Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Itchy horse. Please help...?

I'm dreading the summer coming because every year my horse (a 20yr old ID x TB) suffers from terrible itching all over. It's not just restricted to the dock area although this is a badly affected area. He itches and rubs all over and I'm at a loss as to what it could be. We've spent hundreds on different remedies for sweet itch but it simply isn't that. His skin is very dry and breaks out all over in little hard lumps that can be picked / scratched off. It drives the poor horse mad and he has bald patches all over him. Not only that but his continuous scratching knocks down all the fences. Can anybody tell me what the problem might be and how it can be cured / relieved? Thanks very much!

Itchy horse. Please help...?
Flaxseed oil!!!!! It works great! Start with 2 Tbs increase up to 1/2 cup, nothing more than 1/2 cup. I use it %26amp; I love it!





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Reply:it might be flys
Reply:I presume he has been checked for lice? Look carefully and you will see them. Greys are hard to look through
Reply:Poor thing! I'm afraid I don't have any specific products to recommend to you, but I do wonder if this has something to do with what he's eating. Has the vet tested him for allergies? The (older) hay you'd use in the winter is different from the fresh spring and summer hay (well, generally - depends on where you live) and the allergen that bothers him in the summer might be degraded enough in older "winter" hay to not bother him as much. Have you inspected your pastures for plants that could be causing him problems?





I am assuming you've already had him checked by the vet for mites, lice, mange, ringworm and other skin parasites and fungi. If not, so do!





If I were you, I'd take a good look at all the things he's exposed to in the warm months that he isn't exposed to in the winter months...maybe you'll find your culprit there. Could it by fly spray, or the flies themselves (gnats and hornflies could be the problem.) Is there a certain type of rub rag that's used on him during warmer show months, or a grooming product or shampoo? Are there birds in your barn in the warm months, or other vermin that could be carrying parasites?





I do think it's odd that he gets worse as the weather gets warmer...if he was simply prone to dry skin, he would undoubtedly get worse during the cold months when there's less moisture in the air.





Below is a link that has a good amount of info on causes of itchy horses. Good luck - let us know how you make out!





http://www.essortment.com/horseshealthpr...
Reply:Could be bots. He may also be allergic to something in or around the barn or something that you're feeding him. If you are bathing him all the time that might also be the problem.
Reply:It really does sound like your horses is suffering from an allergic reaction to flies, midges or pollen all of which are prevalent during the summer.My ID/TB displays all the same symptoms I keep her totally covered with a fly rug with a neck from March to October. During March I feed her echinachae a natural herb that helps boost the immune system I also use Itch stop complete available from Nettex. I apply this 2x a week on mane tail and any other badly rubbed area.Apply fly repellent everywhere a bite on the leg can produce a reaction on the dock!! I know from experience how distressing this condition is but with constant care it can be managed..good luck
Reply:poor horse, you mention that you have tried loads of differnet remedies for sweet itch but have you tried the Boett Blanket?


it is expensive but many people swear by them for sweet itch or fly problems. it is much better then the normal fly rug as the material prevents the flys from biting the horse, it covers all for the body, and under the stomach and you can get a face mask. it doest cover the legs, but that is about it. It also claims to not over-heat the horse in summer, and it acts like a shade for them. I have one for my Welsh Section D who has severe sweet itch, and although it doesnt completly stop the itching it is a great help. i agree that most lotions dont work, but i am about to try camrosa! not sure how that will go!


Hope this helps


x
Reply:go to the vet again and ask if she can help.
Reply:it might be sweet ich or it might even be lice. it could also be rain scald or your horse is allergict to something
Reply:I have this problem with my 20 year old Percheron-x-Morgan gelding. It is sweet itch.





I use this on him - http://www.ffrogworks.com/animals.shtml
Reply:give him netvet hill be doing good in a week.he probally has invertatis.its where the skin and germs mat in the coat you cant see it though
Reply:He might be allergic to the "no see ums" or those little black flies. They are everywhere! I have two mares with this same problem. Check his midline, chest, between front legs, belly.


That's where it's most prevelant and they can't reach it to scratch. Dry Benadryl clear lotion (generic) is fine. And when the weather is warm you can spray him with cool water, it helps relieve the itch. Worm him with ivermectin, two doses, 10 days-2wks apart. And make sure you are disposing of manure, even picking up in paddock, and moving it al least 100' away from the stable. If necessary, your vet can give him a steroid shot. It works great and keeps that allergic response at bay for a long time. You don't want to be giving it every year but every few years might be possible. We gave one to my mare last May and she's still itch free-what a treat! We both can relax.
Reply:MTG is very usefull as a topical application. word of advice.............dont pick off the scabs because it will create an environment for skin infection , which is really hard to get rid of. Azium powder, bought from your vet, is not that expensive...you can try 1/2 pack and you will be surprised how quickly it works. it is a steroid. since youve already spent a ton of money , to no effect, why not spend a bit more and have your vet down to evaluate and do a skin scraping?
Reply:my draft has the same prob. It's an allergy/hypersensitivity to no see ums (bugs). Basically you need to fly spray often (unfortunately the no see ums aren't detered by this tho), fly sheets, try to keep indoors w/a fan during the day %26amp; turnout after dark, use a good thick ointment to cover the itchy raw spots (I used T-zon which works great) occasional bathes with an oatmeal or cortisone shampoo helps too. You can also put the horse on oral cortisone (pred, azium) but I found that didn't really help much.





