itching tail

[katrid16]

I have recently accuired a young welsh cob filly in a slightly poor condition she has been turned out on good grass and is putting on weight well .
when she came she had a bald tail which the owner suspected sweet itch but I am doubtfull she has some small scabs on her tail which she rubs every now and again but nothing anywhere else , I have read somewhere that pinworms will cause this problem - has anyone else had any experience of this and how to treat it ?

 

[Miss L Toe]

Be very careful about giving ponies good grass, they can get laminitis, and it can happen very quickly.
Poor condition ... are we talking extremes or just a bit of lack of condition, I think you should ask the vet to look at her and discuss her overall management as well as current problems.
It is up to the owner or responsible adult to look after the pony, you don't say which you are, can I ask what age you are and your experience with ponies, they are complex things, and there is a lot to learn at first.

 

[katrid16]

Thanks for your reply - I am a experienced horsewoman with over 35 years knowledge that is why I don't think it is sweet itch but have just had no experience of worms causing rubbing and thought someone else has , I am aware of Laminitis thank you and am monitoring the horses condition which is not excesivly poor just underweight .
Any one else got any more constructive advice ???

 

[Lollii]

they are complex things, and there is a lot to learn at first.

Sorry but I think this is very condescending reply.... the OP asked for help on an itchy tail not laminitis

OP - my gelding gets an itchy tail every summer (he is in fab condition, out on good grass - no laminitis) it has just started now, he is out as much as possible but when he comes in all he wants to do is itch his backside!

I have tried lots of different lotions and potions but I have found the best thing (for me) is sudocream, it's messy but it tends to take the itch away for a short while at least.

Good luck

 

[GingerCat]

A good worming programme should deal with a pinworm infestation.

Like Lollii suggested you could use a barrier cream to soothe the itch, it may help. Eurax is particularly helpful and can be bough over the counter.

Good luck with the filly, sounds like she's landed on her feet now

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmm, are you able to provide a piccie of the scabs on her tail OP (difficult I know!!).

Personally I'd suspect something parasitic going on; perhaps some sort of biting insect.

I'd be inclined to ask the vet for something specifically to treat pinworm as I understand that some may be immune from the normal wormers; then .... see how that goes. You could always bung on a sweet-itch rug as well as, as well as applying a topical application such as Sudocrem or Eurax, or Killitch (bit expensive but good), and see if that sorts it?

Ehm, the other thing that occurs to me - as you say she's been in poor condition .... is maybe she's had a lice infestation in the past? Sorry, but am just wondering.

 

[Rouletterose]

LOLLI

One of mine gets a very itchy tail at this time of year, it has pretty much started now, she doesn't have sweet itch and doesn't rub any where else, at the top of her tail it's sort of greasy little scabs that are loose and when I get her in she will rub on the walls of the stable madly for a few minutes.

All I do is wash the top of her tail with very warm water, lifting the hair and getting down to the skin, when I've done that she's fine. I've just got her a new fly sheet with a huge tail cover on it, so that will help, her rubbing is definately caused by midges, all winter she never rubs only this time of year, she is on short grazing is not fat. I know it's not pin worm with mine as if it was she would rub all year round.

Good luck and hope you get to the bottom of it, summer doesn't seem to suit a lot of horses.

 

[TangoCurly]

As pinworms live right at the end of the large intestine, most normal wormers are already digested or used up by the time they get there. Pyrantel is the active ingredient recommended to kill them, though many other wormers are licenced for them. Pyrantel is in Strongid P.

 

[lady lou]

I have recently accuired a young welsh cob filly in a slightly poor condition she has been turned out on good grass and is putting on weight well .
when she came she had a bald tail which the owner suspected sweet itch but I am doubtfull she has some small scabs on her tail which she rubs every now and again but nothing anywhere else , I have read somewhere that pinworms will cause this problem - has anyone else had any experience of this and how to treat it ?

Hi Girls, I was just reading your messages about itchy tails and thought I would share with you the product I came across last year. It is called sweet relief. It is for all types of irritable skin problems, I noticed a difference with in days. It seems to really sooth the area and Lady stopped itching. This year she has a full tail. I got it from www.sweetitch.net it is defo worth a try.

 

[katrid16]

Thanks all for your constructive answers - I have already put her on a worming programme but will give her a dose of Strongid P and see if thet helps "BUT" last night I noticed a few very small scabs on her mane !! she is not rubbing excesivly and the bald tail is growing back so not too serious so I will give it a good wash and apply sudocrem as suggested and will see how it goes I will try and get a photo later and see if I can post it on here .And no I don't think she has had lice ( but not positive ) she is not in a terrible state just under condition , longish feet and a bit neglected - she loves attention

And yes thank you she has landed on her feet and hopfully will become a good future riding horse as she has the most wonderfull temperament .

 

[Tammytoo]

For some reason welshies seem prone to itchiness if not full blown sweet itch! I use a product by Nettex called Itch Free. It's quite expensive but you used it sparingly and it will last all sumer or longer. It's like sudocreme in texture, but doesn't make such a mess! It's also fly repellent, very soothing and encourages quick regrowth of hair. And no, I don't work for them!

Good luck - she sounds lovely.

 

[cavalo branco]

My boy gets an itchy tail in summer, it first started last year when the summer fields on his yard were near a river, he's now moved yards but is still a bit itchy. I use benzyl benzoate, it's an old-fashioned but cheap lotion that is very effective. In fact most modern expensive products have this as the active ingredient. Google it for suppliers

 

[katrid16]

Thanks all will let you know how she progresses

 

[Kezza]

Mine does this when he gets hot and sometimes when he's bored. I use a strong fly spray NAF with DEET and put lots around his back end. I keep his bottom clean and use a tea tree spray when he comes in on the top of his tail. This helps prevent it.

If already rubbed I wash with NETTEX Surgical Shampoo, and then apply copious amounts of sudocream and repeat the sudocream application twice a day and wash once or twice a week.

Sometimes pin worm can cause itching but not in the case of my boy, good luck!
Oh and sudocream is good as it has benzl benzoate in it which is a fly repellent.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

My horse sometimes has an itchy tail, I make a solution of TCP and water and just spray it with that, does the trick and is handy if he gets any insect bites, give them a spray and they're gone by the next day

 

[NOISYGIRL]

LOLLI

One of mine gets a very itchy tail at this time of year, it has pretty much started now, she doesn't have sweet itch and doesn't rub any where else, at the top of her tail it's sort of greasy little scabs that are loose and when I get her in she will rub on the walls of the stable madly for a few minutes.

All I do is wash the top of her tail with very warm water, lifting the hair and getting down to the skin, when I've done that she's fine. I've just got her a new fly sheet with a huge tail cover on it, so that will help, her rubbing is definately caused by midges, all winter she never rubs only this time of year, she is on short grazing is not fat. I know it's not pin worm with mine as if it was she would rub all year round.

Good luck and hope you get to the bottom of it, summer doesn't seem to suit a lot of horses.

I'm confused ! you said in the 1st paragragh that your horse doesn't have sweet itch, then you say her itching is defo from midges, I thought that was what sweet itch was ?? the horse is allergic to the saliva of the midge that's what causes it ? that's what I thought anyway ..................