Mystery kicking driving both my horse and I mad!

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nicholls9820

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So my horse has started this obscure kicking towards his sheath/stomach with his hind legs (I'll try and upload a video below) and also bends around to the left to itch as far as he can reach. He tends to get to just behind the girth but puts some serious effort in lifting legs etc to get there! He'll also try swishing his tail right between his hind legs but doesn't do this as much.

His sheath is completely clean and we initially tried a 3 day course of antihistamines which worked to an extent but I'm not sure how long I can keep plugging those into him! He's also on a garlic diet and I noticed fly bites over his sheath so he is now fully fly sprayed and sudocremed so they physically can't get at him.

More of a problem after schooling but today it was windy and overcast and he was in this barn where there were no flies present. He's happy to work and is generally quite cheery but does look thoroughly miffed when he's showing this behaviour and I hate to see him upset!

He had this roughly the same time last year but absolutely baffled 2 vets and ended up on a course of steroids. Seemed to work but I'm not keen on keeping him on steroids without a diagnosis if I can really help it!

Any ideas? Could having his hocks injected help?has anyone else experienced this?

He is 13, Irish x ID very no fuss and low key type of horse who's never sick or sorry and I've absolutely hit a brick wall with this!

TIA!
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It certainly looks as if he is itchy. I can't imagine that injecting his hocks would help that, I would persevere with the anti-histamines if they seemed to help, perhaps combined with bute to make him more comfortable.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
It certainly looks as if he is itchy. I can't imagine that injecting his hocks would help that, I would persevere with the anti-histamines if they seemed to help, perhaps combined with bute to make him more comfortable.
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That's definitely my train of thought but I did just wonder if it was a pain thing and I've had so many dead ends that this was my next thought! When I had him on a course of bute last year, he definitely worked better but it didn't help his itching really which resulted in the course of steroids so you're probably right!

Only thing with antihistamines is that I'm not sure how long he can take them for. I've heard horse take a few days of them at a time but not for long periods of time.. that's my only concern!
 
nicholls9820 said:
That's definitely my train of thought but I did just wonder if it was a pain thing and I've had so many dead ends that this was my next thought! When I had him on a course of bute last year, he definitely worked better but it didn't help his itching really which resulted in the course of steroids so you're probably right!

Only thing with antihistamines is that I'm not sure how long he can take them for. I've heard horse take a few days of them at a time but not for long periods of time.. that's my only concern!
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I have never heard that about anti-histamines. Perhaps check it out with your vet? Have you treated him for lice? They don't usually hang about underneath but if his coat is clipped off, I suppose they might have retreated to the belly.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I have never heard that about anti-histamines. Perhaps check it out with your vet? Have you treated him for lice? They don't usually hang about underneath but if his coat is clipped off, I suppose they might have retreated to the belly.
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Last time we bathed him in antieverything shampoo given to us by the vet as he thought it was lice but we didn't see any improvement so this time I've kept with the regular, basic shampoo and conditioner I usually use on him. Might see if I can find some dermoline though and give it another shot. I'll definately check out the antihistamines with the vet!
 
ycbm said:
Is he weeing OK? Bladder stones?
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I haven't noticed any issues with it but I will definately have a chat with the livery yard owner to see if she's thought about that too as it's definately not been contemplated! Im surprised the vet hasnt brought that up.. Thank you! 😊
 
MrsJingle said:
Could you ask your vet to sedate him enough to let him totally extend his man bits so you can clean thoroughly and completely rule out a bean or similar cud causing huge irritation to him? Dried and crusty smegma- even without a bean can be extremely uncomfortable and irritating for a gelding.
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This is what we did last time but the vet ruled it out because hes so clean. He's a really good boy so did the same when it started and today but seems to make very little difference 😔
 
He was rubbing his tail too but not always.
The vet advised her to put him on a 5 day Panacur course which did the trick but it does come back.
 
nicholls9820 said:
Only thing with antihistamines is that I'm not sure how long he can take them for. I've heard horse take a few days of them at a time but not for long periods of time.. that's my only concern!
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Many sweetitch horses are given antihistamines throughout the midge season to relieve symptoms, apparently without issue.

I haven't given mine any, but he has been exhibiting the same behaviour recently in the warm weather. I have removed all the crusty bits from his sheath (rare moment where he dropped in front of me and I had water and a sponge ready!) and am getting the SI rugs ready.

Mine is also having a long belly scratch when he's down to roll so I am assuming the midgies have gone for his midline too and he is just very itchy.
 
Mine gets scabby just in front of the sheath around the belly button area at this time of year. I only really notice it because he has little blood splatters on his hind legs, noticeable as his lower legs are white. It started a few days ago when we had the warm spell and we believe it is midge bites. I have cleaned the area twice a day with salt water solution and put flamazine on and it's cleared up really quickly. I use summer fly cream around there once the skin has healed.
 
Garlic only causes problems in very large amounts. Doses far larger than a supplemental amount.
 
For anaemia yes, but it depends for how long the smaller supplemental amount is given. It's too late for me to find the papers right now but that is considered an issue.
As an antimicrobial not so much. Especially for an animal that relies heavily on it's gut bacteria.
 
JanetGeorge said:
Certainly hind gut ulcers jumped to my mind - if there is no bean (and beans can be ruddy hard to find, even for long fingers!) Definitely worth testing for - vet just needs a fresh dung sample..
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Would he have any other symptoms potentially? Hes a pretty good weight carrier and is 13 with no changes in his behaviour when ridden which is why I ruled it out initially but very open to considering this!!
 
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