CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
I'm quite sure that my horse has a bit of an allergic reaction to tick bites. A welt always forms, scabs off, then leaves a bald patch. If I don't catch it immediately he will rub. Every spring he has bald patches on his head. Some years it is worse than others, and this year is definitely worse than last year. He wears a fly mask, fly sheet (with neck), and spray repellent. I tried spot-on but he had big welts at the application site, so I think that's a no go.
Generally I apply some Leovet tea tree lotion to his face daily to soothe the skin and itching (he seems to like it). I made the mistake of using another lotion that he reacted too and more skin flaked off. I have another sweet itch product that works for him as well.
I'm not sure what else I can do?
I also wonder why his immune system is so...dramatic. His bloods come back fine every 6 months and we've tried different immune boosters before. He's already on anti histamines that seem to really help his respiratory allergies (to dust, mold, some grasses and other plants). As well as an herb combo and MSM. This keeps his respiratory symptoms totally invisible, along with damp hay.
He also has to wear a fly sheet because while he doesn't have full blown sweet itch, every year when the midges show up he will start to rub. Last year he rubbed off a decent bit of mane because I wasn't strict enough about him wearing a neck piece.
So then I wonder, what causes a horse to have so many immune responses? He's not allergic to anything in his diet, and we've stripped it back to basics before with no difference. I do not believe that he had any symptoms as a young horse in Spain. They've developed over the years here in Germany. It's not the grass here because he's not always on grass.
I know a fair amount of Iberians with allergies and Icelandics as well. Is it something about moving them from their native habitat? Or just coincidence?
Generally I apply some Leovet tea tree lotion to his face daily to soothe the skin and itching (he seems to like it). I made the mistake of using another lotion that he reacted too and more skin flaked off. I have another sweet itch product that works for him as well.
I'm not sure what else I can do?
I also wonder why his immune system is so...dramatic. His bloods come back fine every 6 months and we've tried different immune boosters before. He's already on anti histamines that seem to really help his respiratory allergies (to dust, mold, some grasses and other plants). As well as an herb combo and MSM. This keeps his respiratory symptoms totally invisible, along with damp hay.
He also has to wear a fly sheet because while he doesn't have full blown sweet itch, every year when the midges show up he will start to rub. Last year he rubbed off a decent bit of mane because I wasn't strict enough about him wearing a neck piece.
So then I wonder, what causes a horse to have so many immune responses? He's not allergic to anything in his diet, and we've stripped it back to basics before with no difference. I do not believe that he had any symptoms as a young horse in Spain. They've developed over the years here in Germany. It's not the grass here because he's not always on grass.
I know a fair amount of Iberians with allergies and Icelandics as well. Is it something about moving them from their native habitat? Or just coincidence?
