Not Sweet Itch or Worms

[Tuddy]

Hello! Hoping that the board can help this girl out. Every year, Yonka and Lucas, rub the tops of their tails off. It is so sad. I have these 2 Canadians, which are supposed to be known for their long flowing thick tails, and they have ratty broom tails. I do not believe it is Sweet Itch, and I know that it isn't worms.... dry skin? What type of moisturizers can I put on their tails?

Thanks!

[blob]

My mare has different skin and itchy problems than your two and her's isn't caused by dry skin, but dry skin makes it much worse, so i keep her greased up all summer.

Things I do:

I spray her down daily with a 50-50 combo of listerine (the original yellow/brown kind) and avon-skin-so-soft (you could also use baby oil). I spray this in the base of her tail and mane as well.

Anywhere I see actual dry of flakey skin, I rub with coconut oil. My horse is a bay so her skin is all dark, but if you have any pink skinned critters, the oil can make sun burn easier...

Finally, any place that has been rubbed raw I first spray down with vetricyn and then put vaseline.


I know this sounds like a ridiculous routine, but without these lotions and potions my horse would probably be completely bald in the summer!

[khall]

I deal with a tail scrubbing Lusitano (also known and has long flowing locks!) just the top of her tail thank goodness but still, grr.

I wash her tail, vulva, anus and teats weekly per my vet's instruction. Often will wash her tail twice a week if needed. Use baby wipes to really get around the anus per my vet (itchy honey), she has deep grooves around her vulva because she has a big a$$ LOL! so get in there too. In between I use MTG or microtek.

[Hayburner]

Khall. How do you wash the vulva? I do clean my mares teats which are rather large possibly from her one foal and they get super cruddy. I usually clean them or should I say between them every 2nd or 3rd day with baby wipes. In the winter due to her blankets tail flap her butt does get some debris so I clean it off with baby wipes too. I don't clean her butt in the summer months.

Luckily, she doesn't rub her tail (knock on wood) but I do think she will rub her butt on her feed bucket.

I think adding a bit of quality oil or omegas to their feed would help with the itches. My dad takes fish ol for his excema.

[Hayburner]

Oh Khall, I read somewhere that mares can get beans like geldings in their vulva and it's quite uncomfortable. I'm not sure how clean it unless I just do a quick wipe when I'm cleaning her teats

[khall]

Hayburner I just get in there when washing the tail. I was a vet tech at a breeding farm so have been on the tail end of many a mare:) You can use wipes or wash clothes etc. Yes Joplin gets beans around her vulva and I have to clean them out regularly. This time of year the gunk builds quickly in our humid heat.

[StraightForward]

Annabelle gets itchy this time of year and feeding spirulina seems to help. I also shampoo with Microtek, rinse with ACV, the use a tea tree / jojoba concoction I made up based on ingredients in dog anti itch products. She is harder on her mane than her tail, but this seems to help.

[Hayburner]

Khall. My vet is coming to the barn this month, maybe I better ask her to show me how to clean the vulva. I would have no idea how far I should go in and wipe, ugh.
Nor do I know where the beans would be if she would have any.

Geldings are so much easier!