lice, mites or just rubbing

stew · Post by **stew** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:18 pm

we have an two beasts that has been losing hair the spine around the shoulders
they have been running in seprate fields with other cattle none of which show any signs
have not obseverd a great deal of rubbing or any discomfort
have looked for lice
no scabs so can i rule out ringworm
have treated whole herd with spot on
it dosent look bald there seems to be new hair growth could they just be sheding winter coat
any advice will be very kind before i worry myself sick
going to call vet
thanks

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:32 pm

This sounds most likely to be seasonal hair loss and not in any way harmful. If you can see new hair coming in it will not be obvious for long. Try to rembember which ones it is and see if the same happens next year.

Duncan

stew · Post by **stew** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:26 pm

thanks
im gonna leave it a day or two see what happens

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:00 am

Dont panic Stew, there cant be many dexter owners out there that havent got the same problem as you at this time of year, i know i have.
Mark

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:35 am

Ditto

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:22 pm

Mine are all looking motheaten in the spring sunshine, but this happens every year & in a few weeks all will be sleek again. Don't worry.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:18 am

A red bull that I used to have always looked terible at this time of year, and the firs year it happened I was concerned, and did treat for lice etc. He was the only one who looked really bad, but he soon grew a new coat and looked fantastic when turned out with his cows.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:21 pm

I was scratching my bull between the shoulderblades (because he likes that!) when he was in the crush a few weeks ago and was fairly horrified to see that I'd scratched off a large handful of hair, it is all growing in nicely again now.

stew · Post by **stew** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:00 pm

thanks everybody
have been brushing sam and thomas this morning and the look alot better

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:22 pm

I have the same problem - worse this year so I do think I should have used Spot on twice instead of only once (six weeks laterish)
I cannot find any little beasties but suspect they are there!
Jo