My horse has flaky skin. Is it dandruff or an infection? How to treat?

Hi and thanks for using PetCoach! Sorry to see and hear that Cointhee is having some skin problems. This certainly does look like dry skin or what we call seborrhea sicca. It is in an area that I would be suspicious of a flea bite allergy commonly known as flea allergy dermatitis. So first off, I would recommend that you use a very effective flea/tick product even though the weather is cooling down. It is possible that you have some immature flea stages in the indoor environment (eggs, larvae, etc). Again I am just assuming here due to the location of the trouble spot and knowing nothing of the geographical area where you live. There are other things that you can be doing to help the problem. I would not bathe too frequently. This tends to dry out the skin and strips the oils that are needed to keep the skin and hair coat healthy. So don't bathe too frequently, I would say not more than once a month or so. Do spot bathing if certain areas need to be cleaned but not full baths too frequently. Make sure you are feeding a high quality, well balanced diet since nutrition can play a role. You can certainly supplement the diet with some fish oil and skin supplements designed to aid in keeping the skin and hair coat healthy. I will post a link at the bottom and recommend some products. Dry skin can be caused by a localized bacterial infection, low thyroid problem, intestinal parasites affecting nutrition and health, external parasite problems (fleas, ticks, mites, etc), lack of adequate rinsing when bathing, aroblem persists, you should take Cointhee to your vet and let them advise you based on the history and physical exam findings. Treating the underlying cause is key and your vet can discuss how to get to that point. Possible tests could be skin scrape, fungal culture, blood tests, etc. Here's the link for some very high quality supplements- http://www.vrshealth.com/canine-products/?petcoach=1977951 Check out the fish oil Canine Omega Benefits and the Cutaneo TruBenefits. Good luck

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From the pictures you have provided, I suspect that she is dealing with a skin infection. Below are the products I recommend to treat this. If the skin condition does not improve or it worsens, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. These products can all be found online quite easily. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Douxo PS chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until the infection is resolved. 2. Malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the area until resolved 3. Welactin omega 3 fish oil capsules 4. Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent

It looks like dandruff. However, if he's itchy or has any areas of skin that obviously have a rash, take him to your vet. If not, here's an article you may find helpful. https://www.petcoach.co/article/helpful-products-for-your-dogs-dry-skin/ Thanks for asking PetCoach!

This is dandruff (seborrhea). It could be nutrition related. It could be a product you are using on him (shampoo, spray , etc). It may just be him. I would suggest you put him on a good skin supplement, make sure he is on a good dog food and use this medicated shampoo to treat seborrhea. If no improvement after a couple months then you should have him to your vet for an exam. I like this supplement: ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1803-missing-link-vet-canine.aspx ) You can use this medicated shampoo - lather, let sit on his coat for 10 minutes and then rinse. You can bathe twice a week and once the skin is looking better you can go to once a week. In between baths you can use the spray or the mousse. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6684-douxo-seborrhea-shampoo-for-dogs-and-cats.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20seborrhea+Auto ) ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6675-douxo-seborrhea-micro-emulsion-spray-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20sebor+Auto ) ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6678-douxo-seborrhea-mousse-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20sebor+Auto )

Hello there, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I strongly suggest having Lance and Nana evaluated for skin parasites or other medical conditions before treating them for simple dandruff. Copper deficiency, mites, and fungal infections can cause white flaky skin, and I also noticed in your pictures that one of your goats is missing hair around the eyes, nose, and mouth. This is characteristic of certain kinds of mites. I strongly suggest a vet visit to check them out. If everything comes back clear, consistent brushing can help with flaky dandruff, as well as making sure the goats have enough fats in their diet. Feeding a commercial goat food can help with this. Some goat fanciers also suggest adding black sunflower seeds into the diet, which might increase skin oil production. A good bath can also help! Good luck, and I hope that Nana and Lance are happy, healthy goats!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Fleas usually cause red irritated skin and hair loss. This MIGHT be from the fleas so you can monitor him for 2 weeks to see if it improves. My feeling is that is is unrelated. I would bathe him in the shampoo below weekly for 2-3 baths and leave the lather on for 10 mins before rinsing and I would add in a Omega 3 fish oil to improve skin and coat health. Fleas get really bad Aug-Oct so be diligent with your prevention. Good luck! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19121 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21564

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. What you are describing could be due to allergies or a skin infection. I would recommend starting a shampoo such as Douxo PS chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly. I would also recommend welactin omega 3 fish oil, essential 6 spot on by dermoscent and malacetic conditioning spray. If this does not imprive the current problem or it worsens, i would have a veterinarian look at this for further trestment recommendations. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.