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Loosing hair....

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Nike has patches on his shoulders of missing hair. He is apparently rubbing against things, to the point where he is causing scabs to form, so I am guessing it itches. Anyway, not sure what this is. It's on his shoulders mostly, but there is a small bit on his wither, back, and chest as well. We haven't had any rain in a while, I don't think he's ever gotten range rot or anything, and he's been limited in where he could go since he abscessed (which is now doing very well btw). The rest of his coat is shiny and healthy... right: http://i29.tinypic.com/1zvew6p.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://i25.tinypic.com/15g9kqu.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://i32.tinypic.com/2vbmw6b.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; left: http://i28.tinypic.com/2jbjh1l.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://i28.tinypic.com/8z4os2.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Heidi Wed, 07/07/2010 - 21:09

What does the top of his neck look like? Is it crest-y, sort of curved into firm, bump-y lumps, like it's a bit swollen?
If so ... [u]neck threadworms[/u]. Double dose Equimax, wait two weeks, double dose again with Equimax.

My Paso mare suffered with this; terrible itching on her face, neck, chest, shoulders and belly. Everyone kept saying it was midges, midges, no-seeums, midges! Well, it *isn't* completely ... it is the NTW microfilarie the midges/no-seeums CARRY and TRANSMIT to the horse. As the larvae grow into NTWs, they travel through the muscles to reach the ligaments where they want to live and it ITCHES because the horse feels them CRAWLING during their migration.
I accidentally 'cured' my Paso mare one summer when I accidentally dosed her with the *whole* tube of wormer. 0_o I didn't *mean* to do it, since I plunge fast/hard she got the whole dose because I didn't know the ring-thing was broken ... for her size, that was a double dose ... and it *cured* her sweet itch.
I am a believer.
Steroids didn't help.
Flax Seed didn't help.
ONLY killing the NTWs helped.
Her hair grew back, her neck topline thinned out and returned to normal and she stopped itching. She used to rub on trees and stand over a stick to rub her belly until she bled and was raw, the itching was so bad. The next year, after the 'accidental' fix, I treated her w/ a full tube pre- and through the summer and she had NO sweet itch at ALL.

lillith Thu, 07/08/2010 - 04:44

Yup there is a fair bit of evidence that a double dose of Ivermectin repeated in 2 weeks can cure some sweet itch (if the neck threadworms are to blame) and as Ivermectin requires arround 8x the reccomended dose to cause any detrimental side effects it is pretty safe to try. Definately worth a go considering how debilitating the condition can be.

Monsterpony Thu, 07/08/2010 - 13:54

Ivermectin will kill the microfilaria of neck threadworms (the ones migrating in the neck), but it doesn't kill the adults. That is why you have to do regular deworming when your horse has neck threadworms.

Heidi Thu, 07/08/2010 - 15:09

What kills the adults? If nothing does, do we then just have to wait for them to die and be absorbed and be vigilent in preventing reinfestation by keeping the microfiliaria controlled so they cannot become adult?

Monsterpony Thu, 07/08/2010 - 21:14

Nothing kills the adults short of surgical removal (which probably would do more damage than good). The ivermectin works to knock back the microfilaria and keep them under control, but as long as you have adults, there are going to be subclinical levels of the microfilaria.

Jenks Fri, 07/09/2010 - 10:42

Treat him just in case Krickette, if not get the vet to do a biopsy to check for them. If I ever see this on Cyn again I am having the vet biopsy. But I haven't seen it since I started treating him a year ago or so.

http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/430/2006…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting about alopecia and depigmentation too..

Krickette Fri, 07/09/2010 - 10:49

He is cresty but I think it's just because he's obese. Mom said she was gonna get some ivermectin and treat him with that to be safe. I think she's putting either furall or pink lady on the spots for now as well.
Here's where they are on him (terrible pic of him standing around soaking his foot)
[attachment=0]IMG00830.jpg[/attachment]

Jenks Fri, 07/09/2010 - 11:08

[quote="Monsterpony"]Nothing kills the adults short of surgical removal (which probably would do more damage than good). The ivermectin works to knock back the microfilaria and keep them under control, but as long as you have adults, there are going to be subclinical levels of the microfilaria.[/quote]

Is there a more updated study than: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6688…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

accphotography Fri, 07/09/2010 - 15:16

OH!! *shivers* I'm going to stop reading these threads before I start getting psychosomatic!!

Monsterpony Sat, 07/10/2010 - 00:12

[quote="Jenks"]
Things like this http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9709…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; scare me more! But eh, it happens...[/quote]

Don't let your kids play in sandboxes if you want them to avoid some nasty parasites. I still don't understand why humans aren't routinely dewormed.

Jenks Sun, 07/11/2010 - 08:17

It wasn't too long ago that in Australia (I think it was) that some bats had been pushed out of their normal territory by builders, and they took up residence in a tree in a horse pasture. The bat's carried a virus that got transferred to the horses from droppings where the horses grazed (which had never happened) and then unbelievably, it again transferred to the humans who worked in the stable. Killed them all but one man, and I can't remember how many horses, but it was virus I think.... I mean, we can't avoid it always! But Monsters Inside Me has told me to keep my animals vaccinated and wormed, and DEFINITELY washing hands before eating, touching your face, etc!!!!

What's the reverse of zoonotic?

Monsterpony Sun, 07/11/2010 - 16:26

[quote="Jenks"]What's the reverse of zoonotic?[/quote]
?Non-zoonotic? Species-specifc? Humans are part of the animal population so diseases to and from humans and animals are called the same as though between other animals.

Jenks Sun, 07/11/2010 - 16:32

I think I was thinking of anthroponosis - is that different? Googling... I really have to check sources and be careful what I read....

Monsterpony Sun, 07/11/2010 - 17:56

I shall have to add that to my vocabulary. I have only ever used zoonotic for any cross species transfer whether humans are involved or not.

Jenks Mon, 07/12/2010 - 07:25

I had thought zoonosis was only from animal to human, but that is apparently not correct. I read things, forget where I read them, and then only remember bits and pieces.

Monsterpony Mon, 07/12/2010 - 15:17

I also could be totally wrong as I tend to clump humans into the animal category more often than not.

critterkeeper Mon, 07/12/2010 - 18:32

:-t MP - lumping humans as animals if often more accurate than calling some of these upright walking specimens as "human"... :roll: :booty :bounce

As for the whole issue of cross contamination, you'd be surprised at what people can pick up simply by walking across a pasture in sandels or flip flops (and we all know people who do this :hammer ). And we won't mention those of us who go barefoot across the yard (same one critters run across and horses munch). :oops: :rofl

Danni Mon, 07/12/2010 - 20:48

I so shouldn't read this topic!! I think I'm happy in my ignorance and can continue running around barefoot etc.. LOL!!!

Monsterpony Mon, 07/12/2010 - 22:52

You have no idea CK. I am still astounded sometimes by how snobby humans are. We are all animals. Mammals are mammals and humans are very similar to many others physiologically speaking.