Answer:

Hi Zack,
I would not think that it was the sulfur in the water that was the culprit in the skin condition that your horse has contracted. It could have been something else that the horse was exposed to at the branding. It is very possible that the horse had a severe allergic reaction and developed a bad case of hives and these hives actually broke and leaked serum into the skin. Other than hives, I have not seen many other skin problems crop up overnite and cause such a generalized problem. If the horse continues to develop pus from these areas and begins itching, it would be worthwhile to have a Vet check him out. If it clears up, chalk it up to a severe overall allergic skin reaction. I am not familiar with the ingredients in Equine solutions, but if it is a tamed iodine, chlorhexidine, or benzalkonium chloride solution, it will be helpful to most bacterial or fungal skin problems. I hope this helps.

 

“she rubbed raw, but now I noticed she is losing the hair under her tummy. She also has a few small wounds there as well.”…

We just got a new 98 Thoroughbred mare about 3 months ago. She has been rubbing her mane/neck and tail, I thourght she had sweet itch and have kept a sheet on her and put oitment on where she rubbed raw, but now I noticed she is losing the hair under her tummy. She also has a few small wounds there as well. Not sure if she has been rubbing there I haven’t seen her doing so and I don’t think there is anything low enough for her to rub her stomach on. Could you please tell me what this is and the best way of treating it? We do not ride her so it isnt girth galls. We have another mare who doesn’t have these problems so I don’t think its contagious. Thank you

Dr Kimberly Gryl’s Answer:

Amanda:

Your mare’s skin problems sound like sweet itch, but it could be other things, too. The best thing to do is have her examined, as many skin conditions can look the same. Your veterinarian may be able to do a few simple tests, like a culture, or may deem it necessary to do a biopsy. Sometimes treatment alone can give insight to the cause, if the horse responds. You should have her examined soon, though, as spring time is approaching and with it are flies, allergies, pollens, etc. Good luck.

 

“She has about a 2” spot on her mane where it joins the skin that has hair loss. It is flaky,dry but no oozing of any type. Then on her tail at the very top a spot of the same type.”…

We have a 12 yr old mare still with her 8 month old colt. She has about a 2″ spot on her mane where it joins the skin that has hair loss. It is flaky, dry but no oozing of any type. Then on her tail at the very top a spot of the same type. She is fine everywhere else and appears to be healthy in every other way. The colt has no signs of any hair loss. This has occurred in the last couple of months. Any ideas?

Dr. Kimberly Gryl’s Answer:

Patsy:

Your mare’s skin condition could be a fungal or bacterial infection, and should be treated as highly contagious to you as well as your other animals. This includes her 8 month old colt, who is far past due for weaning. I recommend you have your veterinarian come out and examine her, and take some samples for culture and cytology of her skin. Until then, you should not deliberately touch the suspicious areas, and always wash your hands before handling other animals and touching yourself.

 

“I have a mare that has crusty white warts covering her nose.”…

I’m aware that warts are common on young horses, but I have a mare that has crusty white warts covering her nose. I was told that eating a specific yellow wild flower is the cause. How about it?

Dr. Kimberly Gryl’s Answer:

Larry B:

I am not aware of any link between warts and certain plants. However, there are plants that contain caustic agents, and perhaps if your mare rubbed her nose against such a plant, she may have received a skin ‘burn’, which prompted a dermal reaction. I think the best source for you to find more information would be your local (county) or state extension office. They will be familiar with what plants grown in your state, and can offer analysis of plants for you, or direct you where to go for that.

In the meantime, make sure your mare is eating comfortably and otherwise has normal habits. Some types of skin diseases on the muzzle can cause discomfort associated with eating, as they brush their muzzle against feeders, fence lines, etc. Good luck.

 

“..he has started sweating under his 

neck and belly “…

My horse is a 20 month old colt, he has started sweating under his

neck and belly he is not getting down and rolling and does not seem

ill in any other way he is eating normal and has been like this for

about 3 weeks.  WHAT COULD IT BE?

 

Dr. Jack Sales’ Answer:

Hi Mike,

Sometimes horses can develop a condition in which they sweat in specific areas of the body for no reason. This is very unique to the equine. This can last for months, but will usually, eventually go away. There has never been any evidence that this is a real problem or could cause any serious problems. If he is normal in every other way, I would not worry about it. I hope this helps and good luck.

 

“should I continue to scrub it until it all comes off and the skin is now raw, and then apply ointment, or should I try something else?”…

 

I am the barn manager at a local dressage and hunter barn, Of course, living in Florida; we deal with fungus every summer. However, especially on one particular horse, the fungus is really bad. It’s gotten to the really scabby stage, mainly because many different people deal with the horse besides me. Anyway, what we have been doing it scrubbing it with a basic iodine solution (I’m not sure to the actual name.) We scrub it to the point where the skin is off and now raw. I was told this is what to do, but other people have also told me that this can get dangerous if not monitored correctly. I guess what I am getting at is, should I continue to scrub it until it all comes off and the skin is now raw, and then apply ointment, or should I try something else? Thank you so much!

 

Dr. Jack Sales’ Answer:

 

 

Hi Amy,

It sounds as if you are doing the right thing by scrubbing softly until the scabs softened and are removed, and then using the anti fungal ointment on the exposed tissue. There is a systemic treatment for the fungal infection that is helpful in certain horses that don’t respond well to the topical treatment. Gresiofulvin, which most Veterinarians can get and either treat as a supplement in the feed or tubing the horse with a large dose.