Allergic Reactions at this time of year?

[Governor]

I got a phone call yesterday afternoon to let me know G had an allergic reaction and the vet had been called.

I got there and he looked like he'd done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. His eyes were almost closed by swelling, full body rash/bumps and he appeared quite distressed (head shaking/tossing) - was rather worried about the oedema forming round his windpipe. The vet gave him a shot of steroids and painkillers, I hosed him down and *touch wood* he seems perky this morning and the rash has almost completely gone.

The thing is we have absolutely no idea what caused it. He was brought in from the field early pm and had his legs washed down and rug removed. He looked fine at this point. He was then put on the walker and when one of the girls went to get him off he looked awful (worse than when I got there apparently).

Has anyone experienced this kind of thing in February before? He is sensitive to pollen (puffy glands, runny/puffy eyes and the occasional rash - usually mild with the occasional 'attack'). The walker was checked for any cause, it hadn't been cleaned with chemicals and there was no sign of anything else. The field was also clear. All of the other horses were fine (inc. other horses on the walker). I haven't seen any flying nasties either but I would have assumed a sting?

 

[Birker2020]

This is quite common and can be alarming to people especially if it hasn't occured to their horse before. It could be something he has come into contact with, such as nettles or it could be something he has eaten. You may never find the cause of it, and unless it is an ongoing recurring problem there is probably little you can do to find the cause. I hate to be so negative but my friends horse has come out in lumps and despite changing feed, hay, bedding, rugs nothing has really made much difference.

 

[kellyeaton]

are you sure he was not bitten or stung by anything!

 

[Tinkle]

Thought mine had any allergic reaction as he wasn't himself at the weekend. Then his legs and belly filled with fluid (proper tree trunk legs) and he had a temperature. We'd changed haylage supplier. Vet has diagnosed a virus though after a blood test so just putting it down to him getting run down with the crap weather.

x

 

[brea2006]

yep my ned gets it on his neck from the hawthorn bushes!!

 

[bex777]

I had the same this morning although not to the extent of yours.

Took his rug off and covered in lumps/rash over his body and his hind leg was slightly puffy.
I had the vet out at lunchtime and they have given him antihistamines (sp) but cannot tell what it was. He seemed alright in himself and I could not see any lumps on him last night but he was head shaking when ridden yesterday and coughing a bit.

I have taken him off haylage (yesterdays bale smelt potent) and put him back on soaked hay....his glands were also up a little so I am wondering if it was new grass coming through and too much protein from the haylage?

 

[Pep12]

Hi there my boy is allergic to pollen and headshakes from April (normally) through till September/October and has to wear a nose net. I noticed last night when bringing him in from the field that he was starting to head shake a bit. The gorse bush flowers up here (Scotland) are out already. this freaky mild weather has got everything going and my poor boy is starting to suffer a whole 6 weeks early. Nightmare.