So a couple of weeks ago I posted about our foal being itchy. The itching has gotten so bad that she has rubbed nearly all of the hair off of her head and neck and some off of her rump as well. I am calling the vet on Monday to come out and have her skin tested.
Some have suggested sweet itch but don't really live in a place where they would flourish. So I thought...we use pine bedding. I used hay for the first few weeks of her life. As soon as I made the switch she started rubbing and itching so my best guess is the shavings. I know a lot of horses are allergic to pine and cedar.
So I have read that straw, and peet moss can be good alternatives. We have concrete floors with stall mats. Any other suggestions?
Also can anyone recommend something I can put on her to help with the itch?
Poor baby stood for about 30-45 min scratching herself on the round bale holder.
Hmm, im not sure where you live, or if you have access to different kinds of bedding, but you could try news paper. its not very absorbent, but it is much different then shavings, and may help with the itchys.
There is also pellet bedding that you can get. its a little more expensive, but if you'd only use it in the babys stall, it wouldnt be that much of a differece.
There is also some kind of a, corn husk type bedding that ive seen. Its pretty cheep, and works well as far as being absorbant, and what not. but im not sure if its avalible everywhere.
Im sorry if i wasnt much of a help. Just some suggestions you may want to try until the vet comes out.
Anyone else? I am heading to the feed store and vet supply here in a minute.
I have looked at the pellets but they are compressed wood some of it pine and that when they get wet and stomped on they turn to saw dust type stuff. Do yall think it would cause the same problem as the shavings?
BAH! No one here carries anything here but PINE. Well except one place who did have the corn husk bedding but it was $16 for a 40 lb bag! I tried using half a bale of hay last night and what a mess this morning. i really want to keep her up at night but wont be able to. I got some hydrocortisone spray to help with her itch and haven't seen her itch all day.
I use straw for my foal and it's been great. Relatively cheap, and though a PITA to clean, it's soft and relatively low in dust. I believe oat straw is most common and relatively inexpensive. I use a little bit of shavings underneath for absorbancy since the straw isn't that absorbent but you could always skip that if need be. Most of the pellets are made from pine I believe.
Have you thought about just not stalling her? Foals really should be turned out as much as possible, to help proper development and bone strength. As long as she's with momma and has a shelter, there shouldn't be any reason to keep her up. Use straw when you do need her stalled, during inclement weather.
MLS hmm I hadn't thought of that. Of course she is our first and only unplanned baby so I have no idea when anything is supposed to happen with theses guys. i was shocked when at 2 wks she had a tooth! She has rubbed herself raw in some spots on her head and neck and butt . She is constantly swishing her tail and biting at herself and rubbing on anything that will stand still. She has stopped some though since being out of the pine for 3 days now.
I only stall her at night. She is out all day long. We have a lot of Coyotes and dogs around here and so it is for her safety.
I checked for every kind of alternative bedding at every feed store in town. We are building 2 new stalls this summer that will be dirt floors and I guess hers will just stay dirt.
We use rice hull bedding called Permastall. Its about 7 dollars for a 50 lb bag. It breaks down and is so easy to keep clean. You can google it to find a supplier.
I would love to use something like this but no one supplies it here in our area. I live in a town of about 100,000 in the middle of no where.
Ricci I don't like the idea of just a dirt stall either but really the alternative is an itchy pony that rubs herself raw.
I have been in contact with a couple of companies that do recycled cardboard for bedding but I am afraid shipping is going to make it impossible to get.
She is better the hydrocortisone spray is really giving her relief and her hair is slowly growing back especially where the skin was broken. She does get wiped with fly spray.
It definitely could be the bedding, but I'm also going to take a stab at the whole bug thing. Is she getting fly spray? It's not necessarily as likely as the bedding allergy, especially since she seems to be getting better.
And you mentioned the new dirt stalls... I personally wouldn't keep my horse in a dirt stall, it's just too... dirty for me. I know they spend all day in the dirt, mud, and grass and whatnot, but I just like the idea of nice clean bedding for them at night. Plus it's not as dusty. Of course, I can't come up with any reason not to do it, unless they start coughing. Just had to throw in my two cents.
I'm from Monahans/Odessa area...now in east Texas. We have coyotes too...they never bothered any friends foals. Stray dogs are probably a threat...but vicious strays should be shot IMO. They are much more dangerous than a "wild" animal like a coyote. But anyway...I'd go with straw...although it is a mega nuisance to clean. I highly recommend NOT leaving them on plain dirt. IT GETS NASTY! And then you have to shovel all the stinky, black, pee dirt out and re pack.
One more thing that seems to help my boys...I rinse them off every night before I feed dinner on especially mucky hot days. Gets all the sweat and grime off...as well as built up fly spray. Seems to help.
We have our own "bubble" boy who is allergic to everything...he's bedded in peat moss. Not cheap, not clean, but it flat works!
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
The Horse Forum
3.4M posts
92.6K members
Since 2006
A forum community dedicated to horse owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, grooming, reviews, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!