Posted 2010-04-21 5:40 AM (#119095) Subject: Thinning Hair Patches
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069
Location: MI.
I just bought a 7 year old Paint mare. She has good weight. She was fed grass hay, no grain, and a salt block. She has a few areas where her hair is thinner than normal. It isn't normal patchy shedding. Her health is good. She is on the lower end of the pecking order. I started her on timothy/alfalfa/grass mixture of hay and a small amount of 12% with a TM block. She is pastured alone until she settles in. My question is do you think it's a mineral/vitamin issue combined with stress from being on the low end of the totum pole or an underlying health issue that needs further vet assistance?
Posted 2010-04-21 5:51 AM (#119097 - in reply to #119095) Subject: RE: Thinning Hair Patches
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420
Location: Iowa
As long as she's not rubbing the hair off I woudn't worry about it too much. Try some MTG on those patchy areas and I'll bet you'll see the hair come right back.
Posted 2010-04-21 8:38 AM (#119107 - in reply to #119095) Subject: RE: Thinning Hair Patches
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350
Location: Newton, NJ
Is it possible they are old war wounds??? ... spots where another horse ripped off the top layer and they are now growing back in? Or maybe some regrowth where there was rain rot?
Posted 2010-04-21 9:33 AM (#119111 - in reply to #119095) Subject: RE: Thinning Hair Patches
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
That's what I was thinking.. regrowth from rain rot... I've had a terrible promblem with fungus on my TWH mare and altho she still looks rather motheaten, the hair is beginning to fill back in... To be on the safe side, try shampooing her in a good antifungal (I had good luck with Eqyss) and double worm her.. i wormed my mare with quest and repeated with ivermectin 1 1/2 - 2 wks later.
Posted 2010-04-21 11:56 AM (#119122 - in reply to #119095) Subject: RE: Thinning Hair Patches
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069
Location: MI.
No, I've dealt with rainrot. There aren't any wounds underneath. The skin looks normal. It isn't bald. It's just thin. The areas are about the size of a hand and they are on her neck, shoulder, and side.