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Post by spottyhorse on Dec 22, 2005 22:16:50 GMT 1
My older lad Russet, see avtar has started itching. Started last weekend. It is very local to his chest but is so itchy he has rubbed himself raw today. Kind of went like this
Saturday, first noticed itching, ignored, thinking its one of those things.
Sunday, still itching so gave his chest a hibiscrub bath.
Monday still itching so thought he might be to hot. Turned him out in the shool nekkid so he could have a roll, but he just wanted to come in for his rug!
Tuesday, still itching but I didn't see him as it was the sharers day.
Wednesday, deloused him with powder.
Today lunchtime he rubbed himself raw on the breezeblocks in the stable. Left his rug of and turfed him out. This afternoon, 4pm, still itching, aloe vered the wounds and have left him out this evening nekkid.
Phoned vet this evening and she has said that I have done the right things and the next step would be steroid injections. I have to keep and eye on him, hose him down and stop him itching.
Background to Russet, he's 20, welshcob. He lives out all of the time and is tracer clipped. He is feed simpl systems feeds and I don't think nything else has changed.
So do you inelligent people have any idea's, I am illing to try anything within reason, especially if it avoids a vetvisit Christmas day!!!!
Thanks you
Spottyhorse
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Post by Chestnutmare on Dec 22, 2005 23:28:55 GMT 1
What do the wounds look like?is there any swelling under skin?or lumps and bumps that shouldnt be there?
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Post by Diane with Sam & Jubilee on Dec 22, 2005 23:35:29 GMT 1
Is he itching just where he is clipped? If so it could be an allergy to the clipper oil used.
Pie went completely mad with itching when he was ill and rubbed himself raw until he was bleeding. The vets went through everything to try and get to the bottom of it but he went on to show further symptoms and we soon realised he had been poisoned.
The first idea the vets had was a sudden reaction to nettles. First course of treatment was to give 6 Piriton twice a day to help relieve the itching. You might want to nip to the chemist and get some and give it a try in case it is an allergic reaction. Obviously you'd still need to work out what he is allergic to but it might save you a vets emergency visit if they work.
Hibiscrub should be diluted 50/1 as that can also cause itching. Also make sure you wash it off completely. (I didn't know this until the vet told me!)
Good luck
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breezy
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,065
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Post by breezy on Dec 22, 2005 23:44:11 GMT 1
Heya, sounds like an allergic reaction - both mine have had them (I have crap horses!!!) Fizz was found in the field (2 hours after being checked fine) with half his hind quarter red raw and pustulating - some stroke of luck the vet was on the yard and immediatly administered steriods and antibiotics. We Hibisrubed the sores (sedated). He got better quite quickly and hasn't had one since (over 2 years ago). The other one has sweet itch so is prone - he came in with hives over his neck and shoulder - I looked and gave him some anti-histamine, next day the same, the next day he had rubbed a large expanse off his shoulder, which had then swollen up overnight and was weeping. He was a very ill pony - listless and sad. Vet was called, administered steriods and anti-imflamatory (had anti-b's as well...) he perked up in no time, but was very sore for days. His whole system was hyperactive for several months after that. This summer he escaped his field (god don't I sound like a bad owner!!) and tangled with some nettles and thistles and came in again with hives all over his front end. I gave him a good session of Equine Bowen (I'm a student) and they went down during the day. This was a success! Another time this summer he was attacked by wasps (got under his rug  ) and again I did some Bowen on him and he did not react that much to them - no vet visit anyway! So if you have ruled out any topical allergen, or any feed allergen, then it might be an enviormental one! Likely you will never know and you just need to keep on and treat the symptoms. Frustrating I know. I made a cream whihc had the essential oil of cedarwood, lavender, germanium and chamonmile in aloe vera and it was very soothing and took the itch out. I know that that suited mine though (disclaimer!). Good luck with him - can you find a Bowen Therapist to help you maybe? Bx |
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Post by Chestnutmare on Dec 22, 2005 23:48:05 GMT 1
I was thinking along them lines of nettle rash or even photosensitivity caused by eating st johns wart,i hope OP gets to bottom of it without having a 'HUGE' vet bill,Good luck
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Post by Diane with Sam & Jubilee on Dec 23, 2005 2:55:48 GMT 1
You reminded me Lolly, we scoured the field looking for any sign of St Johns Wort but found none. The other query was perhaps a farmer had been spraying Round Up or some similar organo-phosphate in the field next to us but we quickly ruled that out too.
Spottyhorse, Please don't think I am suggesting that your horse has been poisoned, I didn't make myself very clear when I said Pie had similar to your boy. Pie went on the quickly (within 24 hours of itching) to become neurological, headbang, blind and many others. His initial itching was when we thought nettle allergy, St Johns Wort etc.
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Post by spottyhorse on Dec 23, 2005 9:42:14 GMT 1
Don't panic Diane, he's been like it since sunday and its been getting steadily worse but nothing like Pie. He's been clipped since october so i would have thought he would have shown a reaction by now?
There are no lumps or bumps. Just grazes about 8cm by 4cm, these were obviously caused by the rubbing on the breeze blocks but there was nothing there before. I did dilute the hibiscrub and then wash him of. i have used it on him before with no adverse reaction so hopefully its not that.
I think I will get some Puriton on my way home from work. Will 6 tablets be enough for 600kg of welsh cob? Also how long will they take to kick in? Just thinking when I should notice a difference?
Thank you everyone, this really is the best forum!!!
I will keep you all posted
Spottyhorse
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nimrod
Elementary Poster
My mare!
Posts: 76
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Post by nimrod on Dec 23, 2005 11:41:31 GMT 1
interesting, my (unclipped) mare has started itching her chest and under her neck really badly. in fact i had to give her a good scratch last night. now she is out 24/7 she is hairier than she has been in a few years, but there are no lumps, bumps flakes or anything, she just seems really itchy. she has just moved to a new yard, but i've never seen her do this before. i thought it was her coat, or perhaps she was too hot, but not so sure.
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jenna
Novice Poster
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Post by jenna on Dec 23, 2005 11:45:41 GMT 1
I must admit, I'm concerned about my filly being too warm.
She grew a thick coat during that really cold spell we had a few weeks ago, and now it's not even dropping below freezing at night.
Her coat also has a lot of static in it.
She's not scratching overly much, although she does love her chest being scratched - but could this be contributing too?
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