Unexplained skin condition - any ideas

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walker1234

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Last summer a couple of days competing on a new surface I noticed my horse had an area of sores which were weeping thick yellow crusty pus at the very top of both hind legs. It didnt clear up and in fact it spread to his 'belly button' area which in turned swelled up to an area bigger than the size of your hand. The vet was called out who was bemused by it and had never seen it before. He suspected an allergic reaction to fly bites gave steroids antibiotics etc and it cleared up within a few days with daily washing and application of flamazene.

He does get hounded by horrid little black flies which I've never been able to identify, they bite him and stick to him along his belly button area and occasionally on his chest between his front legs.

It returned a couple of times times but on a much smaller scale and responded well to cleaning.

This year I've been using deosect for about 4-6 weeks already. It has been really effective and I haven't seen a single fly on him so I was devastated yesterday when I noticed he was scabby again between his legs.

I competed at the same venue at the weekend and now wondering if it may be an allergic reaction to something in their surface or maybe the water complex (indoor/outdoor xc).

Has anyone any ideas or experience of this?
 
Midline midges, that is what you are describing, and they will cause this sort of reaction. My old mare used to get bitten by them, so used a gel to ward them off. Aloe vera gel is soothing and healing afterwards, but you need to tackle the midge problem first.
 
Ah right thanks for that. It's cleared up with bathing and flamazene already but agree, need to sort out the cause ideally!

Wouldn't you see midges though? Also, I'd ruled this out as he is not at all affected by it. Obviously he cant rub the area but I would have though he'd stamp his feet perhaps?
 
I have a friend who cannot compete her horse at a particular venue because he gets an allergic reaction to the sand that flicks up from the arena.

The only thing you can do is avoid going to that place again.
 
Evelyn said:
I have a friend who cannot compete her horse at a particular venue because he gets an allergic reaction to the sand that flicks up from the arena.

The only thing you can do is avoid going to that place again.
Click to expand...

I've had a look back through my diary and i have competed there once and not got a reaction so I'm not sure now!
 
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