Self mutilation?

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Iraklis

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24 January 2010
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My horse suffers from moderate sweet itch. he is 17 years old this year, and I have owned him for 5 years. He rubs incessantly and all I can do is cover him up in a sweet itch rug - the only bits not covered are his legs and his sheath.
I do live on a greek island - however it is around 3 or 4 degrees in the iwnter so its not hot and there are no bugs.
this morning i was brushing him and noticed he had bit the scar from his castration - he has opened it up and there is a small biut of pink fatty flesh protruding out of the scar area. it is an old scar and is at least 5 years old - I don't know when he was gelded as I rescued him from a tourist trek centre over here - all they knew was he was bought over from hungary. I never asked details like when was he gelded!

have any of you ever come across a gelding behaving like this? and if so - what can I do to stop this behaviour in future? he isnt in any pain and is sound otherwise.
 
Hmmm, you can a treatment for sweet itch can't you? I would get the scar looked at, especially if there is flesh coming out!! it not only sounds very sore but could possibly get infected or something. While the vet is there ask about the sweet itch and any possible treatments. Hope you get him sorted
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Are you sure he bit it? If so, he's very flexible for 17. Not sure what else to suggest as over here we have remdies a plenty and lots of other helpful advice from other members on here. Are treatments readily available over where you are. Poor lad - sounds like a lucky chap to have found you.
 
thanks for your replies so far... almost 99% certain he has chewed or bitten it... I have seen him reach round and chew his actual sheath before now but he has never done much more than surface damage, this is the first time he has gone that little bit further back to open the scar up. I can get most creams and medicines over here but unfortunately no horse vets!
 
Horses can easily reach round to that area by lifting a hind leg, are you able to stable him at dawn and dusk? That i find the most helpful combined with Benzyl benzoate when they are really itchy. Good luck!
 
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