Wrinkled scabby skin?

Question

my horse has wrinkled skin on her neck and underneath the wrinkled skin is hard and scabby? Could it be rain rot or sweet itch? the weird part is that it is on both sides of the neck in the same place on both sides?

Answer 1

It could be an allergic reaction, ringworm, rainrot, or something abnormal.  It could be any kind fungus or reaction.  I would advise getting the vet to check it out.

Answer 2

It could also be ring worm, which does spread between horses and could potentially get to you. If I were you I would call the vet and ask her some questions about it! It's safer for your horse, all of the other horses and "you". For now make sure you wash your hands after touching her to try and prevent spreading.

Good Luck!   :)

Answer 3

doesnt sound like sweet itch....is she really itchy in spring, summer and autumn? sweet itch is quite easy to identify. if you think it may be  sweet itch ask the vet to check it out...could be something unusual

Answer 4

Eww - sounds like it could be allergy related.

Maybe not sweet itch,, I'm not sure, ours has it ( also on both sides) and in his case it IS sweet itch.

I'd suggest scrubbing it with Chlorhexidine Gluconate ( Hibiscrub) and then plastering some Sudocrem on it to take the itch/sting out of it and then contact your vet and see what he thinks. Whatever he decides he's not going to shout at you for using those things on it.

The wrinkles are pretty typical for sweet itch I'm afraid.

Answer 5

If your horse has light hair and pink skin such as a paint it could be sunburn. I had a paint with a white neck. I put him in 4 shows in a 8 day period. During that time I shampooed him several times to get the neck bright and white. This reduced his natural oils in his skin and allowed sunburn.

Answer 6

Could she be sticking her head in somewhere that's causing a rub in the same spot on both sides? That's what this sounds like- a friction burn. If it is, a soothing balm will help heal the areas. Try and find a way to prevent her from repeating this if possible. It may take some sleuthing to find where she's going to do this. And you might want to check with the vet just in case it may be something serious. I have a mare who got a funny lumpy area on her neck, both sides. Didn't look like anything, but it's cancer of the thyroid.