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Discussion on Fissures just inside the anus
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Member:
jwsmith
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 6, 2010 - 8:24 pm:
Hi Folks,
My horse rubs his tail. After treating the tail, at first, I checked his anus. When I pulled back the skin, as seen in the pictures, I saw that he had small fissures just inside. The picture doesn't show the fissures because they are very small and I couldn't focus the camera properly. I included the pix to show you where the fissures are located.
There are several - about one for every little fold in the skin. The fissures are about 1/4 inch long. The skin itself doesn't look overly red, but I am guessing that this is where his discomfort lies. Since I have found this I will use a clean wet cloth and wash the area, then apply hyDrOchortisone cream. I have also tried hemorrhoid cream as well. This so far is not working very good. He seems to love it when I clean the area and apply the cream, though. The skin looks like its giving way and separating. I don't know how else to describe it. He is on a pasture that is eaten down with no crazy weeds (that I know of). He is dewormed regularly, but I have not done a fecal on him in a while.  
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 7, 2010 - 8:25 am:
Hello Jeanne,
Concerning the lack of pigment around the anus was the horse born this way or is this developing as he gets older? Does this horse have other unpigmented spots other than the points of the legs?
The fissures that are visible are normal wrinkling but I think you may be indicating linear ulcers (defects in epidermal layer exposing sensitive tissue) within the wrinkles? Is this right?
I also notice a lighter, slightly pink area at about 8:30 that may be a irritated spot or even shallow erosion. It reminds me or a irritated spot caused by pinworms which cause tail itching, but any scratching might do it. This is something for you to investigate see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Parasites and Worms » Pinworms (Oxyuris).
DrO
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Member:
jwsmith
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 7, 2010 - 9:37 am:
Justin is an appaloosa, forgot to mention that. He has white on the face and nose, etc. so I think, "yes" to the unpigmented skin question.
"The fissures that are visible are normal wrinkling but I think you may be indicating linear ulcers (defects in epidermal layer exposing sensitive tissue) within the wrinkles? Is this right?"
Yes
Thanks! I will read up on the pinworm issue.
Thanks again!
Jeanne
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Member:
jwsmith
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 7, 2010 - 9:43 am:
At a quick glance at the pinworm info, I have never seen any of the eggs, etc. The skin portion on the outside has never been out of the ordinary as shown in your pictures about pinworms. Justin has never had hair loss do to tail rubbing either. I have not seen any dry skin, "bugs" etc. on the tail or on under side of tail. Don't know if this is helpful information or not.
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 7, 2010 - 9:32 pm:
In my experience this is pretty typical for pin worms, which in recent years have become increasingly resistant to deworming products.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Oct 8, 2010 - 8:01 pm:
Your next step on the ulcerations is to have one biopsied, besides normal wear and tear in this area is the possibility of squamous cell carcinoma. With the consideration this may be normal you could take a wait and see position to see if this is getting worse. The lack of inflammation (at least in the image) around them weakly suggests it may not be the cause of the scratching.
DrO
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Member:
jwsmith
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Posted on Friday, Oct 8, 2010 - 10:56 pm:
Thanks! I appreciate the advise. I wish I could get a really clear picture of the lesions/fissures. I will keep an eye on it. I think I will do the "wait and see" if it gets worse - for a while, but now that you have suggested a biopsy, I will look into this as well.
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