Fly-bitten sheath

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laura_nash

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My poor gelding is getting serious fly bites all around his sheath and the skin around it. It's my first summer with him, and he's my first gelding. Fly spray didn't seem to help at all. I've washed inside his sheath and everything, so I don't think they're being attracted by him being dirty. He just seems to be really sensitive to them, the bites swell up and produce puss if I don't treat them immediately.

I've had some success recently with washing the whole area thoroughly with Hibiscrub and then coating it in Lincoln Green Gel, but I have to do it every day. Plus I have to wash the green gel off the inside of his legs each day where it runs down.

Does anyone know of anything that might help?

One of my fellow liveries suggested a feed supplement (e.g. garlic) might be worth a try? The only thing is he already gets two supplements in his one handful of Happy Hoof..
 
My lad suffers with midges in that area, and i got a fly repellant gel that seems to do the trick its made by carr day and martin and comes in a yellow and white tube, wasn't expensive and as long as i apply am and pm he doesn't get bitten. Does sound like your lad is extra sensitive though, perhaps its worth a try though?
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i cover my mares hinge bits (best description i can think of!) with sudo-cream and lots of it (or the boots own brand-cheaper), really thick and seems to stop them. i know its messy etc but it makes her more comfortable . x
 
Thanks for the suggestions, sounds like applying some kind of gel each day is the way to go - will just have to resign myself to it. Might experiment with other fly repellant gels / sudocream though.
 
I use human Jungle Formula (roll-on) (available from chemists, tesco's etc) on my gelding, and it helps him when the midges are bad.

I use the Jungle Formula spray on him too when it's a high mosquito and midge night
 
By that I meant I use roll-on Jungle Formula on his sheath and the inside of his back legs and face, and the spray on the rest of him.
 
Try slarring Summer Fly Cream all over that area. It will help soothe any bites he currently has and deter flies as well.
 
Be careful with fly bites that they do not get infected. My horse kicked his sheath on Thursday and cut down the inside of his sheath with his nails/shoes and needed vet treatment.

YOu are doing the right thing by keeping his bits clean.

Unfortunately, the best, but messiest way to keep the flysies away is green gel or the summer fly cream. I know it is messy and time consuming, but it works. The only other thing is to keep him in during the day and out at night when the flies and midges are not active.
 
vasaline and tea tree oil to keep them away then at night clean off with chamoline and aloe vera baby wipes very soothing!
 
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