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Discussion on Problem lower side of tail
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New Member:
chrismar
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Posted on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - 6:19 pm:
Hello,
We have a pony here who suffers from sweet itch though it is only just starting now this season. Yesterday we found an area underneath her tail with broken scabs and puss. The hair in that area (on the edge of the worst area) was coming out very easily. She was scratching her tail earlier in the day so my guess was that she broke open scabs that had been covering the problem. As we were just heading out with her we washed the area with salty water, dried it and covered with sudocream. It was suggested to be that this might be some type of fungal infection. It does seem to be improving but I'd quite like to know what it is/was and whether I should take any further action. I attach a photo, many thanks. Chris
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Member:
paul303
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - 12:54 am:
You probably want to identify the problem as fungus or culicoides first. I dealt with culicoides for many years with my QH mare. She had it in a four inch wide line from between her front legs right down to her abdomen. She also lost most of her mane each season and much of her upper tail. I remember using Cortisone, benedryl, allergy shots, ivermectin, every cream and itch cream available to man and beast, and covering the areas. The one thing that afforded the most relief and prevention was Swat. We bought it by the case. This mare had it so bad, that she used to pull herself across the arena gravel with her front feet while lying on her belly. She would sidepass over small cedars in the turnout and bend them under her belly and rock back and forth on them to scratch for hours. We took to slathering her in Swat all season long. 1/4 inch thick on her belly, gobbed on her mane and tail, and painted on the inside of her ears ( which the gnats would bite bloody ). These were the years when Swat was available only in a rather violent pink color....but the relief it brought the mare was worth all the merciless teasing we took.
We have since moved to a place where the culicoides AREN'T, and the problem is GONE. .............of course, now we have ticks..........
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - 6:31 am:
Welcome Christopher,
We missed the image and it may help. If you need help uploading it see Help & Information on Using This Site » Uploading Images and Files Into a Posting.
Skin funguses do not typically cause purulence and your description is superficially sounds like an injury. One possibility is dermatophilus which can have purulent scabs, see Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Rain Rot and Rain Scald: Dermatophilus.
DrO
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New Member:
chrismar
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 - 12:29 pm:
I'll try that photo again...
thanks for the advice thus far.
Chris
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