Need Help For An Itchy Horse!

rivervu2 · 08-23-2008, 08:31 AM

We have a nice little paint mare who came to us in a very neglected state, underweight and with skin issues. We've managed to get her weight back on but she is still so itchy. Her ears are scaley looking inside and she seems to be most itchy in the folds of her skin between her front legs, on her chest and her mane & face. We have tried everything from betadine baths to dex. We have tried muck itch spray as well. The vet says that she has allergies and will need to stay on the dex but I don't see any huge improvement with her. She is up to date on her shots and worming and comes inside during the heat of the day. Any suggestions for this poor mare? She is so sweet and has lop ears and not a mean bone in her body.

BarnBum · 08-23-2008, 08:39 AM

Hope this helps....

FYI: Horse Allergies and Vaccines

TikiGator would be a good resource.

rivervu2 · 08-23-2008, 08:59 AM

Thanks so much, that was very helpful. I'm going to give the vet a call to arrange for allergy testing. I'd do anything at this point to help this poor mare.

**seerfarm** · 08-23-2008, 09:06 AM

Have you considered she may have an allergy to her hay and or food?

rivervu2 · 08-23-2008, 10:02 AM

Yes, that's possible. I guess allergy testing her will reveal what's causing it. I hope it's not alfalfa. She gets a flake every day and it's her favorite thing in the world.

kanoo32 · 08-24-2008, 12:12 PM

Perhaps you should first try a regimen of antibiotics. Since she was in such bad shape it is possivle that she had a secondary skin infection that you have not yet cleared up by treating topically. In this case the Dex would also make it worse nit better. It would be below the surface of the skin in the follicle. i would try this before going to the expense of allergy testing, and I would back it up with an antihistamine for the itching while it is healing. Also because of the location it would sound like a contact dermatitis to me not anything related to food. Good luck!

rivervu2 · 08-24-2008, 02:10 PM

Thanks Kanoo. You may be right. When we first started her on dex she was also given oral antibiotics and she seemed to get better. Once we stopped the treatment she got worse. We may try her on a course of antibiotics and the antihistimine as you suggested. I'll let you know how she responds.

dustyangel24 · 09-05-2008, 11:34 AM

I get a shot from my vet called Vetalog. It lasts 2 months, and takes the itchies and bumps away within 2 days. Costs about $30. No more scratchies when they are current on the shot.
I have noticed this year, with all the bad weather, so many horses are itchy and scratchy.

ThorArb · 09-09-2008, 08:32 PM

What is Vetalog? Id be interested in learning more about that as my mare has sensitive skin and allergies to flies. Its the worst during summer months and during the winter she does pretty well. But she gets real itchy and rubs herself raw!

Brittany

morgan · 09-09-2008, 10:04 PM

I have my horse is on Allergy shots. I had tried Dex and other steriods but long term use can cause slow onset Laminitis especially in some breeds of horses. He has also been on Antihistimines. My horse will even break out with the allergy shots. His skin has been the best in years this summer. I put him on Power Horse for his hooves and his coat has improved. Bathes don't work. They seem to aggravate the skin more.

dustyangel24 · 09-10-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThorArb

What is Vetalog? Id be interested in learning more about that as my mare has sensitive skin and allergies to flies. Its the worst during summer months and during the winter she does pretty well. But she gets real itchy and rubs herself raw!

Brittany

Here is a link...scroll down and you can read about it.

http://www.drugs.com/vet/vetalog-par...eterinary.html

Gave it to my mare, and within 2 days the bumps were gone, and she is not scratching anymore.
Worked like a charm!

ThorArb · 09-11-2008, 11:40 AM

My mare doesnt usually get any bumps... just itchies like mad. She get so bad that she develops these raw areas mainly on her chest, under her belly, and her bum. She itches so bad. She'll rub herself on anything to relieve it. Would Vetalog or something like that help to relieve that? Its mainly during the summer months that this happens when the flies are at their worst.

I think I will ask my vet about this and see what she says will help Foxy. I just cant afford to spend a fortune on a million different products though so I want something that is going to work and be a reasonable cost.

Brittany

dustyangel24 · 09-16-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThorArb

My mare doesnt usually get any bumps... just itchies like mad. She get so bad that she develops these raw areas mainly on her chest, under her belly, and her bum. She itches so bad. She'll rub herself on anything to relieve it. Would Vetalog or something like that help to relieve that? Its mainly during the summer months that this happens when the flies are at their worst.

I think I will ask my vet about this and see what she says will help Foxy. I just cant afford to spend a fortune on a million different products though so I want something that is going to work and be a reasonable cost.

Brittany

Yes, my mare is the same. She gets the raw look to her chest. Since I gave her the shot, the itching has stopped and hair is growing back.

TikiGator · 09-21-2008, 08:10 PM

As interesting as it may seem (and yes, it IS interesting!) the majority of "summer itch" horses actually suffer from neck threadworms. most people don't know about this......sometimes they are the culprit (like 90% of the time) and sometimes they are not.

But, it's an EASY fix.....double dose with Equimax (yes, it MUST be Equimax) and then do it again 2 weeks later.

NTWs are caused and transmitted by the biting fly. Most people think their horses itch from mosquitos--but the symptoms of NTWs including rubbing manes and tails, itching necks (specifically the front throat area down to the chest) and sores on the belly.

