Horsefly bite- how to reduce size???

[TallulahBright]

My mare has a huge swelling where a horsefly bit her, right under where girth lies. I took her to a show today and she bucked around (not her style at all) with something clearly bothering her. Does anyone have any top tips for how to get it to go down? Bless her... Sensitive TB skin

 

[Quantock-cob]

I think you need to give her a few days off work to let the swelling go down. Obviously she was uncomfortable with a girth done up over the bite. Poor girl

 

[Shay]

Tea tree oil can soothe. Otherwise - just time!

 

[TallulahBright]

No, I won't ride until it's gone down, bless her. Thanks.

 

[onemoretime]

Soak the bite in Witch Hazel and keep doing it. It will go down then.

 

[Miramis]

My mare had a huge bite, it was nearly the size of a golf ball, my vet gave me fuciderm cream and in a few days it was half the size and after a week all but gone. Very effective.

Ang

 

[gill84]

We use aloe Vera gel on our thin skinned thoroughbred, we keep it in the fridge to make it extra soothing

 

[Follychoppins]

I agree with the fuciderm - it is a marvel and antibiotic to boot - I always have a tube from my vet now. Also walk her out in hand, the movement increases blood flow which reduces the swelling too. Bathe with hibiscrub and apply aloe gel that works too

 

[Nikki1204]

My pony had 2 last week... i wash them in an iodine solution to reduce the risk of infection and then put calomine lotion on, within a couple of days they are more or less gone!

 

[DragonSlayer]

I got bitten by one yesterday, on my bum! It bit through my jogging bottoms before anyone comments...

It's mahoosive now, and hurts like hell...I've slapped sudocrem on it.

Who invented horseflies?? Flippin' things....

 

[TallulahBright]

Thanks all.

 

[Shysmum]

I've used eucalyptus oil on one on Shy and it's gone down really fast.

 

[Equinus]

Not just the thin skinned ones, our chunky lad...possible shire cross....has a big lump on his chest, and one has just gone down after a week very close to the saddle. They're really awful at the moment.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I got bitten by one yesterday, on my bum! It bit through my jogging bottoms before anyone comments...

It's mahoosive now, and hurts like hell...I've slapped sudocrem on it.

QUOTE]

Oh no :O - gosh poor you. How blimmin uncomfortable.

 

[Spottyappy]

For humans- if you don;t mind smelling like a chip shop, malt vinegar is fantastic. Takes the sting away very quickly, and often the swelling has gone by the morning.Its old fashioned, but works! Not tried it on the horses, but it may do the same!

 

[doonrocket]

I used savalon spray. says it's for bites and seems to have had an effect, also seems to keep the flies off. I've rubbed sudacrem on ones where they've itched the top to a scab and found it very effective.

 

[BackRidingAgain]

Wouldn't a rub with human antihistamine bite cream work for both us and the horses?

 

[DragonSlayer]

I got bitten by one yesterday, on my bum! It bit through my jogging bottoms before anyone comments...

It's mahoosive now, and hurts like hell...I've slapped sudocrem on it.

QUOTE]

Oh no :O - gosh poor you. How blimmin uncomfortable.

Yep, I'm riding in the morning as well, will be a steady plod, couldn't cope with a faster pace!