Very itchy horse

stilltrying

stilltrying

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Poor chap is in a bit of a state. I first noticed he seemed to be a bit itchy end of last week and had a few scabs under his chest. I thought it may be bit of sweaty winter coat and he was about to clipped anway (clipped last thurs) but over the last 2 days has got progressivly worse. He is covered in lots of little scabby lumps, between his front legs, over chest, stomach, and this morning had a couple on his face and has started biting his fetlocks. He is VERY itchy, if I touch them he looks like he will wobble over with excitement!! Any suggestions?? Vet coming out tomorrow but am concerned as I get excema and know how he feels!!

No changes to feed (fed hifi lite, speedibeet + oil), all his rugs are kept clean, no change in washing powder etc. Only change has been swap from haylage to hay beginning of last week. He started coming in at night beginning of Nov and is bedded on straw - is this our problem??

Also, middle of last winter we had a heavy horse move into stable next to ours and within about a week jez got feather mites and had to have the jab. Can these spread over the body?? He is very fine coated. Heavy horse is still next to us. Any suggestions welcomed!
 
I had similar problems with my boy recently, only on his flanks. It was horrible he had big itchy scabs and was very upset. I thought I saw a louse of some sort (only 1 ). It was extremely big - I was worried it might bite me if I touched it!

However, I never worked out exactly what it was, only that it had big teeth to cause such scabs. Someone suggested it might be a crab fly- however could find any pics to confirm. I treated him for lice and clipped him out and the itching stopped.

It might be worth trying to powder him, just in case. I never got to the bottom of it though. Hope your vet can help!
 
Lice, mange, rain scald??? all possibilities. Clip him out and keep him as cool as poss i.e. only one rug even if you feel harsh! normally helps them a bit. also don't work him to the point of sweating when you ride. good luck!
 
Sounds a bit like Ringworm. I had a horse who had this and it was similar to what your describing. Vet prescribed some liquid which had to be diluted with water and sponged all over her and it cleared it up. Poor mare developed scabs where she had itched herself. Had to disinfect all her grooming kit, tack and stable.

Good luck in solving it.
 
This time of year, lice. You can get all sorts of powders and lotions but many of them don't do much good. Best bet is Frontline spray which you have to work deep into the coat. Then you have to repeat it 10 days later when any eggs hatch out and could re-infest all over again. If you lean your chest against your horse for a few mins and then step back and look hard, close up in his hair, you might be able to see the little blighters creeping around very very slowly. Like little grains of rice. Brush your chest afterwards though!
 
I wonder if you've got straw mites and they're biting when he's lying down? Are you able to try shavings/alternatives?

BOF, yuck! Very amusing image though. One to do when nobody is watching, yes?
grin.gif
 
My boy has dry skin. The vet has been today and said it could be mites. He has given me some shampoo to put on, i have to put it on and leave it to dry. I wouldn't say he itches alot. I'll just wash him and see. Don't know where he's had them from as he's never been on straw the three years i have had him. But my friends hairy cob rubs his legs a bit, maybe they both have them.
 
My boy is the same although his scabs are on his back and neck with a couple on his head. I rang the vet last Tuesday, she thought rainscald and i bathed him in hibiscrub every day and used aloe vera gel however by Friday it had spread. Vet came out as she wanted to check it wasnt lice bit couldnt find any sign of any. I bathed him in pethadine on Friday and have been using Flamazine on the bald patches but he's still really itchy. Doesnt seem to be any more scabs although the ones he had dont seem to be healing yet. Think I will ring my vet again tomorrow due to the itchiness but interesting that our horses seem to be the same. I know what you mean about looking like they will fall over with the itching!!
 
Quick update - had the vet out yesterday.

She has taken some scabs for samples but her feeling is that is a similar condition to mudfever/rainscald (but is neither) - had a very long name!! She also said it might be ringworm, but it doesn't look your typical ringworm. Tests will confirm. I have to shampoo him every day with malaseb plus treat with a dilute every 3 days. Not the best weather for shampooing!! And have had to disinfect his brushes and wash all rugs. Should know in a few days exactly what it is.

He didn't seem to be scratching this morning but as soon as I touch the scabby bits he starts wobbling about!!

She did also say if it the rainscald type bug there is plenty of it around at the moment.
 
Have you tried using Nizeral yet?

It is a human anti dandruff shampoo that contains Ketaconisol - you will need to buy it from the chemist and not mention that it is for your horse. UK chemists seem very funny about us using it on our horses! In NZ we have free access to it from the chemist.

Dilute 1:10, shampoo to Hot water.
Lather up well using a face cloth, make sure that you wash the area beyond the current patches. The shampoo seems to melt the scabs and they come off really easily without making the skin bleed. There is no need to rinse out. Repeat daily till all scabs have gone.

I would love some photos of before and after and the time it took. Maybe a photo diary.

I have been using this very successfully for several years now on a large number of horses, I work in the racing industry here.

Nizeral works just as well on greasy heel and rain scald - I use it on my foals, and don't rinse out.

In addition feeding a supplement containing copper and zinc is a great preventative.
This is a recipe that we have in NZ and Australia - known as the Pat Coleby Mix

Mix together
500 grams Dolomite

80 grams Copper Sulphate

80 grams of milling Sulphur

80 grams of Seaweed Meal (Urea free)

Feed 1 level Tablespoon daily

Good luck with treating your horse

 
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