Itchy pony!

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Walrus

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Hello,

Any tips or hints for helping my boy. He is incredibly itchy, he has been for a few weeks but he wintered out without a rug and so was losing a phenomenal amount of coat so I put it down to that and scrubbed him with a curry comb! His summer coat is nearly here now although he is still loosing some winter coat. However he is still very itchy particularly in his mane, on his neck, at the top of his neck and on the insides of his back legs at the top (thigh area). he has also started rubbing his tail (gah!). Although he rubs he's not doing it so much that he's going bald but I am concerned. he also sits his head on the stable door and rubs side to side to itch his throat area (where his head and neck meet). I washed his mane in Dermoline 2 weeks ago which I think helped a little but he's still doing it. I don't want to bath him all over yet as he's not rugged and I'm worried that the weather is not quite stable yet. However I think I will have to bite the bullet this weekend and bath him. I'm going to do his tail tonight.

He is a fell so very hairy, I'm using the NAF off pink fly spray and he has garlic in his feed. He is 5 and his old owners said he has never had sweet itch but has had lice once before. I have looked and can't see anything living in there. Does anyone have any recommendations for shampoos (currently using dermoline) or anti-louse treatment (I feel that might be a route to go down just to be absolutely sure).

Cheers

(reposted in here as well as NL)
 
Sounds like lice to me.

Since you don't want to bath him louse powder might be best, although it's messy horrible stuff

Think we last used something like this when i loaned a hairy, and it seemed to work ok.

Forgot to add link, Duh!

http://www.thesaddlery.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=367

You will obviously also need new bedding down and to disinfect and clean all your brushes, tack, girths, saddle cloths, boots, bandages and rugs. And headcollar could probably use it too
 
Could be lice or feather mite. The vet can inject your horse for these which is what I do and find it works really well. He injects him twice a year and we never have any problems.
The vet also explained that ALL horses have feather mite and it is all over their bodies but primarily in feathers, tails and manes.
Anyhow, might be worth giving him a ring and asking him about the injection.:)
 
hi sounds like lice to me as well, my ponies get them every year about this time. although i wouldnt bother with louse powder, even my vet says so because they took all the active ingrediants out. i use deosect expensive (£44 a tin:eek:) but worth it 2 treatments and they're gone! or a slightly cheaper but also reccomended Coopers fly repellant which it about £27.:D
 
If you are looking for a nice shampoo which won't irritate any condition he has, and help to keep critters away afterwards you could try Ruggle-it. Their repellent lotion is good too. You have to get it online. I recently sold a pony who was forever itchy and losing hair especially on her face, but it defo wasn't sweet itch. We tried literallly every supplement and potion going but no change after 4 years of trying. For the past winter and coming into the Easter hols I used the shampoo on her in the hope of keeping away this year's itching attack and it really helped to soothe her. We sold her a good month after the itching usually starts and she was at that point totally fine, and her crest and dock which were usually very hot, flaky and dry were much softer and healthier. It may be worth looking at after you've tackled the possible lice issue if he still appears itchy. Hope you get it sorted.
 
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