Flies eating horse's sheath :'(

Joanna710

Joanna710

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Arrived at the yard today to find my horse in a complete state, don't think the poor sod has ever been so pleased to see me. He was swishing his tail like mad, and on inspection I found a HUGE cluster of flies gathered on part of his sheath. Anyway, after dispatching those that were too slow to fly away, I found a large, raw patch of flesh where the flies have literally eaten away all of the skin in that area. He's currently stabled away from the little b***ers, and I'll head up tonight after work to put him back out.

I've smothered the area in Sudocrem, however the serum/ blood from the wound is leaking through and I'm not sure it'll stop the flies from getting back into the sore area. Does anyone have any suggestions for creams/ lotions I can slather on tonight to keep the flies off his manbits? I have put fly repellent around the area, however obviously haven't sprayed any directly on the wound for fear of losing my kneecaps.

Any suggestions would be greatly received, he really is in a pickle :( x
 
Sounds like midges & horseflies. Has he got a pink sheath?

I tried all sorts, even that yellow cream but the coopers spot on from vet is what finally worked.

You will probably have to keep him in now during day until it heals up. Poor chap :(
 
Poor boy, the flies are awful this week, the price we pay for the sunshine. Summer fly cream is good for this sort of thing, you can buy it from agricultural stores, put it onto the wound as often as you can. Spray plenty of fly repellent into his tail so that when he swishes it, he gives his sheath area a good covering.
 
oh mine has had this before, looks like an ulcer and like size of a coin..its awful. OK just slap on tons of sudocreme. Sudocreme is tacky and it lasts(it might end up with dirt etc if he rolls but its not a problem). Its good as it lasts and the flies if they dare will just stick to the creme!

Or udder cream but Sudo is best. Just renew daily. At least you spotted it. But it makes you feel bad when this happens etc!
 
tallyho! said:
Sounds like midges & horseflies. Has he got a pink sheath?

I tried all sorts, even that yellow cream but the coopers spot on from vet is what finally worked.

You will probably have to keep him in now during day until it heals up. Poor chap :(
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He's a Friesian so black all over. The only blessing is he has a full mane and his forelock is over a foot long... So flies aren't an issue on his face/ neck! The flies eating him are just the common black ones (horseflies?!)...Not clegs but I guess I can't really tell the difference between them. They're all horrid!

Will also clean his sheath properly tomorrow so it is less likely to attract critters, it gets dirty/ smelly surprisingly quick!

Thanks for all the replies :)

Indie999 - I feel like such a terrible owner, it's exactly how you describe it. Hate flies. He has itchy patches on his sides too but they're not raw. Fly rug going on tonight so hopefully that'll give him some relief.
 
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Tigger gets a real issue with flies and his sheath, I've been using red horse products ointment and sweetie which forms a barrier. If there is an open would I also use their honeyheal as it helps heal but also fully covers the wound and dries so the flies can't get at it, fab stuff!
 
ive been putting Vasaline round the boys sheath and also his eyes it seems to be working he dosn't like his fly mask !!!!!!!!!!!
 
Sudocrem but also have some cream called filta bac which makes a great barrier I am using at the mo where mine has his sarcoids lasered off the flys here are terrible but they have not got through this yet.
I got my first tube fron the vets but got a 500ml pot from eBay direct from the company much cheaper.
It's great for sunburn and buttercup burn to .
 
hunteress said:
ive been putting Vasaline round the boys sheath and also his eyes it seems to be working he dosn't like his fly mask !!!!!!!!!!!
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Yep I am a fan of vaseline too its soothing and tacky. I too have put around eyes and it does help the only thing is sunburn risk on face as its petroleum. But yes love vaseline as well as sudocreme for stopping pesky flies. My boy actually likes me applying it...am sure he knows its doing him some good!!!(Around his bits and bobs).
 
Joanna710 said:
He's a Friesian so black all over. The only blessing is he has a full mane and his forelock is over a foot long... So flies aren't an issue on his face/ neck! The flies eating him are just the common black ones (horseflies?!)...Not clegs but I guess I can't really tell the difference between them. They're all horrid!

