What Are the Treatments for Equine Hair Loss?

Causes of hair loss in horses range from ringworm to anhidrosis to genetic disorders. Before starting a treatment, consult your veterinarian to find out what is causing your horse's hair to fall out.

  1. Dermatitis

    • Your horse can contract dermatitis from allergens or irritants, and develop bumpy skin and blisters along with hair loss. Wash your horse's skin with a mild soap.

    Rain Scald

    • Rain scald, or rain rot, may appear after a heavy rain, causing the hair to clump. Soak the clumps with a Betadine solution, then pick them out when they soften.

    Ringworm

    • With ringworm, horses lose hair in circular spots that have rings of red skin. Clip the hair around these patches, and soak them in Betadine.

    Primary Seborrhea

    • Seborrhea causes the skin to flake and scale. It primarily appears on the mane, tail and the cannons of the horse's hind legs, and can be managed with topical medications.

    Secondary Seborrhea

    • The secondary type of seborrhea appears with other diseases, such as skin infections and vitamin deficiencies. Clip the coat, and use salicylic acid shampoo on dry skin, or benzoyl peroxide on oily skin.

    Selenium Toxicity

    • A horse that consumes more than 5 mg per kilogram of dry matter daily may suffer from selenium toxicity, which causes hair loss in the mane and tail. Feed your horse a grain that is low in selenium and which has a 25-percent protein content.