Itchy Horse

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SimplySurprising

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Back in January I posted about my horse being so itchy he was rubbing his face away, got out the vet and was told it was a fungal infection, so was given malaseb and told to use that. I used that and it cleared up within a week, but the itchy patches were moving all about his face and when I had managed to get him stop itching on one spot, he would start in another. This was only limited to his face. However in the past 3 weeks he has been rubbing elsewhere on his body and again starting to do it so often he's going bald. The vet was out on Friday and told me its more likely to be allergies but to keep bathing him with malaseb and wait 5/6 weeks until his summer coat is fully through and if its still as bad they will biopsy.

He was changed from straw to shavings a couple of weeks ago as I had a sneaky suspicion it was maybe that, but to no avail. He's currently on calm and condition and chaff, vet thinks its unlikely to be either of them causing an allergy.

My main question is really... is there anything I can do to help ease the itching while I try and work out what it is? I've heard of people giving their horses human anti histamines but I'm sure the quantity you would have to give them to even make a difference would be massive?

Any suggestions welcome!
 
Although the vet thinks it unlikely the feed is the problem rather than waiting and spending money on supplements, biopsies etc I would cut out all feed and just give soaked hay for at least a week to rule out it being the cause, I have had success using a detox for skin issues, one horse had numerous vet tests and the detox fixed him within days although we had no idea what the cause was the problems went and never returned, so worth a try as often the problems stem from within rather than being directly external.
 
be positive said:
Although the vet thinks it unlikely the feed is the problem rather than waiting and spending money on supplements, biopsies etc I would cut out all feed and just give soaked hay for at least a week to rule out it being the cause, I have had success using a detox for skin issues, one horse had numerous vet tests and the detox fixed him within days although we had no idea what the cause was the problems went and never returned, so worth a try as often the problems stem from within rather than being directly external.
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Brillaint, thank you! will start that today.
 
Is he unclipped? Have you had a proper look through his coat? Just saying because my Shetland likes to pick up lice at this time of year (usually I frontline, so he has been fine the last couple of years but I ran out and now I get to wash and louse powder and very mardy double-coated pony!)
 
Merlod said:
Is he unclipped? Have you had a proper look through his coat? Just saying because my Shetland likes to pick up lice at this time of year (usually I frontline, so he has been fine the last couple of years but I ran out and now I get to wash and louse powder and very mardy double-coated pony!)
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Yeah hes unclipped.

I treated for lice back in jan cos the yard had an outbreak and vet also checked him on Friday, hes quite short haired so would generally be able to see them.
 
my friends horse has a similar issue at the moment, she is getting the vet out this week. He looks horrendous, has patches of hair falling out! I don't think its a fungal infection as its not contagious, or it hasn't been passed on to the other ponies. She's bathed him in insetercial shampoo and put lice power on but he's getting worse.

I mentioned cushings as my old girl had multiple skin issues towards the end of her life, and she had really bad cushings! my friend isn't willing to accept this because he was tested negative a year ago! so I'm hoping the vet will convince her to retest!
 
It can be tricky to get them out of the itch scratch itch cycle. I have a very itchy mare ( a result of an allergic reaction to washing powder many years ago which has left her super sensitive), she always itches her face sore/rubs eyes this time of year, with the coat change (and she is always kept freshly clipped as this helps her), appearance of flies and getting sweaty. I have fed human antihistamines but found they didn't really work. I have had good results with NAF D-Tox, fed at the loading rate till the tub is empty. Lots of cold water bathing to cool down the itchy skin. Head and Shoulders itch relief shampoo has been a godsend. Vet also recommended cotton against her skin rather than nylon lined rugs.
 
Kezzabell2 said:
my friends horse has a similar issue at the moment, she is getting the vet out this week. He looks horrendous, has patches of hair falling out! I don't think its a fungal infection as its not contagious, or it hasn't been passed on to the other ponies. She's bathed him in insetercial shampoo and put lice power on but he's getting worse.

I mentioned cushings as my old girl had multiple skin issues towards the end of her life, and she had really bad cushings! my friend isn't willing to accept this because he was tested negative a year ago! so I'm hoping the vet will convince her to retest!
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Aw no i really hope it isnt that!
 
First Flame said:
It can be tricky to get them out of the itch scratch itch cycle. I have a very itchy mare ( a result of an allergic reaction to washing powder many years ago which has left her super sensitive), she always itches her face sore/rubs eyes this time of year, with the coat change (and she is always kept freshly clipped as this helps her), appearance of flies and getting sweaty. I have fed human antihistamines but found they didn't really work. I have had good results with NAF D-Tox, fed at the loading rate till the tub is empty. Lots of cold water bathing to cool down the itchy skin. Head and Shoulders itch relief shampoo has been a godsend. Vet also recommended cotton against her skin rather than nylon lined rugs.
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Great, thank you :)
 
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