Horse itching belly - bare patches

Cazzah

Cazzah

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A horse on my livery yard has started itching herself really badly - she has bitten huge chunks of hair off on her belly on both sides and it is obviously sore to the touch. She has several bare patches up to about 20cm. The young girl who owns her was really upset tonight and having a bit of a panic.

To me it looks like it might be mange - but the only experience I have with it is in dogs!!

The mare does suffer from sweet itch but isn't itching her mane/tail and I would have thought it was too cold at the moment??

She has just had a flu jab so could it be a reaction to that?

I advised the girl to give her a good brush to get as much hair off as possible (she's moulting quite heavily too), and put some louse powder on the bare patches. She's been wearing a heavyweight turnout so I think she may be getting hot and her owner has now put a lighter weight rug on.

She will call the vet in the morning but just wondered if anyone has experienced anything similar or has an idea as to what it may be???

Thanks for reading
smile.gif
 
Ive seen midges already so could be them. Midline on belly is a common place to be bitten.
As you have thought, could be lice. IMO Coopers is better than louse powder.
Other than that could be a reaction to one of many things. Without seeing its hard to tell.
Thats not much help is it really, sorry!
 
i have spoken to my vet lots recently about itching as my horse has eveloped allergies!

horses very rarely get mange, it is a notifiable disease in horses. also with itching under belly i would doubt it would be this. also they have to have had direct contact with an infected animal to pass it on.

could be a contact reaction, i.e. something that she has touched, would suggest thorougly washing the area with baby shampoo, or vet has recommended aloe vera and oatmeal shampoo, avalible off the internet!

would also saykeep the area covered so she cant damage herself, even if this means lycra all in one thingy under rug, my horse has to stay fully rugged to stop her hurting herself.

i have been putting calomine and aqueous cream on my horses itchy bits, got from tesco, quite cheap, and find this helps more than anything.

any other q's PM me!
 
has anything changed with diet? it could be sweet itch or even lice. give her a bath in an insecticedatal shampoo give her a good dosing in lice powder all over then on her sore bit put some tea tree cream on it. it might be worth speaking to your vet about a reaction to her jab!
 
hi we have found a great spray on product called stop itch 365
its for all skin iritation problems it will also stop fungal infection problems.
and its a natural product no chemicals,no toxins,no smell.
and it does'nt sting when applied.
we got a 500ml bottle for £10 and he gave us free P&P.
they also use it for dogs & cats.
hope this helps.
will.
 
Thanks for all your responses - will pass on the suggestions about treatment lotions/creams.

Her owner called the vet out who was a bit puzzled. She said it could be reaction to sedative (apparently the dentist was out on Monday and insisted on sedating her), lice, mites or some other reaction. They have given her a steroid injection and advised her to wait and see if it clears up. If it hasn't cleared up by after the weekend then they will do some more tests.....she's still itching like mad!!
 
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