Allergies ?

[poggio]

A bit concerned about the younger of my two. He's been going really beautifully lately then last week he started being 'difficult' (to put it lightly!!) whilst being schooled. It has happened before but perhaps not so violently and we are talking months and months ago. Its very much like napping ie rearing and protesting when going in opposite direction to gate, other horses etc. but he snatches at the reins and throws himself around so much that his mouth has become sore so now I get a reaction everytime I touch his mouth (I know this isn't such an issue and can be easily overcome) The thing that is playing on my mind is he has a very good attitude generally and never causes a fuss about anything. This behaviour must be stemming from something, I've had all the physical checks done, and are done on a regular basis. Plus he works beautifully then just hits a wall and starts playing up. He has felt very flat and quite lethargic recently, whereas he is normally quite inspiring to ride! Hes tiring very easily and quickly and not really very enthusiastic about anything unless its his bucket of feed!
I am quite convinced he has some kind of mild allergy, almost hayfeverish. He had problems with different feeds in the winter and would come out in a rash all over his body but we now have this under control.
In the week he is out for about 3-4hours in the morning and brought in at lunchtime - by the groom - with a haynet until I get to the yard in the evening. On weekends he is brought in by myself whatever time I get to the yard. I have noticed that he seems very drowsy when I go to catch in, quite irritated almost to the point of headshaking/rubbing his nose on my arm. The other day he was stood with his head in the bushes and when I got closer noticed he had a swollen eye, which he then tried to scratch hell out of on my arm. After an hour or two inside he seems to come back round.
I will be getting the vet out as he at least needs bloods taken but any ideas ??

 

[stencilface]

I think you can rub some glycerine on his tongue to help with a sore mouth (can get it from a pharmacy). Ours are very lethargic in late summer as their coats change, they sweat up a lot losing salts, which leads to the lethargy. Have you tried feeding salts (we feed Kossolian blood salts) or getting a lick?

Mine is always drowsy pretty much, but is probably caused from gorging on the nice grass everyone has at the moment. Think I would be lethargic if I ate loads of pasta or similar!

I would think he had just scratched his eye by eating the bushes (ours do this on brambles/bushes that they eat) and I wouldn't worry too much. Don't know if thats any help?

 

[poggio]

Thanks for the advice...

He does get fed salts in his feed and I think his diet is as good as we can get it at the moment. Its something we've worked hard on due to his reactions previously.

I understand what you are saying about your horses but knowing my horse, and the fact that he is fit and in full work - ready to event, on decent food and before last week was fine... Im pretty sure there is more to it. Plus he was in the bushes 'hiding' his head, not eating... and looked very drowsy and generally not too happy.

Think I will just have to wait on what Vet says...

 

[Blimpy]

Hi there
He sounds very much like a horse of mine. Bought him as a 5 year old and did a few events on him very successfully. He was always a slightly lazy but very willing horse. So in his 6 year old year i brought him in from his break in the summer and he did a couple of events. Jumped well but seemed uncomfortable in his head and neck a bit on the flat. There was nothing wrong with his back or teeth or anything like that so I couldn't tell what was up with him. Then the following week i was riding him at home the day before an event and he just sat down on my and refused to go anywhere. If i smacked him or kicked him on he just bucked. Anyway got him going a bit and left him. He coughed a few times afterwards a horrible deep cough. Presumably he bled a bit. Anyway turned out the poor horse had a lung infection caused by allergies. Had him allergy tested which showed up a few things. Put him on rubber matting, clean soaked hay etc but he still wasn't quite right. So now he's had de-sensitisation treatment which is just giving him an injection a week. I am waiting to see whether or not it has worked.
You know your horse best yourself and if you think he's lethargic and there's something wrong you should get him checked. You can get a blood test to see if he has an infection and if he is allergic to anything. You might also want to get him scoped if his breathing is a bit laboured and he is tiring easily. I hope you find out whats wrong with him. Make sure your vet takes you seriously. My vet basically told me that I needed to get after the horse more and that there was nothing wrong with him! He looked fine and healthy on the outside but he really wasn't.

 

[embonaught]

I would have him scoped, washed and tested. My mare nearly died walking up the road in early May (well, that's what it felt like) she's fit - hunts during winter, ridden five times a week. The vet tested her mucous (i think) and found a high level of antigens. She's allergic to something - probably rape pollen as back to normal now it's all died back. Scared the life out of me but at least I can be prepared for next year. I've had her four years and this one has been the worst.
It's becoming a lot more common!

 

[poggio]

Thanks both, hopefully it's not as severe as your two yet so fingers xd if it is anything we can catch it early enough. I was considering asking for a scope etc also so will discuss with vet on Tues. Like you say, he looks fine and perfectly healthy from the outside.

Have spoken to vet and he's having bloods done Tuesday as he was booked in for his booster vaccs so may as well kill two birds with one stone and he is competing on Sunday so can judge how he feels in a competitive environment too.

He jumped again last night and was an angel, but again not his usual sparkly self and tired quite quickly. Plus he was 'toe-tapping' over every fence when he's normally quite snappy.

Hope yours is a successful recovery Poly, its quite upsetting to know that theres something not right but can't quite figure out what. Poor pones.

 

[Marchtime]

I'd push ahead with the bloods. My TB acted similarly when he was 4yrs old and we ended up getting bloods. It turned out he had a virus. Because of his age we turned him away for three months whilst he recovered. I hope your vet finds something to explain his behaviour.