Bald ears...

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

My 5 have been out for the winter. Rounded them up for feet trimming the other day, and they look foul! Four of them have hair loss, thinning or missing, specifically in the poll/forehead area around their ears. A couple have a few small crusty scabs. One or two seem to have rubbed the side of their muzzle and one has a small bald spot on the front of her neck. I have checked thoroughly for lice, all were treated rigorously last summer when the coloured came with them and appear to be clear.
It looks like they might have been rubbing, but it's a little odd that its such a specific area!
Any ideas as to what this could be? I'm going over tomorrow to wash the affected areas with hibiscrub, which i think is probably a sensible place to start, and I could get some Switch, although Im not sure about using it on pregnant mares. I've not encountered anything like this before!
My paddock is incredibly buggy. Could this be irritation from the midges? It does strike me as being where the hair is naturally thin. Or maybe something fungal? They are really wooly and have been wet/dry/wet/dry for ages.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I was reading the rain scald thread, could it be this? They have been rugged in the worst weather, do their heads and necks would be the only bits exposed. No bald bits anywhere else.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Sounds like rain scald to me saggy x

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Would that be itchy? Old mare looks a little like she has rubbed hers. Does a hibiscrub wash and a good application of sudocreme Magic cure all cream sound ok?

[chocolatecakeystuff]

I think so... my experience if rain scald is pretty limited... strange that it would only be round ears, although the scabs can attract flies this time of year,causing more itching. Hibiscrub & sudo cream sounds like a good start? Although I'm only guessing here, but its what we used on the mare that came to our yard.... then a good going over with coopers to make sure there were no mites/ nasties hidden there.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Hmmm. I don't have much faith in louse powder, but I could I suppose. I might ask the vet about switch.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Sorry coopers liquid. The powder is the biggest load of pants I've ever come across. Switch is good :-)

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Got some Coopers liquid. Vet recommended. Bloody buggers are moulting clumps and are now really patchy underneath! Welsh A broodmare is almost bare from her ears to about 6 inches down her neck!!!! I'm going with the hibiscrub batches to start and then coopers poured on from ears to tail!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Good luck... you know I've been thinking about it all day... it could be the midges getting in furry little ears... I know my welshies only just started the big malt & has itched in a very similar way... hers is lice tho, have bathed (demoline) and coopered today...

Right from her ears all under her mane & a patch on her chest. The pony in the stable next door keeps passing the little buggers on. She looks so scabby right now!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

My poor brood mare has large patches where she had been hairless and a few hairs growing in, but it's by no means a new coat! I'm quite worried that she will moult out and end up looking like one of those hairless cats!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Well its definitely lice! I bathed them all in hibiscrub this morning. It took 5 hours!!! and didnt find anything on anyone, until I got to my wee Sec A 2yo. As i rinsed him off, hundreds of the little bleeders were coming to the surface. I gave them all a good scrub to get rid of their spare hair, and in the morning they are going to get Coopersed. I didnt want to do it when they were still wet. Then I will repeat every two weeks for a while, to make sure they are really gone!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Balls, blooming lice. They're such a pita! Make sure you get all rugs washed too. That was my fatal mistake. The deamon pony seems to be growing coat again in the balding bits so hopefully yours will too.

Washed her today with dermoline. She wasn't impressed but hey ho. On the plus side she's getting better at the whole being tied up malarky bless her.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I'm going to use Deosect next time. I will spray all rugs thoroughly.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I don't have a really solid tie up place ATM. I'd hate to tie a youngster to the wall and bring the stable down! I'm going to get 2 nice long solid fence posts and make myself a place to cross tie.

[miggy]

ooh interesting you found lice. Son noticed exactly the same problem with his pony at the weekend , just hair basically peeling off from ear tips and around the base of the ears. No scabs or anything. Cant be rain scald as she is a princess pony and wont go out in the rain (or the heat, or in the wrong field, or with the wrong friend.....).
Was going to frontline but might bath and use deosect in case lice, actually as typing my vague recollection of similar occurrence has materialized. we imported a little show pony from Southern Ireland, she started losing hair in similar fashion before lice emerged.
bath and deosect it is then.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I am quite and really. Mine are still moulting and looking balder as they go! I have treated and really hope that the hair grows through quickly! Shetland has stopped rubbing her face so at least the treatment seems to have worked.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Don't worry saggy, it'll come through quickly, the little deamon pony looks shocking on the moulting bits... but the bald bits she had a week ago have already got lovely pretty summer coat coming through :-) xx

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Thank goodness! I still have visions of ponies that look like those hairless cats!
Ive got foals due soon. I'd hate to god forbid need the vet and he saw them looking like that!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

They'll look right as rain in no time haha. Incidently be careful with deosect & pregnant mares x

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I know. I asked the vet about the coopers. I will do the same before I use the Deosect!