Horse with Hives??

[Mahoganybay]

Just wondered whether anyone had any experience or could offer any advice.

Friends horse along with two others on the yard have come up with really bad hives, all over their body, large raised whelts and circular type swellings that then collapse in the middle and a very sticky liquid comes out.

All horses got them a different times, all on different fields / types of hay so no common connection, vets been out to all three and all horses had antibiotic injection, steroid injection and bute.

First horse to get them cleared up after one vet visit, second horse is just clearing now after two vet visits.

My friends horse was the last to get them and had the vet on Friday, doesn't seem to be clearing up and his joints are swelling (knees and hocks).

 

[Ella19]

Sounds like it could be protein related, I'd reduce grazing and feed and see what happens. There's all sorts if lurgys going round at the moment though with the warm, wet weather. Could it be rainscald where they have got warm under rugs?

 

[McCauley]

My old horse once had a reaction to barley in this way. We cut this out and they did indeed calm down and disappear (he was feed straights at the time, so it was easy to take them out of his feed).

 

[Izzwizz]

Have they been rugged up too warm? Been clipped and had a reaction to clipper oil? Had their numnahs washed in something they could have reacted too.? Just a few ideas as a horse on our yard has been like this.