Hi there,
my mare has always been mildly allergic to flies. Between fly spray and sheets, I've always been able to keep it to the bare minimum. She gets a few bites here and there, can get very itchy, but has never rubbed hair off. The mosquitoes, when we rarely have them, will eat her alive, so I have to double all my prevention/control at those times.
Anyway, I started feeding powdered garlic. We aren't in full blown fly season yet, but the midges/gnats and the barn flies are out. I have not found a single bite on her, even though some of the barn flies still hang around on the horses, they have not bitten. I was really excited about this. EXCEPT that she is still mildly itchy! No bites, no rubs or scratch marks, but she will still rub her neck/shoulder on fence and chew herself a bit.
This is only her neck and shoulder area. She does not itch anywhere else. Mainly it is right where the neck ties in to the shoulder.
I just looked up sweet itch, thinking it might be that, but apparently that is more common on the hindquarters and over the whole body, instead of just being localized to neck/shoulder/chest.
Her coat is in perfect condition. I mean perfect. Not a single bite, scratch, or rub mark.
Any ideas what it might be?
And if anyone has any topical ointments/sprays that might help calm the skin and stop her itching, I would like to hear about those as well.
When I have the vet out for spring checkup/shots, I may have some tests done, just to see what this is.
my mare has always been mildly allergic to flies. Between fly spray and sheets, I've always been able to keep it to the bare minimum. She gets a few bites here and there, can get very itchy, but has never rubbed hair off. The mosquitoes, when we rarely have them, will eat her alive, so I have to double all my prevention/control at those times.
Anyway, I started feeding powdered garlic. We aren't in full blown fly season yet, but the midges/gnats and the barn flies are out. I have not found a single bite on her, even though some of the barn flies still hang around on the horses, they have not bitten. I was really excited about this. EXCEPT that she is still mildly itchy! No bites, no rubs or scratch marks, but she will still rub her neck/shoulder on fence and chew herself a bit.
This is only her neck and shoulder area. She does not itch anywhere else. Mainly it is right where the neck ties in to the shoulder.
I just looked up sweet itch, thinking it might be that, but apparently that is more common on the hindquarters and over the whole body, instead of just being localized to neck/shoulder/chest.
Her coat is in perfect condition. I mean perfect. Not a single bite, scratch, or rub mark.
Any ideas what it might be?
And if anyone has any topical ointments/sprays that might help calm the skin and stop her itching, I would like to hear about those as well.
When I have the vet out for spring checkup/shots, I may have some tests done, just to see what this is.