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Post by zara on Mar 24, 2015 10:52:45 GMT
AJ has been very itchy for sometime now and I can't get to the bottom of it. His liver has been tested twice and that is fine and my vet gave him a good check over and couldn't find any "little visitors". I remember reading Brig's post about alfalfa and Harriet being very itchy so I've now took him off his chop and he's just on speedi beet and a balancer but he's still itchy although not quite as bad. He's also on Turmeric now. A friend suggested getting some "Front Line" spray to rid him of any beasties etc but I've never used it on a horse; any thoughts? Not sure what else to do other than bath him but it is so cold at the yard and we don't have any warm water.
Any thougths gratefully received.
Many thanks Z x
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Post by brigadier on Mar 24, 2015 11:00:18 GMT
Could be the molasses in the speedi beet? I find Harriet much better now she is off Alfalfa but if she hasn't had work according to feed she gets itchy again (not as much as last year, she took her mane off!)
So it may be that if he is 'over the top' feed/ work wise his anxiety to get the tickle out of his toes reflects in his skin. Although it doesn't sound like you are feeding him over much it depends on what he is doing- if your hay/haylage is very good then he may need little else. I doubt he needs frontline- its more for mites in the heels etc and I cant see him having them- you would notice patches.
oh and the other thing would be him being too warm?
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Post by zara on Mar 24, 2015 12:27:09 GMT
Hi Brig, the itching started well before he had Speedibeet and I think he is better now he's off alfalfa. He actually seems calmer on SB rather than more hyper. I've taken his warm rugs off and he's in l/w's now. He has bitten himself bald in places particularly around his stifles and flanks, he's also rubbed some bald patches on his neck. He eats hay or haylage depending what the bales look like but generally haylage but he doesn't eat huge amounts. I really don't know what to do next.
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Post by racaille on Mar 24, 2015 12:36:37 GMT
I think that if all else has been checked out, if he were mine, I'd do an elimination process. I'm assuming he can have lots of good quality hay (for preference rather than haylage as that can be rich)? Then I'd give him NOTHING but hay for a few weeks and see if there is any improvement - he's not in hard work so he doesn't really need anything else, he won't starve! If there is an improvement you could start to reintroduce things one by one but if not, you can eliminate feedstuff as the cause and look to environment. I too wouldn't be thinking creepy crawlies if your vet has ruled them out
But as Brig says, heat could be a cause. Is he clipped? I don't know how cold it is with you but could be do without a rug altogether?
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Post by solomon on Mar 24, 2015 13:14:38 GMT
It's a puzzle this itchiness. Could it be behavioural? Bit of self amusement. Dogs do it. I have never come across it before. I would try different bedding too in case that is cause.
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Post by zara on Mar 25, 2015 7:50:48 GMT
Well last night he didn't seem as bad again and nothing had changed and I do wonder if there has become a behavioural element to it. I did a lot of reading on Speedibeet yesterday and it has no added mollasses and many health benefits so I am going to continue with it unless they both go bonkers lol. I rang Spillers to ensure that their balancer doesn't have any alfalfa in it which it doesn't. So I'm going to continue doing what we are and as soon as there is a dry day he will have a good bath to see if it helps.
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Post by brigadier on Mar 25, 2015 8:19:01 GMT
Research piriton for horses- it may also help to break the cycle and give him a break from itching. not sure of dose-age but its generally safe for most animals
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Post by racaille on Mar 25, 2015 9:06:35 GMT
I was again looking at beet research (you all know my feelings so I won't got on again  ) and noticed that it is branded as a high energy food. Does AJ need that? |
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Post by zara on Mar 25, 2015 11:20:04 GMT
Speedibeet is a high energy feed and he doesn't need more energy but on the amounts he has and his reaction to it as yet I'm not worried about it particularly. AJ has lost some condition over the winter this year and he's been very picky about his hay so I'm happy for him to be happy, relaxed and eating well.
I had thought about trying him on some kind of antihistamine and it is something to think about; a friend has given chlorphenamine (piriton) to her horse in summer for hayfever with good effect.
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Post by brigadier on Mar 26, 2015 10:57:30 GMT
I don't think we appreciate how muscle mass can impact on weight appearance.
Basil looks awful this year- he eats well and has a fat tummy and good rib coverage but lack of activity has caused him to lose an awful lot of muscle.
Toudle as an example looks as fat as a barrel, he has a crease along his back as he is so bulked up on either side, yet he is in regular work and can do a solid trot and canter lesson (small boys don't like walking much) for a good hour without puffing or breaking much of a sweat. He gets two handful feeds a day plus haylage in small quantities 4 x per day- so not overfed at all. Its his muscle that makes him look big (Im sure of it)
Harriet carries muscle well so looks fat all the time, Floss is starting to look a bit more beefy but only because she is in regular work.
I wouldn't be surprised if AJ comes right because you are working him again, Arabs are sensitive, they bond with their owners and the combination of work and more attention from you personally may have a very positive effect.
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Post by zara on Mar 26, 2015 16:00:07 GMT
Basil and Toudle sound very similar to AJ and Tordi in some respects; Tordi resembles a small tank and although he isn't super fit he can do an hour of schooling in mailny trot and canter without too much trouble.
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Post by pboy on Mar 26, 2015 18:05:14 GMT
A friend of mine uses cattle pour-on on her horses, which I guess could also be an option. It does sound like it's more of an internal thing though. I know Rach finds Marmite helps Sarita's itchiness - maybe a dollop of that is worth a try?!
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Post by zara on Mar 26, 2015 19:00:43 GMT
Haven't heard of Marmite for itchy horses before pboy, simple enough to try if he'll eat it lol
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Mar 26, 2015 19:24:16 GMT
I've heard of people feeding marmite (and getting results) for sweet itch before so could be worth a try. You say he's now on turmeric...i'm sure you've thought of this but i assume the itching predates this?
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Post by zara on Mar 27, 2015 10:34:22 GMT
Think I'll get some Marmite! Haffy he's been ithcy since Christmas so well before SpeediBeet, turmeric, milk thistle etc; I actually thought the turmeric might help.
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haffyfan
Administrator
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
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Post by haffyfan on Mar 27, 2015 11:06:14 GMT
What you don't have any!? Marmite on toast, food of the gods!
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
) and noticed that it is branded as a high energy food. Does AJ need that?
