Itching face

[MagicMelon]

My Welsh is still itching his face. I have no idea what it could be. Last year one of my ponies did this - he literally itched patches on his face totally raw, the vet didnt know what it was, they just thought it was some sort of allergy. After a few weeks it did go and he's been fine since.

My Welsh does suffer from Sweet Itch, so do you think itching his face and very top of his neck (behind his ears and along his jaw mainly) could be sweet itch? He has been itching here for about the last 2 months. Yesterday I noticed he'd actually rubbed one bit so much it was beginning to bleed. I have noticed that the area seems to puff up a bit but then that could be from the itching itself.

Ive been putting sudocreme on it but to no avail. He has had his Boett blanket on for a good month now.

What do you think it is? It looks horrible, and I want to show him soon but have already had to pull out of one show because of this mess!

 

[Chebobbin]

When I went to view my horse he was fine.
When he eventually arrived at my yard his face had quite a few raw patches on it. He wouldnt stop itching it and we were a bit worried as it looked so painful and sore.

Bathing the sore areas then applying iodine afterwards was the trick.

(Purple spray, other gels and creams didnt work.So we bought some iodine from the local chemist.)

xxx

 

[MagicMelon]

Iodine, right I have some of that so will try it. Thanks

 

[Law]

My cob had a face rash last summer and it was an allergy which was treated with fuciderm steroid cream- he had another rash on his side which was treated with Betnovate cream too.
Darce does come in and bash his head on his haynet repeatedly but I think this is annoyance more than anything!

This is what his face looked like when he last had the rash

 

[Honeypots]

It is very likely to be the sweet itch..sounds like he needs a hood I'm afraid

ETS: or I find Net Tex Sweet Itch Salve to do a good job on the face.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Have you completely ruled out lice?

 

[threeponies]

NAF Midge Off is good for itchy baldy faces

 

[juliebrewer]

yes as above looks like sweetitch, same is one of my old ponies. a boet hood solved the problem. it has been warm lately and midges are arround...

 

[dwi]

I can second Fuciderm. My mare rubbed several patches on her face completely raw. The vet said don't use Sudocream as it gunges it up. He had me washing it twice daily with hibiscrub, removing any scabby bits and then applying Fuciderm. Cleared up within a week.

 

[Perissa]

One of my shetlands did this to herself this year. She is not a sweet itch sufferer, had no change of food - bedding - routine whatsoever and I was completely stumpted. I treated for lice just in case, even though I closely inspected her and saw none but it didn't make a difference. She rubbed until she bled so, a bit radicle I know, I clipped her head and half way down her neck and overnight she stopped rubbing. She looks a little odd as she has the coat of a polar bear but a naked face but she's happy!

 

[ticobay831]

yeah, check for lice my old tb had them he was rubbing all over mind,

but he had them on his face as well.
louse powder didnt toucn them, got some front line from the vet

good luck
Debs x