Does this look like sweet itch?

raceTHEwind13 · 08-16-2007, 06:39 PM

I noticed these two spots on both sides of my QH gelding's shoulders yesterday. It looks as though he's rubbed all the hair off. They are both pretty much in the same spot on the left and right shoulders. I don't know if its fungus or if he's just itchy and scratching so much that he's taking off all his hair or if its both, (an itchy fungus)

If it helps any the weather has been pretty crazy lately. For about a whole week and a half it rained like crazy, everything was swamped with water and mud and then the next week temperatures rose above 100 (with over 50% humidity...thats Texas for you) which caused everything to dry up and now the weather is taking another turn and its back to wetness. Didn't know if that has anything to do with it.

Here's pictures; (sorry for the blurriness, Buddy kept jumping when I put the flash on)

Left shoulder~

Right shoulder~

I washed him with the Viodine veterinary fungus shampoo VIODINE today and will continue this until it clears up.

Does anybody have any clue what this is, he doesn't seem in pain and when I scratch him around the patches, he doesn't seem like its all that itchy any more, but i don't know. I'm just concerned.

raceTHEwind13 · 08-17-2007, 10:16 AM

~bump~ anyone?

Dawn · 08-17-2007, 01:13 PM

Are you using any type of fly spray? It almost looks like a blanket rub, is he wearing a fly sheet?

I can't tell enough about the picture really to tell if it looks fungusy or just that he's been scratching on a post or something.

harli36 · 08-17-2007, 01:17 PM

My guess is that it's not sweet itch. Sweet itch usually bothers the topline of the horse (mane along the back and tail) or the underbelly area. The shoulders usually only get it in extreme cases after the other areas have already been effected. Not only that but you would have seen it earlier in the year as well.

raceTHEwind13 · 08-17-2007, 01:26 PM

He doesn't wear any kind of blanket and I usually spray him about every other night with flyspray. He might be itching but I don't know why or what is causing his itchiness

Dawn · 08-17-2007, 01:27 PM

Have you always used this brand of flyspray? What brand is it?

buddiebreeze · 08-17-2007, 01:53 PM

Looks like rain scald/rash to me

Dawn · 08-17-2007, 01:57 PM

From the first clear picture it just looks like hair loss to me. The skin does not appear broken or scabbed. Hard to tell from a picture though.

08-16-2007, 06:39 PM	#1
raceTHEwind13 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The one and only Lone Star State Posts: 155	Does this look like sweet itch? I noticed these two spots on both sides of my QH gelding's shoulders yesterday. It looks as though he's rubbed all the hair off. They are both pretty much in the same spot on the left and right shoulders. I don't know if its fungus or if he's just itchy and scratching so much that he's taking off all his hair or if its both, (an itchy fungus) If it helps any the weather has been pretty crazy lately. For about a whole week and a half it rained like crazy, everything was swamped with water and mud and then the next week temperatures rose above 100 (with over 50% humidity...thats Texas for you) which caused everything to dry up and now the weather is taking another turn and its back to wetness. Didn't know if that has anything to do with it. Here's pictures; (sorry for the blurriness, Buddy kept jumping when I put the flash on) Left shoulder~ Right shoulder~ I washed him with the Viodine veterinary fungus shampoo VIODINE today and will continue this until it clears up. Does anybody have any clue what this is, he doesn't seem in pain and when I scratch him around the patches, he doesn't seem like its all that itchy any more, but i don't know. I'm just concerned. Last edited by raceTHEwind13; 08-17-2007 at 10:47 AM.

08-17-2007, 01:17 PM	#4
harli36 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: northeastern Pa Posts: 4,528 Images: 43	My guess is that it's not sweet itch. Sweet itch usually bothers the topline of the horse (mane along the back and tail) or the underbelly area. The shoulders usually only get it in extreme cases after the other areas have already been effected. Not only that but you would have seen it earlier in the year as well. __________________ The Morgan Horse! Everything else is just a horse. http://www.morganhorse.com/ *Splat I've been snowballed!!!!!!!!*

08-17-2007, 01:53 PM	#7
buddiebreeze Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sunny Scotland (UK) Posts: 2,512 Images: 115	Looks like rain scald/rash to me __________________ *member of the BGC ........... Big AND Beautiful!*

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08-17-2007, 10:16 AM	#2
raceTHEwind13 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The one and only Lone Star State Posts: 155	~bump~ anyone?

08-17-2007, 01:13 PM	#3
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,271 Images: 1386	Are you using any type of fly spray? It almost looks like a blanket rub, is he wearing a fly sheet? I can't tell enough about the picture really to tell if it looks fungusy or just that he's been scratching on a post or something.

08-17-2007, 01:26 PM	#5
raceTHEwind13 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The one and only Lone Star State Posts: 155	He doesn't wear any kind of blanket and I usually spray him about every other night with flyspray. He might be itching but I don't know why or what is causing his itchiness

08-17-2007, 01:27 PM	#6
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,271 Images: 1386	Have you always used this brand of flyspray? What brand is it?

08-17-2007, 01:57 PM	#8
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,271 Images: 1386	From the first clear picture it just looks like hair loss to me. The skin does not appear broken or scabbed. Hard to tell from a picture though.