My Horse Is Losing Her Hair & Skin Is Flaky Like Dandruff

Horses can get skin conditions from both internal health problems, such as nutrition or parasites, and external factors, such as bugs, allergies or excess moisture. Symptoms of hair loss and flaky skin that resembles dandruff can indicate more than one condition; the good news is that most of these skin conditions are treatable with proper attention. Learning to identify any accompanying lesions -- or the absence of lesions -- is important to properly diagnosing your horse's primary or secondary skin condition.

  1. Seborrhea

    • Seborrhea often creates a dandruff-like substance near the horse's mane or tail.

      If the dandruff-like discharge is near your horse's mane or tail, and is oily or dry, suspect seborrhea. It is more common in thoroughbred and Arabian breeds with more sensitive skin. Check for crusty spots near the elbows and hocks. Seborrhea is usually secondary to other problems, such as poor nutrition, allergies or other skin infection. Add oil or flaxseed to your horse's diet. If the dandruff is oily, use a drying shampoo with benzoyl peroxide or tea tree oil. If the discharge is dry, use a shampoo containing sulfur. Put a topical ointment on the crusts to moisten them and remove. Aloe vera is a good choice that most horses can tolerate.

    Rain Rot

    • With accompanying hair loss, suspect a fungal skin condition such as rain rot, also referred to as rain scald or dermatophilosis. These bacteria live in soil and may not affect any healthy horse unless conditions are right, such as exposure to excess rain and insects. If the hair is shedding in matted tufts and is painful when removed, rain rot is the likely culprit. Check your horse's back, hind end, legs and neck for circular scabs. Wash your horse thoroughly with a medicated shampoo; iodine shampoos are easy to find. Remove the scabs when they are soft and dispose of them, as rain rot may be contagious. Wash your brushes, halters, ropes and other equipment thoroughly. Severe cases may require an antibiotic. Keep your horse healthy and properly groomed to prevent this condition.

    Ringworm

    • If your horse's lesions are consistently circular, you can suspect ringworm. When you remove the crusts, the hair will usually come out in clumps, leaving red and scaly skin. Ringworm is a very contagious infection, so isolate your horse and its equipment. It can also be transmitted via humans and other animals, so wash thoroughly after caring for your horse. Ringworm thrives in moist environments and will live in the soil. Like many other infections, many healthy horses will not fall prey to ringworm. You can find shampoos specifically for ringworm or get one from your veterinarian, along with ointment. If you clip the hair around the ringworm patches, the medication will be more effective.

    Insect Allergies and Parasites

    • If your horse is allergic to insect bites, try stalling him during the day.

      If your horse is having an allergic reaction to insect bites, any hair loss is likely from rubbing where it itches, resulting in dry patches. Use fly sprays, sheets and fly masks to protect it. Try to stall it during the day and turn out at night. A parasitic overload in your horse's system may also cause your horse's coat to look dull and result in hair loss. Janet Roark, a veterinarian in Austin, Texas, recommends contacting your vet to make sure your de-worming schedule and ingredients are appropriate for your area. You can take a fecal sample to your vet for a more accurate analysis.

    Underlying Diseases

    • Older horses especially may succumb to Cushing's disease.

      If none of these seems to fit your horse's symptoms, check the quality of its hair. If it is coarse or wavy, and does not seem to shed during warm weather, your horse may have Cushing's disease. This disease is caused by high levels of the steroid hormone cortisol, and while it usually affects older horses, that is not always the case. If your horse exhibits frequent symptoms of colic, it may suffer from ulcers. Sarcoids and squamous cell carcinomas are tumors not uncommon in horses, where you may notice dry or crusty patches of skin.