Will also clean his sheath properly tomorrow so it is less likely to attract critters, it gets dirty/ smelly surprisingly quick!

Thanks for all the replies :)

Indie999 - I feel like such a terrible owner, it's exactly how you describe it. Hate flies. He has itchy patches on his sides too but they're not raw. Fly rug going on tonight so hopefully that'll give him some relief.
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Sisters cob got bitten on her sides little round areas and this is when the vet recommended Flypor they sold us about 100mls for £16 its to go on fur along their backs to stop flies and must not go where they can reach and not on skin as it burns. We dabbed it on wearing plastic gloves. Farmers use it as livestock drench to stop flies. It does work and it stopped the patches on the horses body. She had never had them before. Just get a tub sudocreme for his sheath its cheap too..its for eczema etc so perfectly safe. It will work for your horse fine and heal up as quick as he got the sore.
 
be aware that this can result in maggots appearing :eek: .. I would give the sheath a good wash and hose, and keep him in.

Poor lad, the things they go through - Shy once had maggots in a cut on his coronet band, totally hidden under his feathers, I nearly died. :(
 
Hi, my boy had the same thing a couple of years ago with midges and his sheath got quite swollen - slapped sudocrem on and powerphaser elsewhere and it cleared up very quickly :)
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm just back from the yard, his sheath is now COATED in sudocrem, poor boy :P I'll look into some of the other lotions and potions tomorrow but sudocrem was all I had to hand tonight. I did "manhandle" him a little to check for any other sore patches, and noticed that where he was bitten he is EXTREMELY swollen. If I didn't know better (the bites are towards the front) he could be mistaken for a stally, the size of the lumps :P


indie999 said:
Yep I am a fan of vaseline too its soothing and tacky. I too have put around eyes and it does help the only thing is sunburn risk on face as its petroleum. But yes love vaseline as well as sudocreme for stopping pesky flies. My boy actually likes me applying it...am sure he knows its doing him some good!!!(Around his bits and bobs).
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It's a shame they don't do the green version (aloe vera) in a big tub... That'd be lovely and soothing :) Did wonder about using vaseline instead but until I know the area is clean I don't want to trap anything yuck inside the wound. The flies have stripped off a good few layers of skin.


shysmum said:
be aware that this can result in maggots appearing :eek: .. I would give the sheath a good wash and hose, and keep him in.(
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Argh, ta for the heads up! Will give him a good clean tomorrow, he's long overdue another scrub "down there" anyway :)

He is now drenched in fly repellent, and have dabbed neat citronella oil onto his fly rug for good measure.
 
Joanna710 said:
Arrived at the yard today to find my horse in a complete state, don't think the poor sod has ever been so pleased to see me. He was swishing his tail like mad, and on inspection I found a HUGE cluster of flies gathered on part of his sheath. Anyway, after dispatching those that were too slow to fly away, I found a large, raw patch of flesh where the flies have literally eaten away all of the skin in that area. He's currently stabled away from the little b***ers, and I'll head up tonight after work to put him back out.

I've smothered the area in Sudocrem, however the serum/ blood from the wound is leaking through and I'm not sure it'll stop the flies from getting back into the sore area. Does anyone have any suggestions for creams/ lotions I can slather on tonight to keep the flies off his manbits? I have put fly repellent around the area, however obviously haven't sprayed any directly on the wound for fear of losing my kneecaps.

Any suggestions would be greatly received, he really is in a pickle :( x
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Try Neem Repel-Gel or Sweet Relief Cream both from Biteback. I use them on my mare's udder and she's fine now.
 
Well, been back up to the yard today (about 11.30ish), all sudocrem gone from sheath and at least twice as many flies on sore patch as yesterday :'( He is now stabled and I'm about to pootle off the the local tack shop to stock up on sticky creams/ gels to try give him some relief.
 
Mine had this trouble & his sheath got very very swollen from the flies biting. I gave it a good old clean & he had piriton for the swelling. Now I dollop some fly repellent gel on it when he goes out - it stinks like nail varnish remover but keeps them away.

My boys is pink by the way!!! xx
 
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