Hives/urticaria

[spotty_pony]

So my poor spotty boy keeps breaking out in hives (mostly on his sides and belly) he doesn’t seem to be itchy with it, but there are sometimes some more localised swellings on his neck.

We have a lot of midges around at the moment with it being mild and damp and also we have a pond. I’ve been applying midge repellent but they slightest thing seems to set it off - it he gets too hot for example so I’ve been rugging less and I fully clipped him in February as I was sure that was the reason he was getting them but now his skin is even more sensitive as there
is no hair to protect it.

He’s had it in the past but only occasionally, usually during this time of year when his coat is changing and also once from an artificial fleece rug that he was allergic to.

I’ve swapped his feed over completely to Spillers over the past few months so wondering whether it’s a good allergy although I know they are rare? It’s all low sugar, molasses free stuff he is on. I’m even wondering if the midge repellent is making it worse. anyway I’ll be ringing the Vet to have a chat but I have some piriton on the way - does anybody know how many I will need to feed? I seem to remember it’s a higher number for hives than it is for hay fever. He also gets a bit of a pollen allergy so again this could be linked. Just want to try and get the lumps to settle down and then I’ll start trying to find out the cause.

Any advice and is anybody else having this problem atm?

 

[asmp]

Not at the moment but our spotty came out in hives when we gave him Mole’s own brand chaff.

 

[blood_magik]

If he has a pollen allergy it’s possible he is sensitive to other things. If it becomes a regular occurrence I would probably go down the allergen testing route.

 

[spotty_pony]

If he has a pollen allergy it’s possible he is sensitive to other things. If it becomes a regular occurrence I would probably go down the allergen testing route.

He is 24 now so I think he is becoming more sensitive to other things as he ages. Yes I will see how he goes, just need to try and calm the rash down and want his summer coat to come through so he has some protection

 

[Ali27]

Might be worth testing for cushings? My mare who is 21 has had issues in the past with hives but last Spring they were worse. Although she got neg in Cushing’s test, she had other symptoms (awful skin infection on face, high worm count,Summer coat not growing through from clip) so put her on prascend trial and she’s doing brilliantly!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

So my poor spotty boy keeps breaking out in hives (mostly on his sides and belly) he doesn’t seem to be itchy with it, but there are sometimes some more localised swellings on his neck.

We have a lot of midges around at the moment with it being mild and damp and also we have a pond. I’ve been applying midge repellent but they slightest thing seems to set it off - it he gets too hot for example so I’ve been rugging less and I fully clipped him in February as I was sure that was the reason he was getting them but now his skin is even more sensitive as there
is no hair to protect it.

He’s had it in the past but only occasionally, usually during this time of year when his coat is changing and also once from an artificial fleece rug that he was allergic to.

I’ve swapped his feed over completely to Spillers over the past few months so wondering whether it’s a good allergy although I know they are rare? It’s all low sugar, molasses free stuff he is on. I’m even wondering if the midge repellent is making it worse. anyway I’ll be ringing the Vet to have a chat but I have some piriton on the way - does anybody know how many I will need to feed? I seem to remember it’s a higher number for hives than it is for hay fever. He also gets a bit of a pollen allergy so again this could be linked. Just want to try and get the lumps to settle down and then I’ll start trying to find out the cause.

Any advice and is anybody else having this problem atm?

a livery came in with hives and we cold hosed him for a good 15 mins and seemed to help.

 

[blood_magik]

He is 24 now so I think he is becoming more sensitive to other things as he ages. Yes I will see how he goes, just need to try and calm the rash down and want his summer coat to come through so he has some protection

The only thing that has helped mine is immunotherapy to build up his resistance to known allergens. We keep a bottle of Equisolon (prednisolone) on hand incase he has a reaction.

 

[GinaGeo]

Mine had a dreadful case of hives that went in for two years Antibiotics and steroids only made it worse. And antihistamines didn’t touch it - my vet did say they don’t work that well in horses and they need alot of them. I think mine was getting around 10 tablets a day. We quickly swapped to a liquid from the vet instead, which also did nothing.

He was allergic to many things in his diet (we tested). And once they were cut out he improved but didn’t clear up. It would be easy enough to remove anything you’ve changed in his diet.

Probiotics helped whilst he was on them, but once the course finished they came back. So we then did the Equibiome Test which made a huge difference and they actually cleared up and haven’t come back - we’re now four years on.

I’d also be tempted to test for cushings as that can affect their immune system.

 

[spotty_pony]

Mine had a dreadful case of hives that went in for two years Antibiotics and steroids only made it worse. And antihistamines didn’t touch it - my vet did say they don’t work that well in horses and they need alot of them. I think mine was getting around 10 tablets a day. We quickly swapped to a liquid from the vet instead, which also did nothing.

He was allergic to many things in his diet (we tested). And once they were cut out he improved but didn’t clear up. It would be easy enough to remove anything you’ve changed in his diet.

Probiotics helped whilst he was on them, but once the course finished they came back. So we then did the Equibiome Test which made a huge difference and they actually cleared up and haven’t come back - we’re now four years on.

I’d also be tempted to test for cushings as that can affect their immune system.

Thanks, he was tested for Cushings last Autumn at the time when even normal horses sometimes have elevated levels but he was well below so a definite negative thank goodness!

 

[Ali27]

Thanks, he was tested for Cushings last Autumn at the time when even normal horses sometimes have elevated levels but he was well below so a definite negative thank goodness!

Mine has repeatedly tested negative for cushings for last few years but decided due to her age and symptoms to do prascend trial! No hives, skin infection, high worm counts for a year now!