Tail rubbing can be the bane of a horse owner’s existence, especially during show season. There are a few factors that can cause your horse to rub his or her tail. They include:
§ Parasites—worms or ticks
§ Discomfort from discharge or sweat (diarrhea or mare in season)
§ Shampoo residue left in the dock of the tail
§ Melanoma lumps on the underside of the dock
§ Insect sensitivity
§ Food allergies
§ Lice
Discharge, sweat and shampoo residue itch would be short-term and you can likely solve the issue with a good rinse and sponging of the sensitive area. However, if the case seems to be long term and you can’t find any ticks or melanoma lumps in the dock and you’ve ruled out food allergies, insects and lice, the likelihood is that your horse has a pin worm i nfec tion.
Your veterinarian can test for pin worms by taking a piece of tape and touching it to the area around the horse’s anus to check for eggs.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), pin worms are less dangerous than other internal parasites; however, they can cause annoyance with anal itching. Rubbing of the tail and anal region causes broken tail hairs and bare patches around the dock of the tail.
AVMA describes the reason: adult worms crawl out of the horse’s anus to deposit eggs on the surrounding area, which is why veterinarians can use tape to check for eggs. The eggs can hatch immediately or survive while unhatched for months. The parasite is then ingested by the horse from contaminated water buckets, grass, feeders, etc., to start the process all over again
Treatment for pin worms is simple: you may use dewormers with ivermectin, moxidectin, pyrantel pamoate or benzimidazoles. These same dewormers are capable of destroying other internal parasites as well. If the horse has already been dewormed, the veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic and/or antifungal to help heal the tail that has been rubbed raw while the horse has had pin worms. In about two months, the tail should return to normal.
If your horse is turned out with other horses in group watering or feeding areas or in any area that other horses may be, his chances of picking up worms becomes greater, and you will need to have a solid deworming program in process. If he has his own turnout and stall that he does not share, his own pasture that other horses do not graze, his risk for picking up parasites from his barnmates is reduced.
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Ron Petracek is the Co-founder of Equine Internets vast
12 site equine power network. He was raised in Southern Idaho. With the Snake River and a beautiful black morgan as his adventure companion. Horses and the outdoors will always be in his blood. Along with a love for his country the United States of America -
One Nation Under God.
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