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Original poster

What in earth is this????

23 replies

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 04/12/2013 23:15

I noticed the a couple of days ago that one of my live out youngsters was looking a little bald on her face. She came with chronic lice, so I've been treating my little flock with Deosect on and off all summer. I appeared to have won. Anyway, I figured they were back, so I got some more Do, then went over today to treat the bunch of them. Poor little girl is covered in small crusty bumps. Literally all over from forehead to the back of her belly. They're weepy too. She doesn't seem to be itchy, she was a proper killer when she came with lice. you couldn't touch her. She's got plenty of condition and is quite perky. I've not seen the like before, and none of the others show ANY sign of it.
Allergic reaction? Rain scald?
The vet is coming, but I'd be interested in any opinions.

OP posts:
Mitchy1nge · 05/12/2013 13:41

no idea, sorry, rain scald is just mud fever in other places isn't it - does it look/feel like that?

Kormachameleon · 05/12/2013 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mitchy1nge · 05/12/2013 18:39

you ok saggy? how did it go?

hope you are not flooded, horrible out there

Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 05/12/2013 22:25

Well the vet came out, I was really embarrassed at the state of her, but he was great. Said he'd never seen the like! He doesn't think its rain scald, its not 'hard' enough apparently, and he's ruled out lice, mange or ringworm as she's the only one affected. She's reasonably perky, and really fat, so nothing systemic!
The verdict is a bacterial skin infection. Confused Its literally from the tip of her nose to her hips, top and bottom!
The result is, antibiotics, deosect just in case, and brush, brush, brush, to try and get rid of some of the scurf and crustiness!
Antibac/microbial baths would be useful, but unless we get a late indian summer, fairly impossible! Sad
We aren't flooded thankfully, we are on a plateau, but much of the peninsula is on evacuation or flood alert. Jaywick, Clacton, St Osyth, parts of Mersea... Its flipping windy though, being so flat! I nearly got blown over in the garden earlier!
Everything ok your end?

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Mitchy1nge · 05/12/2013 22:44

poor thing, hope she feels better soon - these things just happen don't they!

I let them ALL out earlier, it was so windy and mad, I only wanted one for the farrier and somehow they just all got out and then two trees came down and it has been a horrible day Confused hurry up Friday!

Lovesswimming · 05/12/2013 23:07

Awwww poor pony. My daughters pony had a bacterial skin infection. Hers was caused by bites that she reacted to. I suppose she could have reacted to the damage to her skin the lice caused or if you have midges at the minute? The antibiotics worked and she healed well

Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 05/12/2013 23:15

We are fairly certain its not bugs, for a start, nobody else is at all affected. I'm to use the deosect just in case though, so they can all have a dose. Im just hoping she doesn't lose loads of hair! Sad
I do feel horrible about it though. Ive been so preoccupied over my nightmare PG, that ive done nothing but check they are all still alive, sound and not bleeding once a day for weeks! This is definitely a recent occurrence, but I just feel like Ive not been paying proper attention. Sad DD is going to have to step up and do her bit too. Two heads and all that.

OP posts:
Mitchy1nge · 06/12/2013 09:32

please don't feel bad, it will soon get better

wish I was a bit closer and could be helpful (although I wouldn't be all that helpful at all really Grin)

Thanks
zooweemumma · 06/12/2013 09:51

One of ours had something that sounds really similar. They looked like crusty bumps and one was huge with what looked like a cold sore type scab. We clipped him, washed with warm water, scabs off and sprayed with hypocare which is marvellous stuff imo. It started to clear up straight away and was gone in a week but has left a darker patch of hair in the bad bit. I think it was a mix of bites and sweat and yuck Smile

Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 06/12/2013 09:56

Thanks M. I'm not much use either but I bet we would have fun! Wink Grin

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Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 06/12/2013 09:57

Zow thats pretty much what the vet said in an ideal world. Sadly she is a live out fuzzy felt and its bloody freezing! Confused

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zooweemumma · 06/12/2013 10:05

Ours also live out and funnily this happened when his rug was off for a day! A clip and a clean rug will help?

Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 06/12/2013 10:24

Sadly she's only a youngster and quite timid at times. I'm not sure either of us would survive clipping! And I'm certain a rug wouldn't survive my bramble hedged field! Sad
Vet said just brush brush brush.

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Mitchy1nge · 06/12/2013 10:27

at least she lets you brush her now? looking on the bright side Grin

Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 06/12/2013 10:31

Yes. She's a good little girl just young and shy. She's had a crap life so far, a bad facial injury as a foal, came to us with CHRONIC lice, now this. Sad

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Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 06/12/2013 10:32

She even let's me trim her feet' which is fun with my huge belly atm! Grin

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Mitchy1nge · 06/12/2013 10:34

how do you manage that? Shock it must kill your back

Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 06/12/2013 12:39

I have a very good support belt and they all have long feet! Blush DD is learning how to do it!

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ADishBestEatenCold · 08/12/2013 23:27

"The verdict is a bacterial skin infection."

Rain Scald/Rash is a bacterial skin infection Grin (it's Dermatophilus congolensis and does indeed also cause mud fever).

(Not wanting to argue with your vet who, I'm positive, knows heaps more than me) I do think this sounds like rainscald.
I do know it is usually (as your vet says) a bit 'hard', but I have seen a very soft case before, covering a lot of the horse, where the skin became quite macerated in places, and as the crustiness softened and flaked, it broke out in pustules, very weepy and at it's worst with the tissue 'tearing' around the pustules. Had it confirmed as rainscald by taking a skin sample.
Apparently, it's more likely to exacerbate in this way, when the coat is very long/thick and they are getting/staying soaked through to the skin (but not necessarily cold).

Anyway, treatment very similar to what you've been given (except our case had got so pustule-y that we had an injected antibiotic too), so this long involved tale is really just to say (as I'm sure you know) it is infectious, so watch your grooming kit and, also, we did end up having to get the horse really dry, so we did have to rug.

Hope it clears up quickly. It sounds like you really don't need this right now!

Mitchy1nge · 10/12/2013 16:22

how is she saggy? and you!

Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 10/12/2013 16:47

well she's a lot perkier now she's getting her antibiotics and her bumps feel a little smaller! And I'm doing just fine. apart from chronic heartburn Smile
You all ok? how's the bronco? Wink did you put him up for sale in the end?

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Original poster
SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 10/12/2013 16:48

Shes losing hair on her face where she was oozy, I hope she grows a new layer quickly! Sad

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Mitchy1nge · 10/12/2013 19:01

she will grow it back pretty quick at this time of year? glad she is on the mend and you are surviving the joys of pregnancy Grin

will never sell rodeo-boy, current sharer of old horse is willing to do lots more with him (regular work helps So Much but obviously is not always that easy) in the meantime he is getting used to the horse walker at least!

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