If the horse doesn't get better after the 2nd double-dose, and itching persists thru the fall/winter then it's best to allergy test (see the thread that barnbum posted!)

Pocahontas · 09-24-2008, 06:31 PM

And some time - I had an itchy horse and it took 6 months on the dex before I saw any improvement. Calm Coat helps alot too.

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08-23-2008, 08:31 AM
rivervu2 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 913	Need Help For An Itchy Horse! We have a nice little paint mare who came to us in a very neglected state, underweight and with skin issues. We've managed to get her weight back on but she is still so itchy. Her ears are scaley looking inside and she seems to be most itchy in the folds of her skin between her front legs, on her chest and her mane & face. We have tried everything from betadine baths to dex. We have tried muck itch spray as well. The vet says that she has allergies and will need to stay on the dex but I don't see any huge improvement with her. She is up to date on her shots and worming and comes inside during the heat of the day. Any suggestions for this poor mare? She is so sweet and has lop ears and not a mean bone in her body.

08-23-2008, 08:39 AM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,535	Hope this helps.... FYI: Horse Allergies and Vaccines TikiGator would be a good resource. __________________ Murphys Horse Law - A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching !!

08-23-2008, 08:59 AM
rivervu2 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 913	Thanks so much, that was very helpful. I'm going to give the vet a call to arrange for allergy testing. I'd do anything at this point to help this poor mare.

08-23-2008, 09:06 AM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portal, Ga Posts: 7,723	Have you considered she may have an allergy to her hay and or food? __________________ "To know the road ahead, ask those coming back".

08-23-2008, 10:02 AM
rivervu2 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 913	Yes, that's possible. I guess allergy testing her will reveal what's causing it. I hope it's not alfalfa. She gets a flake every day and it's her favorite thing in the world.

08-24-2008, 12:12 PM
kanoo32 Started Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,345	Perhaps you should first try a regimen of antibiotics. Since she was in such bad shape it is possivle that she had a secondary skin infection that you have not yet cleared up by treating topically. In this case the Dex would also make it worse nit better. It would be below the surface of the skin in the follicle. i would try this before going to the expense of allergy testing, and I would back it up with an antihistamine for the itching while it is healing. Also because of the location it would sound like a contact dermatitis to me not anything related to food. Good luck! __________________ Even if your on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!

08-24-2008, 02:10 PM
rivervu2 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 913	Thanks Kanoo. You may be right. When we first started her on dex she was also given oral antibiotics and she seemed to get better. Once we stopped the treatment she got worse. We may try her on a course of antibiotics and the antihistimine as you suggested. I'll let you know how she responds.

09-05-2008, 11:34 AM
dustyangel24 Weanling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 452	I get a shot from my vet called Vetalog. It lasts 2 months, and takes the itchies and bumps away within 2 days. Costs about $30. No more scratchies when they are current on the shot. I have noticed this year, with all the bad weather, so many horses are itchy and scratchy. __________________ *Proud owner of:* *17 yr old OTTB "Pleasure for Sure" aka "Bubba"* *3 yr old AQHA "This Lady's a Dream" aka"Ginger"* *5 yr old German Shepherd "Rocky", and* *3 yr old Ragdoll "Princeton"*

09-09-2008, 08:32 PM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 5,443	What is Vetalog? Id be interested in learning more about that as my mare has sensitive skin and allergies to flies. Its the worst during summer months and during the winter she does pretty well. But she gets real itchy and rubs herself raw! Brittany

09-09-2008, 10:04 PM
morgan Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 260	I have my horse is on Allergy shots. I had tried Dex and other steriods but long term use can cause slow onset Laminitis especially in some breeds of horses. He has also been on Antihistimines. My horse will even break out with the allergy shots. His skin has been the best in years this summer. I put him on Power Horse for his hooves and his coat has improved. Bathes don't work. They seem to aggravate the skin more.

09-11-2008, 11:40 AM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 5,443	My mare doesnt usually get any bumps... just itchies like mad. She get so bad that she develops these raw areas mainly on her chest, under her belly, and her bum. She itches so bad. She'll rub herself on anything to relieve it. Would Vetalog or something like that help to relieve that? Its mainly during the summer months that this happens when the flies are at their worst. I think I will ask my vet about this and see what she says will help Foxy. I just cant afford to spend a fortune on a million different products though so I want something that is going to work and be a reasonable cost. Brittany

09-21-2008, 08:10 PM
TikiGator Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 449	As interesting as it may seem (and yes, it IS interesting!) the majority of "summer itch" horses actually suffer from neck threadworms. most people don't know about this......sometimes they are the culprit (like 90% of the time) and sometimes they are not. But, it's an EASY fix.....double dose with Equimax (yes, it MUST be Equimax) and then do it again 2 weeks later. NTWs are caused and transmitted by the biting fly. Most people think their horses itch from mosquitos--but the symptoms of NTWs including rubbing manes and tails, itching necks (specifically the front throat area down to the chest) and sores on the belly. If the horse doesn't get better after the 2nd double-dose, and itching persists thru the fall/winter then it's best to allergy test (see the thread that barnbum posted!) __________________ Laura at Tikigator Farm Naples, FL www.tikigatorfarm.com

09-24-2008, 06:31 PM
Pocahontas Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jacksonville Florida Posts: 15	And some time - I had an itchy horse and it took 6 months on the dex before I saw any improvement. Calm Coat helps alot too. __________________ *Poci's Mom*