Sudden Hives

[Hormonal Filly]

I noticed my gelding had hives all over his shoulder yesterday morning. Hes been on box rest for 8 weeks, on the same haylage and a handful of chaff hes been on for years. He was clipped 3 weeks ago, wormed a week ago. Really don't think he was to hot over night, just in a little fleece but left him naked during the day.

The hives/bumps were originally just on his shoulder in one area mostly, but last night were on his belly as well. They have calmed down a lot today but hes now itchy and is a bit grumpy if I touch them.

I'm going to get some antihistamines after work. Really trying to avoid the vet as currently owe a fortune before Christmas and don't want to add to that unless I have too.. although vet is re visiting in a few days to scan his tendon so if no better will ask her to have a look.

Anyone experienced similar? He had hives suddenly years ago when i fed a new mix. I'm wondering if it could of been a spider bite only as at first the hives were concentrated in one area.

 

[Archangel]

My mare that this when I accidentally gave her the wrong feed. She only had a few mouthfuls before I whipped it away but that was enough. Hives over her whole body. Her field mate's feed had barley in it and I think that was it.
The mare was itchy then they went crusty.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

My mare that this when I accidentally gave her the wrong feed. She only had a few mouthfuls before I whipped it away but that was enough. Hives over her whole body. Her field mate's feed had barley in it and I think that was it.
The mare was itchy then they went crusty.

I wonder if someone let him finish a feed or something.He did have hives badly before, hes allergic to mix so unless it was that he somehow got hold of. Not sure who on the yard would feed him behind my back.. he has ad-lib haylage!

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Following on, vet advised piriton. No better today, if anything worse now as they're all over his bum and back, but he isn't really bothered by them at all.

Vet said to hold out for the weekend and if no better shes out next week anyway..

Never had anything like this not clear up within a few days?

 

[PurBee]

I’ve had this appear a few days after worming. Worm die-off would easily cause an immune flare up, especially if some of the parasites are ‘scattering’, just like with bacterial infection growth, the immune system goes into overload to neutralize all the ‘dead foreign matter’ that is toxifying the system, so it’s easily eliminated.
Hives appear just exactly as you’re describing, first few on the shoulder, neck also for mine, then next days appearing on the body, and then day or 2 after that on their rear flank.

What wormer was it out of curiosity? I found moxidectin to really set hives off as it’s super powerful for encysted. red worms, gut wall dye off and gut lining inflammation could cause immune flare up and hives.

Hives is a histamine response and natural response of the body to an internal assault...parasite die-off is an internal assault. Blocking this natural protective role of the immune system with anti histamine isn’t necessarily wise. Unless your horse was having breathing issues, sweating, anaphylaxis shock symptoms, which normally are rapid, it’s a perfectly natural process occurring. I know it doesn’t look good and the horses can be itchy and be tetchy due to feeling rough, but hives at least means his immune system works well and is strong!
It’s good your vet is due to visit soon so you can bounce ideas off them.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

What kind of bedding are you using?

 

[mazzerrr1993]

My horse came out in hives just before i got him due to a protein overload and has done since due to me over rugging him (oops)

a couple of summers ago a few horses at my yard came out in really bad hives, my horse being one of them, my mum said to give him chamomile tea leaves - the rash was smaller the next day and gone the day after, one of the other horses was on steroids for it and it stayed for about 9 weeks (horse was other wise fine ) until he moved to a different yard.
so you could always try the chamomile tea (just rip open the bags, i use 6 for 500kg, put in a mug and put some boiling water with it, wait for it to cool and put on dinner) Its said to be one of the strongest natural anti histamines and i must admit im not big into all natural stuff but it did work.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

What kind of bedding are you using?

Hunters shavings, used them for the last 3 years now. Its the same batch as bought a pallet load..

What wormer was it out of curiosity?

Equest, the green box so yes moxidectin. I was slightly wrong on my dates, he was wormed 11 days before the hives showed. Could it still be related? He was last wormed in summer about 6 months ago. Interestingly my other horse has red worms (seen in his poo) after previously wormed, he was then pts so didn't ever re test but they were in the same field together.

Interesting what you say though RE worming. The hives started on his shoulder in one area about a foot big. Then moved to his bum, then between his back legs, all over his stomach and back. They look dreadful. I bathed him yesterday to see if it helped. Well no, it didn't.. not really, this morning they have reduced on his bum and back but now are all up his neck and worse of all, all on his face. He didn't have any on his face 2 days ago, but now its the worse place. Its odd how its moving around?

Vet said to wait until he comes out Thursday anyway, they aren't bothering him but it looks awful. Both my vets I spoke to said it doesn't look (sent photos) or sound like protein hives. He isn't hot, hes half clipped and only in a fleece at night and naked during the day. Vet said she'll give him steriods if no better on Thursday, then it will of been 10 days since he came out in them.

Friend at the yard noticed my saddle had a bit of mould on, but I started riding him 4 weeks ago now so odd for that to suddenly have effect 3 weeks on. I've now changed the saddle pad, scrubbed the saddle and can't say its made any difference even though hes ridden everyday currently as hes still on BR for his tendon.

The only other thing is hes on bromide from the vet, but again he started that over 5 weeks ago.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Hives have now reduced on his bum and back, but have moved to his face. He is alert and well, not bothered at all by them.

Vet is coming today for another unrelated issue, and wants to give steriods while shes here.. but I'm wondering if to give it another week and see how it goes?

 

[NOISYGIRL2]

Mine has had hives from a few things over the years, swede, alfalfa, clipper oil could be anything, weed in the hay/haylage

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Quick update.. vet attended on 19/12 thinks allergy related.. steriods were injected by myself for 3 days. The hives went, but came back within a few days. Was speaking to the vet regularly and kept him updated, we decided to cut all feed, made no difference and hives still present.

I then noticed on the weekend he had eaten some of the old wood in his stable (probably nibbling it for a few weeks I guess) and one of the hives on his bum looked like a circle and instantly thought ringworm, although from day 1 the vet said it looked nothing like ringworm.

Spoke to vet again and sent more photos (was sending photos everyday of the hives/rash) he was certain it wasn't ringworm but after seeing the last photo decided it was worth treating for ringworm. Even though the rest of it doesn't look like ringworm, only one small area. He has no hair loss or scabs so it is odd but it could be another fungal infection.

Vet prescribed medication and I collected the spray on solution on the weekend for ringworm. Had to blind fold him to do it as hes terrified of most things (blind folding works well with him and he instantly calms down) but it hasn't made a huge difference to the hives. Will apply ringworm solution again today and see if it helps but vet is revisiting in 4 days.

Hes on box rest so away from other horses and have told all the other liveries, apparently there was a case of ringworm at my yard several years ago but nothing since and hes been in that stable over 2 years so very strange. Just hope we've got to the bottom of it, as the hives really do look awful!

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Following on, in case anyone looks at this in the future.

Vet visited 3 days ago and was very pleased. Hives all gone, completely. Vet said to do one more treatment and disinfect everything and it should be gone for good. Great!

Disinfected everything 2 days ago and gave him a special bath in anti fungal shampoo too. Today noticed he has hives on his shoulder suddenly this afternoon, and is very itchy the same place it started before. Nothing has changed.. only thing I am now thinking is its the haylage? All the other 12 horses are fine though and 2 have severe allergies previously.
*HEAD BANG*
Have owned this horse 5 years, never had allergies before.. hes been eating this haylage and on this yard for over 2 years so very strange.