Advice on itchy feathers....

[AutumnRose]

This should probably be in vets but iknow more people look in here.
My new chap has quite hairy heels, they aren't proper feathers at all and they are trimmed but he is really itchy in them, where ever he's tied up he trys to rub them. Now theres no scabs or any sign of anything in them but apparrently this is quite common.
Has anyone had this and what's the best stuff to put on? None of mine have had this before so not sure whats best to clear it up.

Ta in advance

 

[Maisy]

My hairy girl has a detamax (sp?) injection for her itchy legs.

 

[AutumnRose]

An injection? Thats interesting, has that stopped it completely and was it expensive?

 

[K27]

One of my friends horses suffers from this and she has used Frontline Flea Spray to good effect. She also has an injection as well.

You could also try maybe something like Betadine ointment from the chemists as this seems to be good stuff for skin conditions and cuts etc, but i'm sure your vet will be able to advise you if this would be suitable for what your horse has!.

 

[Blue-bear]

If its your coloured, he looks like a big version of mine.
I have had the vet out twice (2 different ones) now for itchy heels, the first time he said it was heel mites and the best thing to do was to use frontline spray and sahve his feathers right off, to be honest i think this did work. this was last year.
Last week had the vet back out and he was talking about it being dermatitis but could be again caused by mites there is no real answer because even when doing a skin scrape which costs a fortune you cant see them anyway. This time i have scabs etc so he has given me some cream for this which seems to be healing that up super.
As for the itching i tried most things before we came to this conclusion, itch creams, etc etc to thinking it might be a from of mud fever, you name it!
I just find it easier to have his feathers haved and think the frontline treatment is most affective TBH

 

[CracklinRosie]

They probably have stable mites. A pony at my yard has them and his legs are in a terrible state. All lumps and bumps because they were not treated properly.

Hibiscrub is good for this but I'd check with vet that it isn't stable mites first.

 

[AutumnRose]

thanks for the ideas. At the moment there are no scabs, bumps or any outward sign of anything on his legs and the feathers are closely trimmed but not shaved. The vet is coming out at end of week for his 2nd jab so will ask them then but i wondered if there's anything i can out on in mean time as he's obviously uncomfortable.
Yes it's the colour in my sig

 

[Daisy11]

it does sound like heel mites either use frontline or you can use deosect not many people know that u can use this on them but u can

 

[Theresa_F]

PM me if you want the huge essay I do on looking after horses blessed with hair. Have a cup of tea ready - there is a lot to read.

 

[oofadoofa]

I'm not normally one for herbs and things, but I have found that Hilton Herbs Top Coat works really well for these sorts of things. My boy was covered in scabs on his face and heels a couple of weeks ago and was constantly rubbing. After a week of feeding the top coat they have all gone and he's stopped itching. I would far rather feed him some herbs than use Frontline or anything harsh like that on his face.

 

[AutumnRose]

Thats interesting, thanks oofadoofa will look into that.

 

[Maisy]

The injection stops it completely for about 3 months. My mare has 2 a year (April & July ish). I wouldnt take the feathers off if you can help it as they can get itchy from that too!

The actual injection is about a tenner!!! It isnt licenced to horses (which is probably why it is so cheap!), but my horse has had it every year, and my old boy before her (& he died 7 years ago), so it has been used for a long time.

Does your horse stamp its feet? Does he have pin-prick kind of holes under his feathers? These were the symptoms for me that it was mites!

Last summer, I tried Camrosa, which did work, but it was a horrid sticky mess, and the effect wasnt long lasting (she had to have camrosa on all 4 legs to the knee every day for 4 weeks!!!!) Everything ended up covered in sticky goo, so it isnt something I would recommend!!!

 

[AutumnRose]

Thanks for that. He doesn't stamp his feet at all and i can't fina anything at all on his skin. I was planning on keeping the feathers trimmed rather than shaving them off as i thought this might irritae them further. I will ask the vet about injection

 

[oofadoofa]

The Top Coat also seems to have stopped him rubbing his tail which he has been doing a bit all summer.

 

[kellyeaton]

watch them in tea tree shampoo than wait for advice from your vet!~

 

[Hippona]

I was advised dermol shampoo - leave on for 5-10mins then rinse thoroughly- seemed to work ok, but there were no mites/scabs/sore skin etc- so may just have been a bit scurfy/greasy...

 

[K27]

Also forgot to add you could try Seleen shampoo which is for dogs but works well for itchy skin conditions in horses too

 

[Cahill]

frontline is not licenced for horses but i heard about it at a `vet-talk` and the vet there recomended it.i bought a pump spray (about £12) for my dog and used that.my cob has not done it since, she used to stamp and rub her back legs together.