Piriton for allergies advice, please?

S

Shilasdair

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My 3yo filly seems to be allergic to midge bites and comes up in lumps on her neck, around pectoral area, around stifles, and between her back legs. The lumps are either small and round (pea sized) or large circular shaped ridges about golf ball circumference, but with normal skin in the middle.
She doesn't seem bothered (sorry, 'bovvered'; she's a bit chav
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) and they aren't itchy, but they still appear despite Rambo Protector, and fly repellent.
I am considering using Piriton, and wanted advice about this (dosage, effectiveness, etc) or any other suggestions.
Thanks for reading!
S
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iv never used it on horses but i use it for my wierd staffy hes allergic to allsorts so i give him one tab when he looks like a hedgehog i guess a quick ring to the vet couldnt hurt


my horse gets these bumps and the oly fly spray iv found to work is gold label!
 
a friend of mines horse had bad hay fever. she used to feed piriton morning and night. i think she was told she could feed up to 10 tablets a day between 2 feeds. she used to buy the chemist own brand as its cheap. best thing to do is phone the vet and ask.
 
For the last 3 springs (since we moved to England!
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) my horse gets an unsightly rash on the side of his face and rubs all his hair off
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Have tried all sorts of potions and lotions, and finally have it under control, but anyhoo, the vet said it could be an allergic reaction and I could give him piriton if I wanted to, but it is not very effective in horses.
That was the point of my long ramble. Its not very effective in ponies.
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Dont know what to suggest to help though, sorry!
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Hi! Piriton can be used for horses, although for severe cases of hives it's not nearly as effective as a steriod injection. Both antihistamines and steriods can have quite severe side effects if used long term. However, the dose for Piriton would be ten tablets a day for a 16.2 horse, eight for a 15.2, in divided doses.

If I were you, I'd use a topical antihistamine cream for your filly, rather than the tablets, and see if that helps.
 
Thanks, everyone.
I should have said that she has already been seen by the vet whose response was 'I don't know what they are, but she'll be scarred for life now'
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. She gave me steroid injections, and follow up tablets, but the lumps went down the next day, and come and go in a kind of urticaria way.
I've still got the steroids, but would rather not give her them, for fear of side effects....though...so haven't yet.
I suppose I could try Piriton at eight divided by two feeds (she's a solidly built 15.2/15.3 at the moment).
S
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Maybe you could try a rug specifically designed for sweet itch. There are some cheap alternatives to the Boett rug around. They are a closer fit than a regular fly rug and don't allow midges to get in and bite in the first place..
 
If it was me, I would speak to my vet first before I administer medication to my horse. It may be lisenced for horses, but it would be better to ask their advice re dosage, as you should if you was taking the medication yourself. What works for one horse/human does not necessarly work for others
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I used Piriton for Sweet Itch in my Shetland, they made him very sweaty and sleepy. Not sure if they stopped the Sweet Itch 'though, as I obviously stopped using them.
I've just stopped using Asdas own anti allergen tablets as they haven't helped.
 
Honeypots - that's a good idea - can you suggest any rug makes?
Pocket - I've discussed Piriton in the past with vets re urticaria and allergic rhinitis...but they were a bit vague about them - the research is a bit inconclusive, I think. I know the 3yo quite well (since I first met her in her chilled container around 3yrs and 11months ago
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) and wouldn't put her at any risk regarding medications...she has no other health issues. If you read the literature, though, steroids do seem more risky, hence my reluctance.
Ashgrove - thanks for the info - she already is quite laid back so I could do without more sleepy
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Ok, any other remedies? Anyone tried de-sensitising them to the allergen?
S
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Well, i was going to go with Ashgrove - if it has any affect like it does on humans I wouldn't advise letting your horse drive after! hehe
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Makes me very drowsy as I used them for eczema (or did). was told to take when i went to bed but I used to wake up feeling like I had a hangover! If I took them in the day i just felt half asleep.

Don't think i'd want to give my horse them - he's dozy enough!
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Can't you just feed her loads of garlic to deter midges and maybe provide a garlic lick in the field too? We used to feed garlic tablets from some health food store to our big welsh who suffered badly with sweet itch. Can't remember for the life of me if it worked though!
 
Everyone I've ever known who's had a pony with sweetitch issues (or the likes) has sworn by the Rambo Sweetitch Hoody. Might be worth a try to stop the bites in the first place - no bite no reaction.
 
Trying my horse on pirton atm... doesnt appear to be doing him any harm whatsoever. Not sure if it is effective, as he has several different things to try and control his hayfever/headshaking when I am riding him. However, before i put him on them, he had a snotty nose in the field, now he doesnt.
 
LadyT - we are careful not to let her near machinery since she tried to hotwire a JCB.
LadyT again - garlic may repel midges, but unfortunately it also repels Shilasdairs, who are very allergic to it...
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Jacksmyboy - will google for Rambo rugs thanks.
Wench - thanks, I'm a bit undecided now....

S
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We are currently feeding marmaite sandwiches (I even make special olive oil bread in the bread maker for the horses) They seem to be working a treat as all three are much less itchy. The old lady was having a dreadful time of it, which was a bit odd as she is now 27 and has never had a problem before!
 
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We are currently feeding marmaite sandwiches (I even make special olive oil bread in the bread maker for the horses) They seem to be working a treat as all three are much less itchy. The old lady was having a dreadful time of it, which was a bit odd as she is now 27 and has never had a problem before!

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Marmite?! Is this some form of euthanasia I haven't heard of, disgusting stuff?!
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I demand an explanation
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S
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hiya, i didn't read all the posts but i have a 15.2 horse which is terribly allergic to midge bites - he became anaemic and nearly died two years ago and my suspicion was the midges- as he does react badly and my vet could not find a reason for his illness. I bought a snuggy hoods sweet-itch rug and he's never looked better- call them and see if they have any second hand as they are much cheaper!! hope this helps.
 
S I understand your frustration - Oscar gets bitten all over his tummy and some of them are like golfballs! I asked my vet about antihis and he just poo pooed me and said give steroids.....Ive made up my own repellant (actually, it's derived HHO one!) and if I put on witha sponge it does keep them off:

Find a spray bottle
Fill half with detol
add a couple of drops of the following oils:

citronella
Eucalyptus
Tea tree oil
lavendar

Have to say that I'm quite other enthusiastic with the oils but it hasn't hurt Oscar yet - I couldn't get up on Friday night and someone checked him and didn't put flyspray on and his tummy was covered by midday yesterday!

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