Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

Hi Guys please help I have just taken on a new horse of whom has bald patches over his face, that is not itchy! I have tried treating it with antifungal shampoo and betadine on a daily basis, but it seems to have got worse I have noticed that the skin is black where it is falling out he is a chesnut horse! please help, I am now applying cornecresent (i think thats how you spell it) to aid with hair regrowth and I have also ordered a product called MTG from america which aids in hair regrowth! does anyone have any ideas as to why he is losing his hair on his face, I feel so sorry for him.

please only serious answers only

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

Check out these links:

http://www.horsecity.com/stories/061202/...

http://www.horsequest.com/journal/health...

I would advise you to refrain from applying anything to your horses skin until you have a clear diagnosis. Cornucrescine is great, but it will burn damaged or infected skin...

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

Is he in a paddock? Maybe there is a plant in there that he is allergic to.

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

Hi it sounds like it could be lice my chestnut filly used to get the same thing and I used to de lice her and it used to clear up! You should consult your vet theough!

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

Something like this will need advice from a veterinary dermatologist who will do a differential diagnosis but to me it doesn't sound to me that it is food related but a local issue. The skin structure might be changing. Mast cell degranulation might be occurring too causing the blacking. The antifungal shampoo would either have caused more sensitivity by drying the skin more or/and affected the commensal microbial/fungal levels. Looks like you need to find out what touches his face on a regular basis. Lots of things can affect skin so it could be a long process. The diagnosis usually finishes with an expensive skin test. If that fails then the diagnosis is usually called Atopic Dermatitis. Genetically inherited and an atypical inheritance pattern. Hope this is of some help.

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

MTG is a great thing to use but when you use it be sure to apply as it says, and not to get it in his eyes or mouth. This almost sounds like the horse maybe has fleas or had rain rot or has some skin condition. Some horses react to their foods you give them and some foods will make a horse do that. Try switching his food up a little bit and see if anything changes. Also it is shedding season for horses and their hair is coming out in clumps depending on the lenght of the horses hair so maybe he is shedding. On his face he might be shedding out differently and then he grows it grows back gradually. Age can also play a factor in this because horses that are older generally have not as good of hormones and something might be overworking or not working right. If MTG and the other ointment you just bought are not working then call your vet, because you dont want to risk hurting his skin or irritating it and having more fall out. The vet will know what to do. Hope i helped!

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

CALL YOUR VET!!! THAT'S NOT NORMAL!!!

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

The others have explained pretty well what it could be so I wont bother.

Please call your vet before you try and treat it anymore. What you think could be helping might just be making it worse.

Get the vet out.

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

my horse lost all the hair on her face and i tried to find out why just like you. the reason was due to stress, she had moved yards and had found it traumatic. if your horse is a nervous type then this could be why he has lost his hair. i left my horses face alone and in time all the hair grew back just as normal. just give it time and spend alot of time reassuring your horse, if he is new to you then he may have found the move stressful, like starting a new school or job! blue chip feed is excellant for improving condition.

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

Well, don't worry, he doesn't care how he looks.

But, is he on any wormers? Sweet feed? Supplements?

Horses get rid of toxins through their skin. My horse lost all the hair on his face when I began a new feeding program once and it grew back beautiful and shiny. Not saying this is the case with your horse, but it could be that you are feeding him things hi body is trying to get rid of.

Try just feeding him good quality grass hay and water for a week and see what happens. It could easily be that he just needs to flush out his system. And no, he won't die without his grain ;-).

Good luck!

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

I would talk to your vet if I was you.

When my filly broke her nose she rubbed the hair off her face. Our farrier told me to put Preparation H or hemorid cream on her face where she rubbed it raw to help protect the area and grow back the hair. She has all her hair back on her face now. You can't tell that she rubbed it all off. But still ask you vet.

Equine facial hair loss - Help!?

There is a medicated shampoo put out by Straight Arrow. It is called the Original Mane 'n Tail (Equine Strength PRO-TECT) Antimicrobial Medicated Shampoo. This shampoo does not irritate or stain t he skin. It covers all the following areas: Fungal and bacterial problems, rain rot, scurf, ringworm, hot spots, skin rashes and dry patches, girth itch and other opportunistic infections (virus, yeast, mold, etc.). You might try this, but do read the instructions.