Fly bites?

[Milliechaz]

About 10 days ago when the horse flies first started appearing my mare came in with some swellings underneath her belly just in front of her teats. She is very sensitive and I think they are bad reactions to fly bites. There is no heat she isn't bothered about you touching them in fact she quite likes you rubbing them so I guess they may be itchy. I have also seen her sitting in the field rubbing her belly on the floor.

10 days on they have gone down a bit (these photos are from today) but they are still very prominent. I gave her bute for the 1st 3 days to see if that would bring them down and since then I have been smearing them in sudocrem to stop the midges biting them but I don't really know what else I can do? I'm not that concerned to get the vet out as I do believe they are bites but does anybody else know anything that may help?

She is only young and has only had a rug on twice (for 10 minutes a time) so I don't really want to put a fly rug on her at the moment in case she gets in to mischief. I am brining them in for the day while the flies are biting instead.

Any ideas to bring down the swelling?

 

[Milliechaz]

anybody?

 

[Dyllymoo]

Could you try giving her some antihistamines at all? These would reduce the swelling. Maybe speak to your vet over the phone, they may be able to advise the dosage and if it would help?

 

[Carrottom]

I use biteback products repel gel for sensitive areas.

 

[Sugar Plum]

Are they just in front of the teats and are there two of them next to each other? If so, these are normal swellings for mares. If not, then perhaps bites, where I am no expert, but agree with Dyllymoo on the anti-histamine

 

[Milliechaz]

thank you I've not tried antihistamines, ill call vet for dose.