It's a pain to deal with, my draft broke so many fences rubbing himself %26amp; is miserable for about 3-4 months so I just try to keep him as comfortable as I can...
Reply:Hi,


I think that your horse probably has an allergy to flies and/or mosquitoes some horses suffer more than others and it sounds like yours is really suffering. A few suggestions for you. Try a fly sheet, a good fly/mosquito spray although be careful because if your horse is sensitive and this could make matters worse. I would also bathe your horse frequently with cool water mixed with household white vinegar. Just a small amount of vinegar. This will help take the itch and pain away and be a little more than a temporary relief. Try an overhead fly sprayer. I have these and they really work well.


Definately don't clip your horse's mane, forlock, ears, body or anywhere..I used to show performance and I never clipped my horse...she won anyway!


Is your horse stabled at night? or during the hottest part of the day when the flies are the worst? I would try keeping your horse inside at night when the mosquitos are bad or give your access to a barn 24/7. Horse flies don't usually ride the horse into a building and regular flies are usually less in a barn. Make sure the barn is clean of manure as best you can.


During bad outbreaks you might try a little paste banamine as well, but do this under your vets approval. Banamine takes swelling down and is a pain reliever. I wouldn't make a habit of this even with your vet's advice.


Soothing Mist Spray is a totally natural product loaded with Zinc. Believe me...this product is awesome. This can be used on puppies, people and horses. It is quick absorbing and totally safe even if a pet licks it and ingests it. This product is cheap and can be found at HolisticPetMenu.com. I use this stuff and I have all of my horsey and doggy friends using it too. It's great for itchy bites, rashes, breakouts of almost anything, better, totally better than anything I ever used. This heals as well as is a total relief and it lasts for hours. It's labeled for dogs but the vet that makes it tells us we can use for horses and people too and we do and we love it! Anyway best of luck to you and your horse.
Reply:Go to Equilite.com and ask Stacy. She has not only developed the products she sells, but has a fantastic amount of knowlege for the treatment of horses. I'm not trying to push the products, but Stacy is a Very helpful person with good info.
Reply:I like what Dixie said and the post above me. Horses should have flax. I feed mine a complete feed with flax in it. But supplementing with it is a great idea!
Reply:OMG! poor you and POOR horse.


My daughters pony has sweet itch but he doesn't sound as badly effected as your horse.


He benefits from a snuggly hood and rug, he looks like a super hero in it too.
Reply:Hi. My mare suffers from itchy skin (not quite as bad as yours). I got the vet out and he checked for lice and stuff, he took skin scrapes and bloods but nothing showed up. She hasn't got sweet itch as she has it all year round. She gets the small lumps and dry skin. The vet said that it could be an allergic reaction to something but to try and find the cause would be nightmare, and it might not bring back an answer. He advised me to clip her coat (in winter) and wash her frequently with a medicated shampoo like vosein (spell?) Touch wood it seems to be working. she's still itchy but she's stopped throwing her self about and killing her fences. Hope this helps.


GOOD LUCK :)
Reply:Remedies for sweet itch, which is what your horse almost certainly has, do not work. The culcoides midge whose bite the horse is allergic to, lives on the grass. The only certain way to help him is to keep him in a box with fly nets on the doors and windows or in a box wearing a hood and fly rug with neck cover, between dawn and dusk. We have managed the condition by turning the horse out after dark and getting him in again before the sun is up. You can also ask the vet to take a scraping and he may be able to give him injections monthly to help the itch. In 30 + years I have never found a topical remedy that works.
Reply:If it's as bad as you say it is I'm wondering if he has an immune deficiency disorder? I'd give a powder histamine which you can get from your vet and top dress on his feed. And see what happens, if no improvement then.. ..... Immune Deficiency blood work and skin scrapings can be drawn and sent to a very competent lab .... at a university with majors in horse sciences.... i.e., UC-Davis, Ca., WSU at Pullman, Wa. Cornell University......etc...good luck, he has to be just miserable.
Reply:as it only happens in the summer it sounds as though it could be something similar to sweet itch. Have you tried the new sweet itch rugs that are appearing, these are very lightweight and breathable and completely cover the horse from poll to dock, these help to stop the little midge flies from biting, or keep him in during the day and turn him out at night.
Reply:This vet helped my horse. We're in the first year, so not sure of long term, but certainly stopped her scratching last year. My mare has sweet itch but also another allergy causing major irritation over her back


www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk

bleeding heart

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