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Post by Debbie on Sept 23, 2008 22:59:42 GMT -1
on his side. It was earlier this year that I noticed it. It was hot and tender, and I thought that a horsefly had nailed him twice in the same region (two little spots), back in the beginning part of August. I noticed because Blossom was gone for training. I thought naught of it. He got chucked into his new field, then Blossom came home, and we've had horrendous rain all year long ~ I mean, really horrendous...like only one or two dry days each week.  Today I was out dedunging his field and we've been so buried in work, I'm ashamed to say its the first time I've been able to have time to groom on him. The 'bites' have spread to a larger area and the original bites have scabbed over. I'm beginning to think it might be rainscald, but if I've seen rainscald, its been long enough, I can't remember what it looks like. I chucked Tea Tree Oil all over the area, remembering if it is rainscald, that the stuff spreads like mad.  Did it again tonight. Does anyone know if Tea Tree Oil will be enough to clear it or ?? I'll try to get a pic of it if I can. Galahad's elderly and came to me for retirement this May, so would easily have the 'supressed immune' system. |
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Post by SuzieP on Sept 24, 2008 11:36:22 GMT -1
Doesn't rainscale start on the back, where water can gather rather than run off?
It'd be good to see a pic to get a better idea of what it looks like. Tea tree is good stuff, but without knowing what is causing the patches it's difficult to know whether it will be enough to clear it. The only sure diagnosis might be via a skin scrape......
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Post by Debbie on Sept 24, 2008 11:49:50 GMT -1
That's a good point, Sue. And this is on his side, not the back. I'll snap some pics of it this morning and see if I can get them up on here.
Oh well, its about time for vaccinations, so it shouldn't be that big of a deal if I need to vet out to have a look see.
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Post by harleydales on Sept 24, 2008 19:03:34 GMT -1
Rainscald is definitely on the back rather than the side. Maybe with all the wet it has just got a bit infected over time? If it were me I would carry on with tea tree, and get the vet to see it when he does the boosters, even if it means getting the boosters a bit early to put your mind at rest.
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Post by PonyGirl on Sept 25, 2008 15:13:41 GMT -1
How is he doing?
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Post by leannwithconnie on Sept 25, 2008 16:12:26 GMT -1
Yes how is he Debbie??  |
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Post by Debbie on Sept 25, 2008 20:06:02 GMT -1
 Galahad thanks you all (and so do I!) for the inquiries We were busy yesterday constructing his field shelter, so I didn't get these pics up as fast as I would like. But here we are....  They're on his left side. The Tea Tree Oil seems to be making the sores less in size. Less sore, and smaller, and the fur doesn't seem to be lifting up as much in those areas.   I can tell you he was not keen on me taking those pics, nor keen on the idea of them hitting the world wide web  I've been putting tea tree oil on them two times a day though, and they seem to be drying up and shrinking in size. Maybe they were originally a flybite that got a secondary infection?? I'm not certain, but if its not gone away by the time I call out the vet for their vaccines, I'll be most definitely be having him have a look ~ sooner if it gets worse instead of the 'dry up' trend its having on the tea tree oil. 
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Post by lucydales on Sept 27, 2008 14:41:12 GMT -1
Not sure what to make of that Debbie! Have you got any yarrow eo you can try? That's anti-inflamatory and analgesic (amoungst a host of other lovely things!). Is he biting or rubbing it? I'd go for fly bites at the mo. They often ooze for a little while, mind probably not since August. Poor chap! Obviously needs more treats to compensate for his poorly!! If it's hot, peppermint oil is very cooling. All eo's should be diluted in a carrier oil before applying topically, though I do use tea tree and yarrow neat I must admit (but it's not recommended!) Offer them for him to smell first, and if he doesn't like them/show an interest in them, don't put them on him. Good luck, keep us posted! Amanda might like yarrow too if she's hurting, but I don't know what oils coaties can break down so just give her a little sniff and she what she does. Also Spikenard and Frankinsence are good for end of life times (I think! will check for you!) |
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Post by Debbie on Sept 28, 2008 0:45:21 GMT -1
He only scratches at it if he's in the nearby vicinity, and he's stopped scratching/itching for at least three weeks that I've noticed. I was just shocked at how it seemed to be spreading. The tea tree oil is working a treat on it, though!!  Seems to be drying it all up, and the scabs that are reforming are much firmer and look far more normal. Galahad doesn't especially care for the smell, but realizes it makes the sores feel better...and I daresay keeps the flies away.  He's put two and two together, so is happy with it. Currently I'm applying the tea tree oil liberally over the spot and rubbing it in with my fingers, twice a day. Knock on wood, I think it will clear up on its own. I think it may have indeed been the original horsefly bites I'd thought, but maybe they got a secondary infection? |
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Post by Debbie on Sept 28, 2008 0:47:46 GMT -1
Thanks for the extras on Amanda as well. I'd be interested to know if they will work for her. Thus far she's been sleeping a lot, and has been binging on Chinese foods.  And her ever favorite: McDonalds'. Doesn't seem to matter if its hamburger, fish burger, whatever...if it comes in a wrapper, it must be manna from Heaven. At her age, we're not exactly worried about keeping her healthy, just happy.  |
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Post by valerie n scout on Sept 29, 2008 8:15:09 GMT -1
i could show you some pics of Scouts bum as he scratches a lot and breaks the skin x could it be that x
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Post by taffydales on Sept 29, 2008 17:45:42 GMT -1
Is it only in this area he has them Deb?
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Post by Debbie on Sept 29, 2008 22:57:11 GMT -1
Yep, that's the only spot Van...and tonight I watched the late autumn flies at work on his spot.  I think it was two horsefly bites that got worse by the normal flies taking advantage of the 'feed'. The wretches  I know the cure for that! Next time I'm at the feed store (like tomorrow), I'll be picking up Swat for fly bites. We'll get this cleared once and for all, nasty things! Grrrrrrrrr...I hate flies!! |
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Post by nars on Oct 7, 2008 17:56:16 GMT -1
Debbie,
dont suppose it could be ringworm could it? For rainscald- which can be on the wither and neck area as well as the back,you can use canesten cream as it is an antifungal cream used for rainscald. White vinegar is good for ringworm.
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Post by leannwithconnie on Oct 11, 2008 16:02:11 GMT -1
Did you ever find out what this was Debbie?? Hope it has cleared up now and that I haven't just missed a thread somewhere ? |
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I've been putting tea tree oil on them two times a day though, and they seem to be drying up and shrinking in size. 
He's put two and two together, so is happy with it. 
And her ever favorite: McDonalds'. Doesn't seem to matter if its hamburger, fish burger, whatever...if it comes in a wrapper, it must be manna from Heaven. 
I think it was two horsefly bites that got worse by the normal flies taking advantage of the 'feed'. The wretches