Allergy? what would you do next?

[oscarwild]

Right two weeks ago my mare came in from the field with a swollen chin/cheek. Vet came out and next day and thought it was either a blocked gland or a reaction to something she had eaten. She was on boxrest for 4 days and then turned out for 2 days in a small isolation paddock to see what happened once out. She was fine so was told to put her back out in original field and see what happens.
She was turned out and next day the swelling returned and she brought back inside. She got out in isolation paddock for 4 days and in at night and all swelling had gone. So we changed fields this morning for a half day turnout and within 5 hrs the swelling had returned. Not as bad as first time but not out as long.

Here are some pics

the first time

second flair up

today flair up

So guys what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

[Minimi]

My mare gets massive lumps like that on her tummy near her teats from bites (horse flies).

Could you put on a hood of some sort?

 

[Holly Hocks]

I think I would get some piriton tablets - I give mine 12 in a morning and 12 in an afternoon.....

 

[McNally]

I think I would get some piriton tablets - I give mine 12 in a morning and 12 in an afternoon.....

Sorry ot but wow that must cost a fortune!

Has anything changed in your horses field? or have you moved her? really odd that she gets it in the same place!

 

[Minimi]

12 piriton sounds a lot!! The vet said yesterday that 3 was quite a lot.

 

[Jesstickle]

12 piriton sounds a lot!! The vet said yesterday that 3 was quite a lot.

Really

I had prescription strength human anti histamine from the vet, much stronger than piriton, and was told to give 20 a day!

 

[Minimi]

Wow! Are we speaking about the tablets? I thought the advice was to give no more than 3 at a time. I've learned something new

 

[Jesstickle]

Yep, tablets. Dunno what the advise is supposed to be. I just did what the vet said. My horse didn't die but it didn't help much with the allergy! I ended up keeping my mare in until the summer passed. Hope it doesn't come to that for you

 

[oscarwild]

She had been in the same field since April and had no issues until 2 weeks ago. She came out and went on boxrest for a few days and turnout in small isolation paddock. the isolation/rest paddock has little grazing and right next to stables. But not far from the field she was in today. was advised to turn back out when fine and see what happened. So we did and it came back. She was turned out today in a different field but the same happened but just not as bad. But not out for long (5hrs)


Might give the piriton a try and see how we get on.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Im thinking there must be something in your field that has just come into flower that your horse is sensitive to. Have you walked the field and had a jolly good look.?

 

[Fransurrey]

Henry had a lump like that in about 2001. I poulticed it and it matured into the finest abscess I ever saw! I had great fun sucking out the goo with a syringe and trying to dress it every day!! I never found out what caused it, but I can tell you I used Kaolin poultice to deal with it and salt water to flush it daily once it was draining. The vet thought it might be a sting, or blocked gland. I couldn't say if it would have gone done by bringing him in, as he lived out. Is there a harder part within the swelling? It is in the exact same place as Henry's and that puffiness looks very familiar!

 

[oscarwild]

No the swelling is squidy and fluidy but no hard parts to it. Vet originally thought abscess but once he got out and had a feel said no as it didnt feel right. Far too soft and squidgy. lol.

Swelling gone down a bit today again with some danilon yesterday and this morning.