Severe allergic reaction to flybites

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Worried1

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2 years ago diva suffered a very bad reaction to fly bites. At the time we exhausted every avenue to pinpoint the trigger and failed. The vets were mystified and un the end after trying a cocktail of drugs and treamtments we ended up using steroids which worked.
Last year we micro managed her and sold her giving her new owners the full extent of what had happened and how we managed it.
When we rescued her earlier this year both front legs were scarred White, I put it down to inept bandaging but was told that she had been bitten and scratched het legs raw...
Since getting her back she has been living out and apart from the odd bite
she's been fine, her eyes were a bit swollen about a month ago but nothing serious.
This week she has erupted in massive lumps on her legs and face,
all of which have swollen and
scabbed resembling equine chicken pox! They are crusty, scabby and itchy.
She is wearing a flyrug and mask but
to be honest this doesn't help as her body is fine!
I'm waiting for vets but we are limited in our options as she is in foal. We
are using an aqueous cream to keep scabs moist but I'm loathe to use fly spray as it will sting her scabs. I'm feeding her lots of garlic but wondered if anyone had the suggestions or had a horse with similar reactions.
 
Are you sure this is a reaction to flybites?

My horse had a similar reaction to buttercups some years ago.

We had to move fields, then eventually yards, to stop it happening again.
 
Agreed about fly bites.

Be careful with aqueous as it can thin the skin (e45 is an emollient and thus thins skin) perhaps look at flamazine cream from vet.

Can you rug her?
 
Thank you she is rugged but it's not buttercups, added to which she is in a different place from two years ago so only consistent thing is flys.

Flamazine is not suitable for pregnant mares otherwise I'd be using that, my main reading was to keep the crusts and scabs moist.

Using tea tree but wondered if anyone else had experienced similar problems and used anything to help alleviate...

Thanks
 
my ponys allergies (to everything) are controlled with human anti histamines. im not sure you could use them on your horse with her being in foal.....could be worth mentioning it to your vet though :confused:
 
I use global herbs Skratch with remarkable results though again not sure about being in foal.

If the rug is close weave and she is rugged all the time this sounds like an allergy tobsomething she has inhaled or eaten.
 
wash the bites with some organic cider vinegar it takes the heat out of them i also gave mine (a gelding though) 7 piriton twice a day, vet said i could have gone up to 14 twice a day
worth trying some of the herbal companies and also see if you can talk to a homeopathic vet, i have had some great results with some tablets but you need to double check what you give her with being in foal
also washing with hibiscrub can help too & dermisol cream
 
Thanks everyone, we tried human antihistimines at 26 per day last time but with no improvement. The thing that worked last time were the steroids but the vets don't want to use these.
Will give cider vinegar a try thank you.
I'm sure the rug is off no benefit as even without the reaction is limited to face and legs.
Definitely going to ring global herbs and see if it's ok for pregnant mares.
 
In view of your mare's pregnancy I seriously wait for your vet's advice...Keep ringing until they do something, what is he/she waiting for?
 
Given the fact she is in foal we would rather not give her drugs which could pose a problem to her and the foal, we are hoping that she will develop a resistance and or whatever is causing the problem to recede.

We have successfully treated it in the past but are not able to use that drug therapy process as she is in foal.

My vets have been great, I was asking for suggestions to make her more comfortable in the interim.

I keep my horses at home so moving is not an option.
 
Horse at my yard ended up with exactly what you described, lumps that almost weeped as an abcess would then scabbed and oozed. I was looking after her for the owner while she was away and was not happy that it wasnt something more serious as her face was also puffing up and eyes were googey.

Vets came out and said it was flies and told me to pick off all scabs clean with hibiscrub and then top with a think layer of cream - really sorry i cant remember the name of the cream - it was POM for dogs but worked a treat and they all cleared up - she is now in a fly rug with hood and mask, she still gets bitten on the exposed parts but the avon skin so soft seems to work - she is allergic to normal fly sprays. The vet that came out was from Newnham - are they the same as yours?
 
Thanks Twigben it is so nice to hear from someone who has had a similar experience, e=what you have described is identical to her.

My vets are Bell. Tomorrow we are going to bath her and pick all scabs off, would be great if you remembered the name of the cream though!

Think I will invest in a boett type rug, one that covers her whole head and ears.
 
They will shred if you have barbed wire... My bank account supports this :(:(

Rugging is vital for us - we use weatherbeeta summer sheets which are ripstop and shires have just bought out a similar thing - they are ripstop so a bit hardier than normal rugs.

Could you look at sudocrem? It has benYl benzoate in which can help.

Linseed may also help as it has vital omega 3 and 6 in - ideallyfed micronised not oil.

I find grass and sunshine makes it all worse for us too.

Also find lots of nettles and milk thistles help - I just leave a dog bowl full of them dred in stable overnight and she eats what she needs - does make her wee for england though!

Hormones can also play a part in skin problems
 
I have those kool coat sheets so will give that a go. Thank you for the omega tip.

Nettles are easy to cone by so will give them a go too.

I think sun could also be a major influence, last summer she only went out for an hour or so this year she is out 24/7...

Have raided Rory's changing station and nicked the sudocream!

Thank you x
 
Try homeopathic Apis Mel 30c. My horse and I both swell up with horsefly bites and we share a tube! Two tablets 3 times a day for a week (don't feed garlic or mint with them) and you should see good results. I don't bother with antihistamine for myself anymore as the Apis Mel does a far better job and with no side effects. Brilliant for lymphangitis too.
 
My mare had flamazine when she was in foal, she had a mrsa type bug on her legs which was literally eating her skin away down to bone on both hind limbs, she was plastered in flamazine and iv sedated on a daily basis for weeks while in foal so we could treat her. My vet prescribed it knowing she was in foal as she couldnt have the reccomended antibiotics due to being in foal as they cause ocd in the foetus. My mare recovered and I also had a healthy foal.

I hope you can get her sorted and good luck. I hope this helps.
 
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