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  Discussion on Papules - Extremely itchy on body
Author Message
New Member:
sachet

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 - 11:26 am:

I have reviewed the articles and the discussions and cannot find any that address the skin condition my horse currently has.

Mr. W (his name) has an extremely itchy rash, which according to your articles would be classified as Papules I think. The rash is on the top of his back and sides, starting at the withers and continuing to the end of his body, more on one side than the other. There is no rash on the face, neck or legs. I've seen various skin conditions, and I'd say this resembles 'scratches' that horses get on their pasterns and cannon bones. It is similar to a poison ivy rash; little hard itchy pimple type things that are clustered close together. There is no redness and no hair loss.

I feel I can safely rule out fly and mosquito allergy as it is cold here and there are none. i can rule out bedding, because he doesn't sleep in a stall. The papules did start around the time I started feeding a new load of hay, but my gut feeling is that this isn't the cause.

If this is a bacterial infection, I think I know how it started. I clipped my horse about a week or two before this skin problem started. Perhaps he got a clipper rash and it turned into an infection.

If this is an allergic condition, then the only thing I can guess would be a reaction to detergent or softener used to wash the saddle pad or blanket. That's a long shot, because even though I may have changed softener brands, Mr. W. has never had any problems with allergic reactions to anything I've washed his clothes with.

To complicate matters, as I was helping him scratch places he couldn't reach, I discovered a few sarcoids; three to be exact and there may be more that I haven't found. Two had some bloody ooze, so that was itching him. The other one was dry, but it was itchy as well. How long these sarcoids have been there, I do not know as they are located in hidden places. One is directly in front of the sheath and the others deep in the groin. It's not place one generally grooms or feels around. Unfortunately, tonight I noticed he has some papules on his belly way back by the sheath. If this is a bacterial condition that spreads, I don't know how it could have gotten to that location. I have been wearing disposable gloves and sanitizing all grooming tools, blankets, etc.

I don't know whether the itchy papules and sarcoids are connected in any way, but I am concerned if a vet prescribes Dex or Antibiotics because I would think a weakened immune system would not benefit the sarcoids. I have also had a horse founder on Dex, so I am petrified of using it again.

I have an appointment with the clinic vet on 11/30, but I am not optimistic that there will be a definite diagnosis of what I dealing with and how to cure it. Hopefully, someone here has had a similar issue and can help. Is it possible fpr a vet to differentiate between a bacterial infection and an allergic dermatitis?

I have been rubbing Panalog on the Papules because it has worked wonders on scratches for me in the past. I am wondering if I ought to clip him again so that the skin can air out. Also I don't know whether to blanket or not.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 - 3:56 pm:

Welcome Sachet,
Assuming that the clinical picture is not clear from the lesions, skin biopsies can differentiate bacterial infections from allergic reactions. As to clipping and blanketing you must take into account the environment but having clipped him recently I don't think that is indicated. If he can remain comfortable without the blanket he may be more comfortable without it as heat will often increase the itchyness of some type skin conditions.
DrO
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