CONSULTANTS

DERMATOLOGY

The case of the curious coat pattern

Q: My horse Leo develops an unusual coat pattern over his whole body every summer. The length and texture of the hairs are all about the same, but the hairs grow in different directions. His winter coat appears to be normal, and after he sheds out, I don’t really notice the pattern until the end of June. Once it reappears, the pattern is fairly similar each year, although it does change a bit.

Leo is 13 now, and his coat has done this every year since I got him when he was 8. He is healthy and sound, with no prior injuries that we know of. He is not itchy, and he has no lesions, no sensitivities to insects, no hives. My veterinarian has never seen this coat pattern, but she found no problems when she examined him about a month ago, and she did not seem alarmed. What might be causing this? Is it anything to worry about?

Karin Bombeli Redmond, Washington