Itchy belly - driving him potty

[GREYSMEADOW]

My gelding has become very itchy under his belly, mainly around the girth area and in between his front legs. It is not dried sweat as he has not been ridden. I did clip out his belly about November time as he was getting too hot and was rather itchy then and I’m thinking about re-clipping again this week-end – the belly and extending to in between his front legs / chest.

Something is driving him potty with this itching. I have looked and there are no lumps or sores underneath, but he is very scurfy. I have left the rug off as he seems to get too hot when it’s above 8 degrees.

He is on a thick shaving bed (approx 8”) on rubber matting as I thought he was perhaps laying in his pee which may have been burning his skin. I’m now thinking that it could be some sort of mite under his belly/skin. Perhaps its the shavings?!

He’s currently on the yard with access to stable and ad-lib hay as my fields are waterlogged. Feed wise he is on speedi-beet, vits, happy hoof, hi-fibre cubes/veteran cubes, joint oil and veg oil. I have been thinking of giving him linseed but don’t want him to put on weight as he is a good-doer.

He had this problem in Nov 2012 and the vet advised me to clip him. I have noticed that he is less itchy when the weather is colder but it’s been so mild lately.

At the week-end I’m thinking of clipping the belly/chest area and then washing the area with some sort of medicated/soothing shampoo for mites etc. Is there such a thing?

Would Head and Shoulders shampoo help? I would welcome any suggestions.

Many thanks.

 

[googol]

Mine has exact same problem. His seems to have got slightly better. I changed everything at once so not sure what it was. This is whati did-
Changed him to a lighter weight rug (from about 350 to 200)
Swapped his feed from hifi molasses free to 'just grass' he had prev been on just grass but hifi seemed nicer
Stopped using straw pellets. So I only have shavings
I also sprayed botanica 5 in 1 spray on him on his itchy bits. Not sure how effective this was as it was such a task to do. He doesn't like anything which smells remotely odd and he absolutely hates sprays so was nearly killed in the process
I also stopped scratching it for him. It got to a point where when I was grooming him he would move about and'direct' me to the spot. I felt so sorry for him I would itch it for ages asi could get to bits he couldn't. I felt this made him even itchier.i now just groom him normally even when he tries to direct me. Breaks my heart a bit!
So because I did everything At once I dint actually know what helped him so this Prob wasn't useful.
Very good point about the pee tho. I have recently put mats in so have a thinner bed. He is unbelievably wet and messy in his stable but I'll be making a thicker bed from tomo.
Oh and ifi was u I would Def clip. But after clipping give him a good wash down with a sponge and warm water. If clip if I could
Good luck hope u get to the bottom of it

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Oh god I've just been through all this with mine, drove him and me mad. He was even trying to itch when I was riding. I could not figure out what was wrong so I covered him in louse powder and then got the vet (who was up at the yard visiting someone elses' horse) to give him a mite injection. It was about £15. Whatever it was causing him non stop itching it's stopped now so it could have been mites, lice or something else. Still have no idea but it stopped. Vet said this time of year when it's not quite freezing but horses have rugs on in stables and fields, mites are rife. The little critters come from wood (fences etc), straw, shavings and hay. Might be worth trying?

 

[foraday]

It is so mild this winter it is unbelieveable!

I would look towards a strep or staff infection of the skin.

Your vet will advise you best on this.

As its so warm all the bacteria are having a field day.

If the infection is in deep in the skin you will need antibiotics, and fucibet to help soothe the itch (although steroids apply every other day) and dermoslab shampoo also from the vets

Clipping will also help him keep cool but leave the itchy areas until last as not to spread it, if it is an infection

Good luck

 

[jhoward]

deosect is handy for such things, I know I bang on about it but the stuff is under rated. expensive yes, to be used with caution yes, many uses... hell yess!!! have a google.