It’s itchy butt season. Lots of the horses at the barn are going to town rubbing their butts. I’ve tried pretty much everything except MTG (because it’s gross), and just when I think I’ve made horse more comfortable, his tail is even balder the next morning.
In the past, daily slathering of DIY Equiderma has helped a lot (aka baby oil gel + chlorhex ointment), slathered on tail bone and under tail around anus. Frequent rinsing off of sweat and wiping of any poop juice also helps. Not this time!
I’ve tried conditioners…Eqyss, HealthyHaircare, Vetrolin Shine, tea tree oil in any of those or in the baby oil mix. Tried more frequent shampooing of tail and also mane (mane has a lot of dandruff but he only rubs it out trying to reach through the fence, not due to itching) with mild shampoos such as Eqyss MicroTek or Vetrolin shampoos or Head n Shoulders. He wears fly protection. Still itchy butt!
I clean his sheath on about a weekly basis because this time of year it gets funky quick. No change.
He’s getting regular bodywork on his SI area too to support injections there.
I have some general anti-bacterial, anti-fungal wash that I was initially given for kitty ear crud that’s also advertised for use on horses, which I haven’t tried. I also haven’t done apple cider vinegar rinses yet this year.
Horse is up to date on de-worming (spring and fall, no history of being a high shedder or anything). He gets a good amount of flax in his diet. But he’s seriously going BALD. He doesn’t grow much in the mane and tail department anyway.