Scaley Mane and Tail

[pasolovr]

Two of my horses have developed something on the underside of their manes. It reminds me of mange, very scaley and the hair is falling out!!!! Just had the vet out and he thinks it's an allergy to insect bites (specifically "sand flies" or as they are more fondly called "no seeums".) I'm in Florida and this type of allergy is very common, except that my horses have never had it where it usually appears, i.e. on their chests, face, ears.....I don't understand how it could only appear in their manes where no bugs can land, in the underneath part. They also have scaliness on the tops of their tails, but I don't see any hair loss.

The vet recommended using a shampoo called DermAllay EQ, which I have ordered, but I'm wondering if anyone has had this same problem and had any success curing it. This shampoo, from what I read, is just for the itchiness.

We've been putting MTG on them, but it doesn't seem to be helping. Maybe I need to apply it more often. Both of these horses have (or had) very long, thick manes and tails. My other horse, who has a thinner and shorter mane, does not have this.

What would be good to add to their diet to help with dry skin? I feed them flax seed with their pelleted food.

Any help would be appreciated because I'm dying when I see all that hair come out every time I groom them....

Thanks!

[CarolU]

Try mixing up a 50:50 solution of Listerine (or store brand) and baby oil. Squirt it on, rub it in, and see what you see.

[pnalley]

Carol said what I would have said for external. For internal you can give plain ole corn oil. Or you can buy something like Mirracoat. That stuff will make a wire haired dogs coat smooth out.

I would doubt the bugs are doing it since it is just on the lower side of the mane, and not where typically found. That said, the vet is trained in these things and actually saw the horse. I did not.

I have a horse that is allergic to no see ums. He rubs his chest, belly, tail & mane. We have found that he is extremely sensitive to fly products. For him the best thing is no fly spray or a good quality one (no oil based) once per week. When the bugs are bad he stays in a stall with a high powered fan blowing on him. The little gnats (culicoides sp?)are not strong enough to fly into the wind the fan produces.

He can go out at night (after dusk) or mid day. Just out of curiosity what color are your horses

[motorgypsy]

MTG is a sulfur solution which kills fungus and any bugs including lice and mites that may burrow under the skin and is a great bug repellent. You do need to be sure the scabs are off before you apply it though. It won't work through the scabs. It won't help allergy. I think it's also antibacterial but if not, the listerine is and will stop the itching also. I just use 20 to 1 dilution of lime sulfur fruit tree spray instead of MTG - a lot cheaper but wear gloves and it does smell really bad! You can add this to baby oil or mineral oil and put a cup of it in the horses bath soapy water. Rinse and the sulfur stays in the coat.

Let us know what you find out???

[pasolovr]

[ Just out of curiosity what color are your horses[/QUOTE]

I have two bays and a chestnut. Today I noticed that the chestnut, which has the thinner, shorter mane, also has some spots on his body that are looking scaley, too. His mane is also shedding like crazy when I brushed him.

I will try the listerine and baby oil and also will purchase the Miracoat.

Thanks for the suggestions!