severe scratching probs

[vikuca]

I bought my cob, Boris, last winter and throughout the summer he has been trying his damndest to scratch himself to pieces

The problem area is on the underside of his neck and under his jaw and he scratches so much that he causes himself quite a lot of damage.
When he first started, all that showed was bald patches and it looked as though he had lice. The vet agreed and prescribed some lice shampoo.
The scratching stopped for a while and then came back with a vengeance. He didn't stop when he had created bald patches but damaged his skin so badly that he had to be given painkillers and anti-inflamatories until it had healed up. The only way to stop him scratching was to stable him and close the top door so he had nothing to scratch on. The vet at the time believed it was a self-perpetuating problem and that once it had healed up fully he wouldn't want to scratch anymore.
He still does scratch though and I just have to manage it by trying to keep him in a field with as much electric fencing as possible (even he wouldn't try and scratch against that!) and then bringing him in whenever he looks to be making a mess of himself again. It seems to be calming down now, so I have half a thought it might be the midgies? ... perhaps that is why the previous owner decided to sell him in the winter??
Has anyone come across this before and could they offer any useful advice?
...sorry for the long post!

 

[ticobay831]

could it be the start of sweet itch?????

 

[hellybelly6]

My horse was very itchy and it turned out he has intolerance of sugar, alfalfa and high protein.

He has been off the alfalfa on a low protein/sugar diet and his itching has improved within a week.

I am not sure about your horse, but a blood test may help.

 

[Llwyncwn]

My initial thoughts were possible sweet-itch, however, as the vet has seen him and prescribed a shampoo for lice then it couldnt be SI as the vet would have recognised it. The only real way of ridding a horse of a lice infestation is by using Frontline spray for dogs. Although it isnt licenced for horses, most vets will recommend it off the record. It should be used twice at 10/14 day intervals and massaged in all over the body, ensuring that the mane is parted and sprayed sufficiently. Using gloves, spray on the hands and rub around the jaw line, ears and forelock.

My vet told me that powders and shampoo's are merely a preventative.

If this doesnt work then perhaps you could contact Willersley Vet. Hospital in Gloucestershire who are fully intune with allergies and can even create a vaccine especially designed for your horse.

Do investigate the possibility that it may be sweet-itch if lice infestation is discounted first, before you begin the long search for Boris's allergy.

I am not a vet and my thoughts above are derived purely from personal experience and you should consult your vet (or another one!) before treatment

 

[kellyeaton]

it seems in the wrong palces fof sweet itch it maybe be elergic to some thing try washing him in tea tree shampoo that will be soothing and have you tried skrach from global herbs?

 

[kerilli]

i'd smother the affected bits in Killitch by Carr and Day and Martin, which i've found to be brilliant, but i'd also try an exclusion diet. i'd have him on just soaked hay or grass for a while, very gradually introduce other things one at a time and see if they make him itchy or not, could well be an intolerance or allergy.
have you thought about a mesh rug, might help.

 

[Angela_Jackson]

I second to what hellybelly says, as this is where the horses glands are and high sugar or too much protien can cause this area to swell and become very itchy.