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Discussion on Fungus among us?
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Member:
Jgordo03
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 2:37 pm:
It's the beginning of the rain rot season here in the midwest and I've been actively washing my girls once a week with betadine shampoo, and using a rain rot concoction my vet mixes up for me every year. So I was happy thinking I had gotten the DrOp on the problem. That was until this morning when I saw that both girls had a few patches where the hair had fallen out and the skin looked dark gray where the hair had been. The patches don't look inflamed nor are they raw. I know it's not rain rot, so what does everyone else think, fungus maybe? I give them both supplements for their coats, enzymes, worm every two months, keep their stalls clean, use different brushes on them, etc., etc.
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Member:
Eoeo
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Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 12:56 am:
I have had excellent results with tinactin cream and the powder. Things clear up in 3 or 4 days.
EO
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 6:40 am:
Hello Judith,
I have to admit when I first read your post I cringed a bit. Probably one of our best defenses against skin infection is a healthy normal bacterial flora and we know that when lots of anti-microbials are used on the skin pathogens can flourish. The betadine use when there is no problem may be worse than nothing at all.
First, it is time for summer coats to be going and winter coats to be coming in. Just this past weeks my horses have begun to fuzz. If the summer coat is lost before the winter coat has come in you get symmetrical patches of hair loss with healthy skin and horses do have dark skin normally. Could this be it? For more possibilities with further descriptions to help you differentiate them see Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Overview of Hair Loss & Irritated Skin.
I have seen lots of these supplements posted on these boards with enzymes which is a total waste as they are digested in the stomach. Unless your diet is deficient there are no oral supplements that will aid the skin and that includes those with linoleic or other fatty acids. The number one way you keep a attractive healthy coat is you DON'T shampoo regularly but brush often with a soft brush. Rinsing the sweat off with cool water after a ride is good.
DrO
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Member:
Jgordo03
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Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 1:43 pm:
Hi Dr. O,
Sorry I should have explained a little more about what I'm experiencing. I have a black mare that is prone to rain rot, and I have seen a few signs of the condition coming on. A few small scabs on her rump. The area's I think are fungus are around the eye and on both of my mares faces where I don't wash them. I am most concerned about the area around the eye. Do you think it is safe to use tinactin cream there or should I have my vet give me something a little milder?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 1, 2005 - 6:59 pm:
Often around the eyes are the first to shed, is it both eyes on each horse?
DrO
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Member:
Jgordo03
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Posted on Monday, Oct 3, 2005 - 10:43 am:
No just my TB has it around one of her eyes. She also has three or four other small places, two above her eyes on her forehead, can a couple more below her eyes on her nose. I been using the tinactin that was mentioned above on everything except around the eye, on the areas I used it on I am seeing some drying and none of the area are getting larger. If it's not better by mid week I'll send a picture of the areas.
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Monday, Oct 3, 2005 - 11:27 am:
Isn't rain rot a bacterial infection? If so, why would you be using an antifungal to clear this up?
I could venture to say that the skin is thinner around the eye area and if it is seasonal hair loss it just looks worse in these areas.
My gelding had this in the spring and the hair has grown back without treatment. It was not symetrical...a little patch here and there on the face, around the eyes and some around the base of his ears...places where sweaty residue could gather.
Just a thought 
Susan B.
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