Something's been biting my poor horse!??

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Bert&Maud

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I posted a few weeks ago after Barney had been very agitated tied in the yard and I found what looked like a cross between a spider and a fly burrowing in his coat. I removed it and squashed it and thought no more of it - at that time he was still not rugged. However, a couple of weeks ago, and again yesterday, when I removed his New Zealand I found some really horrible bites on his rump, several in a row which have swollen into hard lumps with a raw red oozing centre to each. These are well up under his rug so it surely can't be flies? I can't understand why it only happens every now and again. I've checked the lining of all of his rugs and can't find anything. They are obviously really itchy and painful, I've washed them thoroughly with Hibiscrub and treated them with Septicleanse but would really like some help in finding out what's eating him and if there's anything I can do to prevent it.
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How odd, I cant think of anything it could be, unless it is a wierd type of spider, but I doubt that, lice wouldn't bring up lumps they just make the horse itchy all over.
Cover him with fly repelant for the next week or so, just so you know if it was a fly type thing it may of put if off biting him.
 
This sounds like crab flies - there was a thread about them here.
Poor horse, he sounds like he's had a nasty reaction to their bites.
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More information here - and you can Google pictures to confirm that's what you saw.
 
My horse had exactly the same thing although has only had one bit which came up as a nasty sore. The creature I found was exactly as you described. He's groomed thoroughly and all his rugs are clean but I have used fly spray and fed him garlic again (I usually just do this through the summer) and, touch wood, there have been no more bites, creatures or sores. I'd be very interested if anyone knows what it is - I felt like a bad Mummy, I hate it when he has bites or cuts and always try to find a way to prevent them rather than cure them!
 
Lice maybe?theres a post on ectoparasites in the vet forum history if you want to see if you recognise any of the pictures?

still might be fies tho there well capable of sliping in under a rug if there is an entry point...
 
My horse had something vary similar on his face about 7weeks ago... started off as very hard lumps, then burst and oozed pus & blood :/ He had about 5 on one side of his cheek and one came up on his neck, but went down before bursting.... we just cleaned them up presuming them to be bites and they've healed now - still at a loss to why they were so bad though!
 
yes they are crab flies, they are a bloody nightmare! have been kicked in the head by a v sensitve mare who got one once, we've ahd quite a few this summer, had two last summer and never seen them before that!
 
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