horse biting himself?

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Super_starz

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My horse has started to bite himself on the flank area. He did this last year in the summer and i put it down to flys, vet agreed and though it could be a reaction to English flys (he was imported from Holland March last year) . Anyways the hair grew back, but but not smoothly. The weather started to get hot last week, and guess what he has started to bite himself in the same area
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The only thing that cured it last year was blue teramysin spray(dont know how to spell this!), but this looks very unsightly! I am trying carmossa, but not looking good so far. Has anyone had any experienced this or any ideas why this is happening?
He isnt in warm rugs, so he is not to hot
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is he rugged 24/7 at the mo? may be worth getting him a fly rug if he isnt to stop the flies biting him, will also prevent him doing to much damage to himself. My horse has been really itchy all winter with an allergy, and we have had to keep her fully rugged at all times to stop her hurting herself by biting
 
I know it's pricey SW, so it would be wise to be absolutely certain the problem is caused by flies, but Rambo do a fabulous fly rug called Bug Buster (or something) and it is a reinforced mesh that is impregnated with permethrin so no fly stands a chance. Very generous fit and covers right round under the belly. I have never understood what use the smart, lightweight shiny white cotton "fly" rugs are because the bloody great biting things that hang around my horse bite straight through thick jods! Smart white cotton would be no problem. But the Bug Buster zaps them on all fronts and it isn't hot at all. Sunny looks like an extra terrestrial in it lol!
 
thanks for your help, the thing i cant understand if it flys is - why is it only one area thats bothering him and there arnt even that many flys around at the moment
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He is rugged at the moment, but trying to get them off throughthe day now...but thats when it started again
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Can I ask how old he is? I have a mare who is getting on in years and has just started doing this when her coat changes. Last year I fed brewers yeast which seemed to help both with the flies and giving her a boost from the inside after the winter, along with a bit of oil in her feed.
Her bites are on her flank too, and I have washed in some averamil (sp) which does seem to help. Also, someone recommended aloe vera as a topical application.
Looks like lots of fly spray required!!!
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maybe get one of those fly rugs then and see if that helps. My horse is also being fed aloe vera for allergy and skin complaints (150ml a day from forever freedom). Maybe try that and see what happens then
 
Yes, thanks I'm going to look for a decent fly rug. I've also just bought some of the skin so soft to see if that works. Can only try, feel so sorry for her when she's so itchy.
 
Horse up our yard started biting her stifle area before Xmas. Put some cream on it, could understand why, and she stopped. She started up again in Jan, so her owner got the vet out because she was going raw. The vet couldn't find anything, but said that biting thatarea was common if a horse has lice.
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Gave her an injection and another 14 days later and we had to wash the area in a special soap and she stopped completely! It was very strange. The vet didn't find any lice or anything. We also decided to fully clip her legs off, as vet suggested it may help and when we did we found more areas she'd been getting at in between her legs.

She also use to rub and stratch her mane a lot which we had always just put down to a bit of sweet itch, but since the injections she hasn't done it at all. Poor girl. None of the other horses have shown any signs of it thankfully.

Good luck, just thought I'd add in case it helps.
 
my boy did this due to he got that itchy in the end he had to have some steriod jabs from the vets to settle him down!
 
Funnily enough I did think about lice but can't find anything at all!!! Looked at her today and seems to be a bit better so maybe mine is just too hot. Will get vet out if doesn't improve though
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He is only five so isnt as if he is getting on a bit! I think i will try these creams you have sugested, and i have a fly rug i used last summer so will dig that out. I really dont want to go down the route of steriod injections if i can help it. Thanks again for all you suggestions
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Thanks for all the suggestions, i really wouldn't fancy the idea of steroid injections for my old girl either. Will give these lotions a go, thanks
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The mares biting came and went as well. Really strange. First time we thought she could just have been over rugged or something, it did seem to calm down, but came back worse a few weeks leter. The vet told us this wasn't uncommon. The vet searched for ages and couldn't find any traces of lice either, but we decided to treat for it anyway as it wouldn't do any harm and it would eliminate it if nothing else.

Hope you sort it out.
 
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