Itchy Tail/Bum?

live2ride

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 June 2011
Messages
270
Visit site
My mare has started getting very insistent when im standing next to her that I should scratch the base of her dock.

So much so that i can be standing away from her and she will inch over so that her bum is facing me and get me to scratch it.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a way to stop he having an itchy tail

Thanks everyone :D
 
It could be pin worm hun which makes there tail and bum itch, viovet sells fab wormers look on there website, think its called vetamin or vetamox they will tell you which wormer works the best. If she is due for worming its worth a try.;)
 
Or could be midges this time of year - my gelding does this every summer although he usually rubs it on something in the stable rather than me :) - currently using itch stop on it rubbing in well and washing tail about once a week.
 
pinworm is very microscopic so very very difficult to see, i had exactly the same problem with mine got to the stage of getting the vet out i had wormed her has well and didn t think it would be pin worm, only certain wormers will kill pin worm think equlan does pin worm too but just check its soooo worth the cost of a wormer which could save all your problems hun, viovet is so cheap and very quick at delivery so well worth a try good look and let me know how you get on!!!!;)
 
My horse has always done this. Worm counts have always been 0. Is pin worm seen on worm counts? as I realise tape worm isnt?
 
not sure hun i do know some worms do not show up on a count at all, you could always phone up your vet and speak to him regarding the symptoms and ask him about pin worm they shouldn t charge you for advise hun, anything is worth a try, :D
 
Thanks for all the replies

Louby I was just about to ask that as I have just had her egg count back, and its says no eggs seen.

Fuzzle I'll look into viovet and may just get the wormer to rule out pinworms

The thing is she doesnt seem to rub her backside in the field, so could it be shes just got used to me scratching her dock and likes it so moves accordingly?
 
Pinworm do not show up with worm counts. You will sometimes see a yellowish/greenish discharge around the anus and it is this sticky substance that contains the eggs.

Resistance to wormers is a major factor and the vets at Liphook Equine Hospital recommend using Panacur 5 day or a double dose of Strongip P, followed up by another dose 4 weeks later. Don't bother with any other wormer as they are not effective against pinworm.

If it is Pinworm you must carefully clean and disinfect all areas that the horses have rubbed on.
 
Pinworm don't show up on a wormcount and they also aren't microscopic as someone mentioned above, the adults are around 2 inches long and a greyish cream colour, occasionally if you are very lucky you may catch one hanging out laying eggs! You can tell if it's pinworm very easily, google images to see the residue pile of eggs they leave just outside the rectum, it's a browny yellowish sticky substance remarkably looks like poo but it is on the side of the bum rather than dribbled down the bum if you see what i mean. They lay around 6000eggs a night................ pony then scratches bottom, eggs stick on fence, wall, brushes etc etc, pony scratches on fence picks up eggs etc etc and so the cycle goes on.

StrongidP usually knocks them on the head if it is that.
 
Friend just had vet out poor lad rubbed his back end until it was bleeding vet recommended 5 day panacur .
 
You have to send a sellotape sample taken from the anus with your egg count for them to look for pinworm.
Sometimes you can see the casts or white eggs round the dock area.
 
My mare rubs her dock reasonably regularly I have found massaging a fly repellent gel into the hair at the top of her tail and dock stops her doing this, she has quite dry skin on her dock and the flies love her so keeping it moisturised does the trick for her
 
Top