Severe itching, any ideas?

[ElleMay]

This summer my pony has had a quite a severe problem with itching her flanks, and I just cannot work out why this is. She has always been one for gettinga bit itchy when her coat is changing and rubs her tail a bit in summer but never anywhere near as badly as she has been rubbing her bottom at the moment.

I've had the vet up who didn't really have any idea what it is, she has a small melanoma under a tail which she thought there may be a possibility of causing the itching but after a couple of weeks of steroid cream, there was no change.

It isn't her tail that she is rubbing, its more to one side of her flanks and she will lift the opposite leg off the ground to really put pressure on the area. There is no external sign at all of what is causing it. The area can get sore, particularly if she lifts her tail over the fence, but this is due to her rubbing, it is not what is causing the itching.

Does anyone have any ideas at all what might be causing it? Its been going on for a few months now, not getting any better or worse in this time. She has alreadt ripped two rugs and broken two parts of the post and rail fencing, which gives an indication of the pressure she is using. I am really worried that she is going to hurt herself with the rubbing if she carries on like this.

The only thing I can think is that is something internal which is causing her the irritation? I have had a horse with sever hock problems in the past who used to lean on his hay bar in what must have been an attempt to relieve the pain, but as my vet said, there is nothing really in this area which could cause a similar problem.

Any help/advice/ideas very very much appreciated!

 

[Tammytoo]

Grass mites have been a big problem this year. I thought we had sweet itch but it was grass mites. You can't see them but you can feel the eggs, about the size of a pin head if you rub your fingers around the itchy area. Our pony was in danger of bringing down the stable as she hurled herself backwards at the tying up ring in an effort to scratch around her tail (but not the tail itself).

My vet treated by a double dose injection of ivermectin followed a fortnight later by a second injection (to catch the ones that hatched after the first injection).

 

[popularfurball]

Pin worm? Be my first bet

 

[ElleMay]

Sorry I should have said, vet tested for pin worm as this was my first thought too, but results were negative. She and my other horse (only ones on the yard) are both wormed reguarly and I keep to a routine with this, and she has been done recently.

I will ask my vet about grass mites, Tammytoo thank you for advice.

Thank you both for your replies