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  Discussion on Patches of hair loss
Author Message
Member:
janieb

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 - 12:42 pm:

I accidentally added the following to a discussion of skin problems. Sorry to post this twice.

My grey mare, age 8, has developed patches of missing hair on her back--both sides, back end of rib cage. The hair comes off in little clumps with powdery material at the base of the hairs. It is progressing rapidly--areas are now the size of my hand and had been just a few inches two days ago. All I have to do is brush my hand over the edges of the patches and more hair comes out. I don't see the scabs described in the dermatophillus article although there is some kind of thin, almost leathery, material. (Maybe that is a scab--I haven't picked at this or tried to remove it for fear of causing pain.)No itching appears to be present. The vet is not available for a farm visit right now (we live 'way up in the mountains and snow is predicted) but I want to do something now before it gets any worse! Please help!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 - 7:42 am:

Hello Jane,
Your description is consistent with a very common bacterial infection called dermatophilus. You can read all about this at Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Rain Rot and Rain Scald: Dermatophilus.
DrO
Member:
juliem

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 - 1:47 pm:

I've been puzzling over a similar thing in one of my young horses. There is no scab, no redness, no real irritation. The hair just comes off in clumps and the base of the clump, which consists of several hairs at a time, is just sort of like dandruff. The clumps come off without pulling, just brushing my hand over the area and they come from the margins of the bald patch increasing the size of it. NO scaling or anything like that. Not even very itchy. But she has bald patches from her tail head to her hocks on both sides. I'm wondering if this is premature shedding before her summer coat has started coming in. I read somewhere, can't remember if it was here, about this and the article said it was symetrical, from side to side. I've treated her twice with ivermectin in case it's a mite or louse problem, but I have diligently searched and not found any. Doesn't present like any thing else in the articles I read. What do you think Dr. O?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Feb 14, 2008 - 7:08 am:

Did you see the pictures of the clumps in the article I reference above Julie? You may just be looking at a very mild form or possibly a combined shedding, exfoliation event. I think the important thing is the healthy skin underneath.
DrO
Member:
janieb

Posted on Thursday, Feb 14, 2008 - 9:34 pm:

Dear Julie and Dr. O.,
The description of the bald spots increasing in size just by rubbing one's hand over them sounds exactly like my mare's symptoms. I have read (and re-read) the article but because there is no scab or oozing, I am not sure if it is indeed Dermatophilus. Would it be safe to treat it with the Rain Rot Remedy mentioned in earlier discussions? Or would something else be recommended? Any opinion on tea tree oil?
Thank you,
Janie
Member:
juliem

Posted on Thursday, Feb 14, 2008 - 10:17 pm:

Dr. O, the exposed skin is smooth and free from irritation, scabs, bumps, redness, scaliness, etc. It looks like healthy skin--just bald!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - 6:03 am:

If the skin is healthy there is no need to treat your horses. They are losing there winter coat prior to the summer coat coming in. It is a common event (I think there are two other current postings and dozens from over the years) Hair will be following soon. I should have referred you to another article above Jane, Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Overview of Hair Loss & Irritated Skin the powdery dander and leathery membrane threw me off.
DrO
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