Fly spray and sarcoids...

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Trix98

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Little Patch, the pony I'm riding over the summer, has a large sarcoid over his left eye (Vet has been out and supplied the owner with cream for it) and the flies are becoming a real pain for him!
Out hacking he is always trying to get rid of them and in his field he just stands in the trailer to get away from them... So I was wondering if there were any cheap-ish (On a limited budget unfortunately) fly sprays that would be any good for him?
I thought about a mask or a fringe but both would irritate his sarcoid :( Any suggestions are welcome :D
And just for a laugh, here is his majesty's bottom poking out of his trailer :rolleyes:
528876_2280171020647_2031572814_n.jpg

Apologies for the bad quality... :o
 
The full fask masks stand proud of the horse's face so that their eyes can open without the eyelashes getting bent. Might be worth looking at a few of the masks and seeing if any will fit him without touching the sarcoid.

If you find one that almost fits, you can always do a bit of sewing homework and create a little pad of material in a circle, like a corn plaster, on inside of the mask to allow the mask to sit proud of the sarcoid.

Sudocrem on the sarcoid contains anti-inflammatories and analgesic so if you're not competing (is sudocrem on the banned list?), you could put a dollob of that onto his sarcoid each day too. It works well as a sunblock and moisturiser too, and it's antiseptic.

Otherwise, a long flyfringe is not going to annoy his sarcoid anymore than a long forelock? Get one that fits without needing a headcollar.
 
I wondered whether a fly-mask made out of a stiffish material (Cashel do great ones) would help. The one I've got is shaped so that it stands well clear of the eye area - but I don't know just how big the sarcoid is so that might not help you.

Also, I think you might need to keep the rest of the pony as fly-free as possible to prevent the possibility of flies spreading the sarcoid to other parts of the pony's body. I seem to remember reading something somewhere about Derek Knottenbelt (Liverpool) recommending the use of diluted paraffin as a fly repellent but have no idea of quantities. Maybe someone else on here will know.

Good luck, sarcoids are horrible.
 
Suechoccy said:
The full fask masks stand proud of the horse's face so that their eyes can open without the eyelashes getting bent. Might be worth looking at a few of the masks and seeing if any will fit him without touching the sarcoid.

If you find one that almost fits, you can always do a bit of sewing homework and create a little pad of material in a circle, like a corn plaster, on inside of the mask to allow the mask to sit proud of the sarcoid.

Sudocrem on the sarcoid contains anti-inflammatories and analgesic so if you're not competing (is sudocrem on the banned list?), you could put a dollob of that onto his sarcoid each day too. It works well as a sunblock and moisturiser too, and it's antiseptic.

Otherwise, a long flyfringe is not going to annoy his sarcoid anymore than a long forelock? Get one that fits without needing a headcollar.
Click to expand...

Sudocrem is not an antiinflammoryor an angelesic it's contains an anti bacterial ( not antibiotic ) anti fungal .Zinc oxide for its barrier and soothing properties a pesticide and an antiseptic / disinfectant.
I would be careful of putting it near an eye OP, you really need a vet to advise what cream would be safe,
I do think a fly mask is worth trying
Remember when the sarcoid is open flys that get on it can inflect other horses so you need to sort a way of keeping them off and protecting any wounds on other horses meticulously .
 
The sarcoid itself is quite big, maybe an inch? Not sure really.. I didn't want to go out and buy a mask for it to not fit :rolleyes: Although my Gran is great with the sewing machine :p
He lives out in a private field with 3 donkeys so I was also unsure as to whether they would eat it... they've eaten his mane, poor ponio (He hasn't got much of a forelock either Suechoccy :o) but I'm willing to give it a go anyway, he rubs his face on his leg and opens it up again so perhaps with a mask this won't happen as often?

Also, Goldenstar the vet has prescribed a cream to apply on the lump but I'm not sure what it is as I wasn't there when the vet came to look and I assume that the owner will be the one who applies it :)

I hope this picture helps.. it's above his right eye.
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I used th epremier equine fly masks for my boy when he had a healing sarcoid after surgery. Also above his eye and it didn't bother him at all or stick to the sarcoid :)
 
I had a fly cream i used on bensons sarcoids, cant remember the make, it was in a bright yellow tube. Didnt need much just rubbed onto the sarcoid, and it really worked to keep the flies away.
 
I used Battles Summer fly cream on my lad who had a protruding one on his chest - cheap, worked well, and non invasive.

Poor chap - I can see why a fly mask would be a problem, and hope it gets resolved.
 
A fly mask with altereration. If you got a extra large one and sew (sow, sewed?!) a sponge to the inside, between the eye and the ear, that would keep it out of his eye.
 
I have a rambo fly mask, cant find a picture, but it has a boning type thing around the eye area, so it holds the mask a lot further away from their eyes, it might be worth having a look at something like that! wont be cheap though, but would be very useful!
 
I wouldn't put anything on the actual sarcoid other than the cream supplied by the vet. Summer fly cream (bright yellow stuff) can be used around the affected area to help keep flies away. Personally I would try a full face fly mask with a nose as his nose is looking a bit red and this will help protect from sun too. I would also get a fly rug on him as sarcoids are easily spread by flies and are a pain to treat. My mare had several treated last year, one had to be removed surgically and I used the summer fly cream around it afterwards as it was left as an open wound to heal. I'm now very careful about fly protection and (touch wood) not found any more.

NB somebody said sudocrem has anti inflammatory/antibiotic properties earlier, this is not true, it is simply a antibacterial barrier cream!

Good luck!
 
Well, just for those interesed, with the aid of the prescribed cream the sarcoid has fallen off *Hurrah!* and I'm keeping a close eye on it incase it comes back.
Now that summer seems to be over, the flies have all but gone. I only share this horse and so I don't want to be forking out a load of money for a fly rug when he could be sold soon :rolleyes: I've suggested it to the owner though and she says she's keeping an eye out... the only problem would be Donkey-proofing it! :p

Thank you for all the suggestions though :D
 
Sounds like you dont need it now but if the flies bother him those new Citronella tags might be good. You can either plait the forelock and tie it in or you can attache it to the bridle.
 
HJ- There's a shop litterally 2 minutes down the road from me that sell those and I was about to stock up when the sarcoid fell off and then rain arrived. Such a clever idea! As he lives out with his headcollar on it would be a pretty handy if the flies return with a veagance :)
 
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