What could be biting him???

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

It's one thing after another with this horse i tell ya!!!
Well firstly his breathing is back to normal - yay!!

However, yesterday he came in with enormous swellings down the side of his shoulder both sides, where the rug sits, and also some on his flank. He was put out in his rain sheet, not his fly rug, because of the weather so i thought something must have bitten him.
So turned him out last night in his fly rug - which is the FULL length mark todd one with belly cover and neck cover also covering his ears.
He came in this morning with even more swellings on his belly and same bit of his neck.

I'm baffled, it def looks like bites rather than something hes eating ( as when he eats something hes allergic to he comes out in tiny pea sized solid lumps, where as these are large areas of squidgy swelling) but he doesnt seem to be bothered by the swellings, they dont hurt.
What could be biting him even in a full fly suit???

ETS today i have moved him into a different field incase the thing biting him is just in that field

 

[__Annie__]

I was going to ask if he is rolling in nettles but then I read he was in his rug so now I have nothing to offer

other than hope it gets sorted.

 

[Gucci_b]

mosquitoes.... as they land on the fly rug and some how manage to still bite your horse..Can't think what else it might be. Are you near any water on your or a neighbours land!! What about Flea's... and having an reaction to them

 

[PapaFrita]

Mozzies? Bot flies? Horseflies? Have you tried spraying him with something like OFF! ? PF regularly comes up with mozzie bites that are massive!

 

[Mudsplasher]

My horse comes up with large lumps. Some of them have been about 2" across but don't seem to bother him much . He suffered the same last year (fly rug makes little or no difference ) We rub aloe vera gel on them and they disappear fairly quickly . I've seen the mozzies on him and think he has a bad reaction to their bites. Global Herbs Fly Free seems to be helping as it did last year but it takes a while to work .

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

Thanks for the suggestions guys - and i will def try some aloe vera on him!
I think the overall conclusion made at the stables was that hes layed down on a red ants nest - there are lots about all the fields and the bites are all down one side of his body. Not sure really how to stop that happening!!
Luckily they dont seem to be bothering him (the lumps) but they really are bad

 

[Tia]

That would make sense Kayleigh. I don't think there is a whole lot you can realistically do about it.

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

Yes i think you're right, theres just no way of stopping it happening

Why do i have to have the dumb horse who chooses to go to sleep on an ants nest??? Duh!!

 

[Tia]

Ach! Don't feel so bad....the majority of horses are dumb so you aren't alone.