Tail Rubbing

Question
I recently purchased a three year old gelding. His tail was chewed off before I bought him but I didn't think anything of it and I was sure it would grow back. Now I have noticed him rubbing the base of his tail alot, but it's not just the base of his tail.It's also his whole back end. He is bald all around his tail on his hind legs and also part of his left hip. I have de-wormed him twice thinking this was the culprit but he still keeps rubbing. Since the weather is too cold I haven't washed him but I have been spraying Cowboy Magic Krudbuster on it every other day. Any suggestions on what this may be and how to take care of it? I read that maybe he needs his sheath cleaned could this be the problem?

Answer
Stacy:

I think it is extremely unlikely to be his sheath bothering him. Instead, most of the cases of this I have seen in the past are similar to cases of dry itchy skin in people. Ive had fairly good luck having people discontinue the use of anything on it other than a moisturizing shampoo, baby oil rubbed into the affected itchy areas otherwise keeping the areas protected from wetness, wind and other drying factors. It is possible that something else could be a problem here too. If the horse does not respond to this conservative management, Id recommend getting skin biopsies of the affected areas in order to specifically diagnose the problem and thereby facilitate its treatment. BUT, try the conservative approach first- it ususally workd for me and discontinue anmything else on the affected sites. Good luck. Feel free to contact me again if you are faced with the need to decide if its time to biospy the skin- but Id for sure try conservative until spring first.