Itchy horse

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H89

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My 20yo TB has become really really itchy over the last month-6 weeks. I had the vey out a couple of weeks ago who tested for cushings, told me to de-worm him, gave me 10 days of piriton (which finished yesterday) and an anti fungal/antibacterial body wash which I did 2 weeks ago on Friday. Vet thought it was the little midges that are still out because of the unusual warm weather as well as coat change and it all caused an itchy detmititis. He started scratching again badly over the weekend and I'm now at a loss. The only new thing in the last 2 months is the introduction of magnetic boots for his arthritis which he has on for 4 hours a day. A month or so previous, I changed his feed to simple systems but I don't think this is the reason. I found him in the holly bush earlier! He is itchy all over but mainly the top half of his hind legs, infer his belly and around his shoulders/withers. Any ideas anyone? It is driving him mad and I don't know what to do! I don't really want another £145 vet bill for no reason. Thanks guys.
 
Yes but only a light weight and he isn't getting too hot or sweaty or anything. I have left his rug off as much as poss over the last few weeks but it doesn't seem to make any difference
 
Aha - I switched my horse to simple systems a couple of months ago - don't think he can cope with the pureness of the lucerne - his whole body came out in hives, absolutely covered in scabs, had him 11 years never seen anything like it. Put him on a course of global herbs restore and back on to old feed of top chop lite and spillers nuts and he is so much happier. He looked very flat, lethargic and out of kilter, most unlike his normal self, very itchy and uncomfortable, he is such a neat clean horse has never been itchy in his life - it also coincided with my starting to rug him as it got chilly overnight and then the temperature massively increased and he was absolutely soaked in sweat just in a lightweight rug. Think that didn't help but am convinced he is allergic to their lucerne. It take a few week to trigger a huge reaction as it gets in to their system, Ryan was a little itchy for a couple of weeks and as coat change time it just didn't occur to me that was the problem but it can take a couple of weeks for the reaction to blow up. Uncanny your post - thought I was imagining it!
 
Thanks BethH, that is interesting. Pain in the arse too as I've just stocked up on £50 worth! Ahhh. I was trying my hardest to get him onto a natural feed as possible but maybe I have done more damage than good. :-( Boo hoo.
 
My min was £80 gutted to - I should so learn that if it ain't broke don't fix it - my vet bill was because my horse got so itchy he ripped his face open on the stable lock on a Sunday - also never done anything like that ever in the whole time he's been with me - I too was trying to give him the best I could, I need to call Simple Systems as I can't believe it's a coincidence, most of my yard are on their feed and the horses look brilliant on it, mine always bucks the trend if you'll forgive the pun! The vet on double call out fees had to come stitch him back together - that was after paying over £2k for a bone scan a couple of months ago with suspected hock spavins caused by a master farrier incorrectly balancing his feet - I really should just turn him out 24/7/365 and feed him grass, my life would be so much easier, he is now barefoot hence the reason I bought the Simple Systems!!
 
Ahh what a nightmare you have had!! Yes I think I will email them tomorrow to find out if they have heard of it before. Seems to much of a coincidence not to be the same issue. Sounds exactly the same reaction. My boy too is now barefoot after my farrier of 14 years give up and I just can't find anyone else as good. He seems to be fine barefoot though and it's better for his arthritis so that's great. That's the reason I changed to SS to, I wanted to get him on a pure as pos feed and add in the correct oils and supplements for his arthritis. On the plus side, he is sounder then he has been in ages! My good friend and instructor is ringing tomorrow to have a chat about feeds, I will go out and buy him something else tomorrow but after weeks or research and trial and error to find SS, I'm just at a loss as to what to put him on now! Blooming horses are a pain aren't they! My boy has got me through a hell of a lot lately though and I owe him that best I can! Glad you commented BethH, I feel like it was staring me in the face now but I couldn't see it! Hope your boy is happy and healthy now.
 
Some people don't like fast fibre (allan & Page) with barefeet but if my horse ever loses condition I pop him on it - it's great, know so many people that love it, Ryan will be getting some with his top chop lite this winter! I think the Global Herbs restore has also really helped his body detox the lucerne, I gave him 1/2 a bute for a couple of days too and the tonic and he is so so much happier - have never seen him look so depressed poor boy - so pleased you posted too, my horse has had such a tough year/18mths, one thing after another I just couldn't believe he was so poorly again, I too thought cushings, was about to get the vet to blood test, have thought was possibly going to lose him la couple of times lately, he is only 15 and has always been such a powerhouse - thought that this was another step down - hacked out round the farm yesterday in walk to try to get him moving and he actually felt like he had a little energy back was so relieved!

Good luck with your nedd, hope he thoroughly bounces back.
 
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Thank you. I was looking into Allan & page before SS so will probably go down that road. He is on 1 bute (danilon) a day for his arthritis anyway. I know nothing about being barefoot really, think I need to look into they! He has only had his fronts off too oir about 6 weeks now (hinds off a year). He is semi retired now after me having a baby and health issues so we just plod about now and then. Fingers crossed your big has a happy healthy future ahead of him.
 
Thank you - mine is a complete pet too - just like being around him! Only thing you need to know about barefoot really is no sugar, no mix etc just good quality fibre & vits & mins - I just give feedmark's Benevit supplement & charnwood linseed is great too for coat, joints & feet, but mine is native x tb so is probably a better doer! Best of luck - Lets hope it's onwards and upwards for both of ours!
 
H89 said:
My 20yo TB has become really really itchy over the last month-6 weeks. I had the vey out a couple of weeks ago who tested for cushings, told me to de-worm him, gave me 10 days of piriton (which finished yesterday) and an anti fungal/antibacterial body wash which I did 2 weeks ago on Friday. Vet thought it was the little midges that are still out because of the unusual warm weather as well as coat change and it all caused an itchy detmititis. He started scratching again badly over the weekend and I'm now at a loss. The only new thing in the last 2 months is the introduction of magnetic boots for his arthritis which he has on for 4 hours a day. A month or so previous, I changed his feed to simple systems but I don't think this is the reason. I found him in the holly bush earlier! He is itchy all over but mainly the top half of his hind legs, infer his belly and around his shoulders/withers. Any ideas anyone? It is driving him mad and I don't know what to do! I don't really want another £145 vet bill for no reason. Thanks guys.
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I would get a skin scrape and also check for pin worms, something is not right, so you need vet intervention to get to the root cause unless you have washed rugs/ numnahs or horse with something they are allergic too.
 
Thanks. He has been wormed for pin worms following vets advice and she didn't think it looked like anything mite related (which I'm guessing a skin scrape would show). I have bought new feed today and am pretty convinced this is the cause after BethH experiencing the same thing with SS. I'll give I a week or 2 or new feed and see how he is then. Hopefully that will be the end of his itching!
 
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