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Is this Sweet Itch?; my horse is going bald!
Topic Started: May 8 2007, 07:30 AM (203 Views)
DropTheGloves
Schooling
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My guy started losing hair at the girth area and it has progressed to his flanks, neck, saddle area, croup and near his tail. He does itch his neck and tail, but he's not losing mane or tail hair. He developed something similar this time last year, but not to this degree and it eventually went away. He does have seasonal allergies, I'm guessing the two are related?

I haven't noticed him scratching or rolling excessively and he doesn't have any scabs or open sores. The areas missing hair are slightly flaky. At the moment I'm using Muck-Itch and he is on HistALL. Does this sound like Sweet Itch or more like a fungal infection? Should I try bathing him with Betadine? Can anyone recommend any other products to try? There hasn't been any change in his attitude and he's eating normal he's just... hairless! Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!! If it doesn't look like it's clearing up I'll put a call in to the vet.
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Corey94
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Yikes! Not sure what that is...

I may be wrong, but I thought sweet itch was the cruddy scabs on their belly line. Mine gets it in the spring time, and I sorta treat it like scratches. I think it's allergy related for my boy.

Seems like his skin is dry, maybe the muck itch stuff is drying him out and making things worse? I'm not familiar with it, but I know some stuff for crud is pretty drying. Washing with soap a lot can do the same thing.

Sorry, I'm all out of ideas. Good luck. Hopefull someone will have a better take on the subject...
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mintyfresh
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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I have no clue if this is related but I had something similar with my older guy last fall.

He started going bald all over his body except his mane and tail. I let it go for a bit seeing if it would clear up but since this was the time of year when he should have been growing a coat (and he grows an impressive winter coat) I called the vet after about 2 weeks.

The vet came out, said it happens sometimes in older horses, and took a blood sample. Of course, horses being horses about 2 days after the vet was here, before the blood sample even came back, he stopped losing his hair and started growing his (impressive) winter coat.

The blood test did show a VERY slightly raised thyroid level. The vet said that sometimes that can happen in either the fall or the spring and it's nothing to worry about and he wouldn't even bother treating it as long as it cleared up after a couple of weeks.

I don't know how old your guy is but maybe it's something along those lines?
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DropTheGloves
Schooling
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Thanks for the replies! I'm starting to think it is age related. He'll be 24 on Friday. I'll just keep an eye on him and if it doesn't improve I'll have the vet out.
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