Weeping sores on body? Allergic reaction?

[juliecwuk]

Not on my horses but on another livery horse. The owner has had tests done but it didn't reveal anything (as far as I know).

I'm just curious really - and ideas? Doesn't have them in summer, only in winter. She has started get them again in last week or so. No feed changes as far as I know and not really rugged as such...

mainly on the neck, belly and hips. Can be large in size (smallest is about a square inch). It's not bleeding just weeping. Possibly because of mushrooms? I have noticed my fields do have a fair amount of mushrooms but not so many now, there were more over the summer than now.

 

[devonlass]

Only thing I can think of that would tie in with winter rather than summer would be rain scald,especially if horse not rugged??

Have to say it's quite early in the year for it,but I guess it depends on where you are and what sort of weather you've had??

Allergy is possible,but I would have thought there would be soreness and itching if this was the case,and either all over or in specific place,what you describe sounds random but not all over if that makes sense?? Mind you as a very allergy prone person I am more than aware allergic reactions can be bizarre and confusing in their presentation,so certainly wouldn't rule it out.

Are there any plants that come out at this time of year that horse has access to?? Berries and fruit are in abundance at the mo,could something like that be causing her a problem,either allergy or intolerance?? I would try keeping her stabled 24/7 (if not doing so already),so can eliminate outside factors.

Hope your friend get's to the bottom of it soon anyway.

ETA: on the mushroom thing,AFAIK they don't cause horses any problems,and they don't tend to eat them anyway.

 

[Skippys Mum]

Skippy used to get this a bit in winter - I discovered it was barley in his feed and certain haylages that used to bring it on. He would get very lumpy and bumpy and they would go into sores if I didnt get him off what was causing it. Obviously it wasnt there in the summer as he wasnt getting haylage.

 

[laceyfreckle]

Well as you know Harvey is allergy prone but only tested positive for birch,alder and hazel which all come out from jan-may. However he has been itching recently and also had some sores a week or so ago....I think I have found the culprit tree and am attempting to identify it today so can let you know what is causing his if thats any help to you.

He comes out in sores as well.

ETA: Found out what tree it is that seems to be affecting him - lime trees. One not tested for on his allergy test as well.

 

[juliecwuk]

thanks guys,

theres a few extra bits of info i forgot to say - the horse is often stabled during the day and out at night. when i said generally not rugged i mean the horse is rugged lightly when raining, but does get proper rugged throughout winter.

the horse is very itchy and sore when the sores are present. they are not present AT ALL during summer months.....

i too thought some trees maybe - i just wondered why suffering in winter not summer?

the weather the last few weeks has been pretty average, sunny/cloudy/rainy - no major extremes.

the horse is in the same field as always (there are trees along two fence lines). the only thing i have noticed is that the sores seem to have come after rugging (i think), unless that was just coincidence as there was one right at top of neck no-where near the rug.

will ask if anything in feed has changed (i was too wondering about a food intolerance). doesnt really get any haylage or hay at all (i never ever see any in the stable with the horse)

also def not rain scald - has alot on underside of belly not along the back (my horse suffers from rain scald, its very different in appearance)

supposidely suffered from these sores for the last few winters (ive only been there since last winter, not sure how many years the horse has had them but for def at least 3 winters)

any more ideas/suggestions?

 

[me_n_super_abby]

Id get some pics and ask Popularfurball, shes the queen of allergies and knows her stuff from looking after her little pony :tongue:

 

[popularfurball]

Detergent from rugs?

Some plants do pollenate this time of year - hunt out a pollen calender

If it was a low level contact allergy such as mushrooms, he would have them on his legs... If it was a consumption allergy more likely to have symptoms either all over ie no set pattern and or sores on and in mouth... So its either a nasty creature of some kind or something that is blowing on his coat...

Having had allergy testing done on madam, it really hasnt helped - and had several other vets say that the testing comes back with some odd results.

 

[laceyfreckle]

thanks guys,

theres a few extra bits of info i forgot to say - the horse is often stabled during the day and out at night. when i said generally not rugged i mean the horse is rugged lightly when raining, but does get proper rugged throughout winter.

the horse is very itchy and sore when the sores are present. they are not present AT ALL during summer months.....

i too thought some trees maybe - i just wondered why suffering in winter not summer?

the weather the last few weeks has been pretty average, sunny/cloudy/rainy - no major extremes.

the horse is in the same field as always (there are trees along two fence lines). the only thing i have noticed is that the sores seem to have come after rugging (i think), unless that was just coincidence as there was one right at top of neck no-where near the rug.

will ask if anything in feed has changed (i was too wondering about a food intolerance). doesnt really get any haylage or hay at all (i never ever see any in the stable with the horse)

also def not rain scald - has alot on underside of belly not along the back (my horse suffers from rain scald, its very different in appearance)

supposidely suffered from these sores for the last few winters (ive only been there since last winter, not sure how many years the horse has had them but for def at least 3 winters)

any more ideas/suggestions?

Harvey's allergies arn't all year round either....he only ever gets affected in jan-may (different type of allergy, comes up like boils that pop) and then again in Sept-end of Oct (these are tufty bits or bald bits that then become sores before healing over.)

 

[devonlass]

Ok huge longshot here,but just reading something elsewhere that mentioned harvest mites.
They seem to affect the face and legs,feet and not sure what other parts,so may not even be applicable,BUT they do only appear around august/september I believe so might explain the once a year thing??

Sorry don't know any more about them,and long shot like I said,but happened to be reading about them and thought of this thread,as the timing,soreness,and itching added up.

Figured it wouldn't hurt to throw it into the mix anyway!!

 

[popularfurball]

harvest mites tend to be more of a summer thing, and predominantly leg issue, producing sores much like madam has on her legs. I've been led to believe once you have had them you've got em, like cold sores.

Has horse been at same yard for years its happened? Has she looked at rug material?

You going to patch test harv lf? Lol. Rub him with lime tree. Our allergies still ticking over, new vet certain its sweet itch despite allergy testing saying otherwise. Said only hope i had was to get pjs sorted and go head to toe with ruging lol.