Henry and Allergies

[Shazza]

Henners, now has an allergy, he is obviously very itchy and has great pleasure in rubbing his face and neck on anything he can - to the extent that he makes it bleed.

He has been under the vet for the past two months - with steroids, antihistamin etc. After four weeks of this concoction we decided to take him off everything ( he is now no better no worse).

The allergy started May - any suggestions, yes we had ripe seed growing a few fields away. Yes there was ragwort in the field - most has been cleared. Stinging neetles/thistles yes (but when you share a field that caters for 20 horses, its very hard to keep it toally clear.

My next suggestion is to buy a fly sheet, but what would be best, total coverage, face, neck and body. Can anyone suggest a good one, it needs to be sturdy - he loves to roll and there is barbed wire on one side of the field.

Also does he keep the sheet on all the time, or just during the day, and is it true that the worst times are between 8 and 10 evening and morning.

Help please.......


Regards Shazza

[Miriam]

Shazza

Have you thought it could be Sweet Itch which is an allergy to the midge flies. My pony suffers these and she also rubs her neck and bum. She rubbed it this year to the same extent as yours. Use D'Itch to help her. Someone suggested this to me and it really has helped. Her mane and tail have started to grow back in and the bald patches on her bum are starting to disappear. Also try Midge Away fly lotion or spray I have been told to try this as it is also suppposed to be good.

As for fly rugs, just had someone giving me tips on this from another group I am on. To put it on her now would be useless a she will still fell the irritaiton that she has now and yes the chances are she will rub against the barbed wire (only know this as I have simialr problem and was worried about the barbed wire). The best time to put them on is March before we get the flies. This will stopped any irritation starting up (less chance of rubbing). Take the rug off for the occassional grooming to get the winter coat out. If you get a belly flap leave it off once a week to help the coat also. The girl I know puts hers under her winter rug and has kids that have rode with it on. The horse keeps it on all day and night as the worst times are dawn and early evening.

Boett (unsure of price) do them and also Weatherwise (£59 for rug and about £18 for face mask). Most of these fly rugs come with neck covers already attached. Face masks are optional.

HTH and if you need any more info please ask and I will have a word with the girl on the other group.

[Shazza]

Thanks for that Miriam,

When he was under the vet, he was checked for sweet itch, but came back negative, it could be, that it is now a secondary infection ontop of the allergy.

So really for this year, I will have to contend with lotions to put on him, and next year start early with the fly sheets. He really is a poor buggar, he has mud fever in the winter and now summer allergies - some people have all the luck.

Thanks for your help and I will look out for the D'Itch lotion - anything to releave his suffering.

Regards

Sharon

[Cathy Reynolds]

Get y'slef a Boett rug for next season to keep all flies and midges off. One of the horses at the livery is wearing one. He is 30, and for the first summer his owner says he is not waiting to come in at night because he is so fed up with the flies.

Could the problem be St John 's Wort?