New to Mini's -HELP

Hi everyone, I'm new to being a mini owner! We got 3 in December, my girl LUNA BLUE is mine and the 2 boys are my twin daughters.
Anyhow, I am really hoping Im just worrying too much. But anyhow she loves to rub her butt along the fencing. When I first got her and was brushing her tail, lots would come out. I know they start to loose it with warmer temps but we are anything but warm here in Ontario Canada at the moment. We have had a few real nice warm days a few weeks back but now into the minus's. The last couple of days I noticed her back end is kinda of bald on either side of her tail. I have attached a photo, plus one of her. Look for opinions as my Vet is away at the moment. Is it just the hairs breaking from rubbing or could something else be going on?? Again Im very new to being a horse owner and I love her to pieces. Her playfulness and appetite etc hasn't changed. Thanks everyone

Oh how cute! Welcome to the world of miniatures!

Have to noticed any bugs or anything in her fur? I say that because lice are bad this time of year, and cause skin irritation/hair loss. Otherwise it might be dry skin, worms, or even a beginnings of fungus. Has she been wormed recently, or had a fecal done?

Hi thanks for the reply. The breeder said she is good until April for any deworming. Fecal I don't know. Lice bad this time of year for us to? No I haven't noticed anything..grrr, so she should be checked then you think?

The first thing I think when a horse is but rubbing is WORMS. Find out when her last worming was and when her next dose is. The vet can also do a fecal exam for them.
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I was told she didn't need to be done till April

Looks like she is rubbing her butt, which like a previous poster said usually means worms. When was she last wormed and with what was she wormed with?

Unfortunately just because she was wormed doesn't mean she is worm free. Young minis are notorious for being wormy even with regular scheduals, which is why I recommend having a fecal done by a vet. In my area it costs about $55 if you bring the sample to the vet, and they can then tell you if she has worms and if so, what kind. Once you know that you can know exactly what she needs wormed with (there are many types for many kinds of worms and their different stages) and you can kill the existing worms.

As for lice, you can look for those by yourself most likely. Take a fine bristled comb and part her hair in many places. Lice tend to hand out above the tail head, around/in the tail, in/around the mane, in the forlock, behind the ears, and sometimes on the horse's topline. They are small, wingless, greyish bugs and their eggs are white.

Hi again, thanks yes have been doing some reading now on the worms. What I can't find is the side effects or what can happen to her? I just reached the Vet and he to from what I described thinks its worms and just told me to pick up some dewormer and he would do all 3. Also through my research (if right) says they should be done every 6 - 8 weeks so I don't know what the breeder could have given her to last till April.

If you worm her, do NOT use Quest wormer. It is not safe for Minis.

Lizzie

I would do a fenbenazol, and ivermectrin first. Fenbendazol is the most expensive of the two ($15 where I live. Not bad at all) but it is what is most frequently wormed with at this time of year. If those don't work, try the other but make sure it isnt Quest like Feather said. I'd worm your other two minis as well. One tube should be enough for all three of them since none weigh more than 250 lbs, I would think. Never buy a wormer for miniatures with Moxidectrin in it.

A fecal is still the best way to find out just what is going on and how to treat it without pouring tons and tons of chemicals in their bodies though, IMO.

Sside affects of worms include losing weight (sometimes rapidly), causing stomach and intestinal scarring that may make colicing and ulcers more likely, poor overall heath, poor coat, irritation, and possibly even death if the infestation is high enough.