Is the
Sun making him itchy?
Q My Arab gelding is suffering from a skin condition that I'm finding
hard to control. It affects his legs, mainly on the cannon area,
and is much worse on the leg with a white sock.
All I can
describe it as is lumps or patches of off-white scum - a bit like
a greasy residue that makes the hairs stick together. I have tried
scraping the stuff off gently with my fingertips, but this just
makes the area swell. I also wash his legs after work with Hexocil
or baby shampoo, but it hasn't helped much.
He is constantly
rubbing his muzzle up and down on the particularly affected white
leg as though it is extremely itchy. He is also prone to sunburn
on his muzzle.
Could the
two problems be connected? Is there a supplement I can give him,
or a product to wash his legs with that would solve the problem,
or should I call out the vet?
A It
is important that you contact your vet so that you can find out
what's causing this troublesome condition. I think it's likely that
your horse is suffering from some form of photosensitisation - particularly
as the problem is worse on areas of pink skin.
Pink skin,
usually seen under white patches of hair, on the muzzle and around
the eyes, has less protection from the ultraviolet parts of sunlight
than pigmented (dark) skin. Grease, lumps and crusts formed may
well be all part of the body's reaction to UV light. Your vet should
be able to help you discover exactly what is causing this sensitivity.
It could also
be due to particular plants your horse is eating at pasture, or
it could even be a form of liver disease. Until you get your horse
over this problem, be extremely careful about allowing him out for
too long in bright sunlight.
There are
not many supplements that can help unless the exact cause of the
condition is known. Dandelion roots may well help and milk thistle
is also used to support the liver but are not as effective as more
complex formulae.
More
about Photosensitisation (2)
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