Hive like bumps on horse

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emfen1305

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My gelding has had some hive like bumps on one shoulder and both sides for just over a week - he had them for a couple of days last week and then they went and now they have come back and been here since the weekend. They aren't scabby or crusty, there's no heat and don't seem be bothering him.

At first I thought I might have overrugged him with the temperature being so up and down but he is clipped (legs, hogged and full body although his body was done about 12 weeks ago) so no rug isn't an option but for the last 3 days I put him in a no fill and its been -3, I felt him this morning and he didn't feel warm but he didn't feel cold either. He does have a bit of time out of his rug in the evenings and doesn't seem bothered about itching them. They haven't gone anywhere but don't think they are any worse. The only thing I can think has changed is that I started given him half a bucket of Top Spec Zero in the evening and added linseed to his feed although I did this from the weekend and he already had the bumps last week. I have stripped everything out of his feed and just giving him a handful of TB chaff to keep him quiet.

Should I be worried? Usually he doesn't go this long between clips as he does get too hot in work but he's been out of work so have left him. My friend thinks it could be do with the grease (he is brushed every day but he is quite greasy and scurfy anyway hence the addition of the linseed!) so I am planning on reclipping at the weekend and bathing him in a antifungal/antibacterial shampoo. Hay and shavings are the same as they have always been so I am at a bit of a loss! Ive heard of people using antihistamines but have no idea how many or where to start!
 
Has your rug been washed at any time? We have had this and put it down to traces of detergent left on the rug. We now always use a cotton summer sheet next to the body with other rugs on top. Sheets only get washed in clear water. We have not had any problem recently.
 
Sounds very much like my Welsh.
Mine suffers with dermatophilis, inflammation of the hair follicle.
He,too,has a greasy coat and rugging stimulates the production of grease even more. Even when clipped out he is usually warm enough in a light/medium weight rug. I don't use neck covers unless really wet and cold as I really think that makes him worse.
If it gets bad and he starts itching badly I bath him with diluted hibiscrub for a couple of days, that clears it up. If it's not bothering him I leave it alone.
One thing I learned the hard way- never put oily or greasy ointment on as it feeds it. Bit like teenage acne😐
 
My mare had similar in the autumn but the hives were weeping and scabbed over, leading to coat loss an din some cases darker hair growing through. Vet was called and gave her a steroid injection and told me to keep 40 Piriton tablets handy in caseit occurred again. I also put Fucidin cream on , which healed them quickly. She has had it on her wither in the autumn last 2 years before but this time it was on top of legs, both hind and front and stomach. She was clipped on one occasion and unclipped on the other two - baffling but would like to know cause too.

Perhaps post in VET area too?
 
One of them has as well as the liners but the other three haven't and he's been wearing the washed ones since around October so not sure if that's the cause. I could try only using the unwashed ones for a bit.

I do think it might be grease related as have only seen it now he has gone greasy and coat is coming through. I'll try clipping and washing and see if that helps. If not, I'll try some Piriton! Thanks, just didn't know if i should be worried!
 
The advice I used to give my liveries was - if this was on yourself what you you to?
If you developed similar would you change your washing detergent and take some Piriton or would you go and get checked by a GP?

Some horses do get heat rash, or eat funny stuff or lay in nettles but if its unusual and has been going on for over a week I would probably send a picture to my vet and see what they think.
 
emfen1305 said:
My gelding has had some hive like bumps on one shoulder and both sides for just over a week - he had them for a couple of days last week and then they went and now they have come back and been here since the weekend. They aren't scabby or crusty, there's no heat and don't seem be bothering him.

At first I thought I might have overrugged him with the temperature being so up and down but he is clipped (legs, hogged and full body although his body was done about 12 weeks ago) so no rug isn't an option but for the last 3 days I put him in a no fill and its been -3, I felt him this morning and he didn't feel warm but he didn't feel cold either. He does have a bit of time out of his rug in the evenings and doesn't seem bothered about itching them. They haven't gone anywhere but don't think they are any worse. The only thing I can think has changed is that I started given him half a bucket of Top Spec Zero in the evening and added linseed to his feed although I did this from the weekend and he already had the bumps last week. I have stripped everything out of his feed and just giving him a handful of TB chaff to keep him quiet.

Should I be worried? Usually he doesn't go this long between clips as he does get too hot in work but he's been out of work so have left him. My friend thinks it could be do with the grease (he is brushed every day but he is quite greasy and scurfy anyway hence the addition of the linseed!) so I am planning on reclipping at the weekend and bathing him in a antifungal/antibacterial shampoo. Hay and shavings are the same as they have always been so I am at a bit of a loss! Ive heard of people using antihistamines but have no idea how many or where to start!
Click to expand...
When I clipped my mare out last year, she was covered in heat bumps, all along the top of her back. It wasn't diet related as she had just been on grass. I finally put her onto homeopathic sulphur pills, and they cleared within 3 weeks.
 
hattie2525 said:
The advice I used to give my liveries was - if this was on yourself what you you to?
If you developed similar would you change your washing detergent and take some Piriton or would you go and get checked by a GP?

Some horses do get heat rash, or eat funny stuff or lay in nettles but if its unusual and has been going on for over a week I would probably send a picture to my vet and see what they think.
Click to expand...

Haha not sure I am the best example, I recently got Shingles and didn't go to the Doctors for a week until I was there anyway for a routine appointment whereas I am never off the phone to the vet worrying but I suppose the difference is I know whether it was causing me enough discomfort to warrant a trip whereas he can't talk. I have to go off his behaviour which has not changed whether he has them or not.

I think I'll clip and wash and reassess in a week if they haven't gone!
 
I noticed today that the big hunter I exercise has some bumps, small, non scabby, around his shoulder area. Discussed this with owner. We are wondering if the hay/lage they are using, which is very soft, dry and "fluffy" and seems to get everywhere, is perhaps dropping into the front of his night rug and causing a little irritation. TBH, he doesn't seem bothered! He is a hot horse but is fully clipped and quite lightly rugged. It will be monitored, there is an equine vet in the family.
 
In the case of the hunter, his feed has not changed at all. The bale of haylage is the only change.
 
My horse had similar a couple of years ago. They were only on his clipped bits but were hot to the touch and seemed sore so not quite the same there.

It turned out to be a spontaneous skin infection that ended up systemic and put him in hospital for ten days! Not saying this is the case with your horse but it might be worth getting it checked out.
 
Thanks all, lumps have now gone after being left unrugged whilst it was a bit milder so think I had accidentally overrugged when the weather kept changing. I have reclipped and bathed in medicated shampoo just in case but haven't seen them for a couple of days.
 
This happened many years ago to a horse I had, she was fully clipped. I ended up getting the vet who said remove all rugs! I felt mean as it was minus temps but swapped to a cotton sheet, couldnt remove them all! The lumps remained. Was told to try and eliminate things feed wise. The only thing that had changed was a new batch of hay, so replaced that and 3 days later, they had gone. Tried the hay again as couldnt believe hay had caused t and they came back. Have you changed you hay or haylage? Worth a try??
 
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