Annagain
Well-Known Member
I have posted many times about how Arch hates to be brushed, and how since I bought a pair of grooming gloves he's mellowed to the point that he has a scratchy spot on a back leg that he loves to have brushed. This was a source of great amusement for me.
Recently, this has escalated somewhat and now, brushing anywhere on his back legs, the back half of his tummy and even his ears (i.e. all the very worst areas previously) with ANY brush leaves him all gooey eyed, wobbly and grooming the wall / his headcollar / rug / haybar / anything he can get his teeth on. He nearly fell over yesterday as he spread is his back legs so far and then turned to indicate the spot he wanted brushing with the plastic curry comb I was trying on him to see if he'd tolerate (yes he'll tolerate it very well). I can't stress enough how quickly he'd have kicked me if I tried this a few months ago. I was even rubbing hard with the curry comb behind his ears last night - he usually tries to throw me against the wall if I go for his ears with anything other than my fingers.
I should be enjoying the fact he's enjoying it, but instead I'm worried there's something making him itchy and uncomfortable and that's why he's liking it, especially as he has melanomas....Or could he have had some problem for the last 12 years that has suddenly gone away? In which case I feel guilty I didn't address it sooner. I just called him Victor Meldrew and tried to be as diplomatic as possible with brushing. On the plus side, getting him clean is easier now!
Horses
...If anyone has any ideas for this sudden personality change please let me know so I can stop/start worrying properly. He's 21 if that makes any difference.
Recently, this has escalated somewhat and now, brushing anywhere on his back legs, the back half of his tummy and even his ears (i.e. all the very worst areas previously) with ANY brush leaves him all gooey eyed, wobbly and grooming the wall / his headcollar / rug / haybar / anything he can get his teeth on. He nearly fell over yesterday as he spread is his back legs so far and then turned to indicate the spot he wanted brushing with the plastic curry comb I was trying on him to see if he'd tolerate (yes he'll tolerate it very well). I can't stress enough how quickly he'd have kicked me if I tried this a few months ago. I was even rubbing hard with the curry comb behind his ears last night - he usually tries to throw me against the wall if I go for his ears with anything other than my fingers.
I should be enjoying the fact he's enjoying it, but instead I'm worried there's something making him itchy and uncomfortable and that's why he's liking it, especially as he has melanomas....Or could he have had some problem for the last 12 years that has suddenly gone away? In which case I feel guilty I didn't address it sooner. I just called him Victor Meldrew and tried to be as diplomatic as possible with brushing. On the plus side, getting him clean is easier now!
Horses
...If anyone has any ideas for this sudden personality change please let me know so I can stop/start worrying properly. He's 21 if that makes any difference.
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