[FrancesF]

Yesterday I used a roll-on fly repellant on my horse Nirvana. This morning when I went out I saw that, in the shape I rolled the fly repellant on, her skin was swollen and irritated. Her underbelly is also swollen, lumpy and itchy...she broke into hives I think. It is worst here, as her it is just her skin and insects are constantly crowding on the "lumps", some of which are like a baseball in diameter. An allergic reaction I suppose, however I have used this on her some months ago with no problem, maybe her winter coat protected her skin? Anyways, I read a little on the internet on some blogs and horse forums, took their advice and washed her almost all over with a natural soap to get rid of the fly liquid. We are not very close to much here in the country, do you think I should call a vet? Have you ever experienced anything like this? What can I do to relieve the ithching sensation and irritation?

 

[nldiaz66]

do you have a pic? if it is really bad I would call the vet.

 

[G and K's Mom]

Had the same thing happen to our younger one the first time we put fly spray on him. Huge hives all over his body.

Cold hosed him, gave a gram of bute. By the next day the hives were off his body but gravity had taken over and the swelling was in his sheath and chest. Again cold hosing and 1 more gram of bute. By the third day it was pretty much gone. The vet said if it lasted for more than a few days he could come out and give him a shot but it wasn't life threatening and resloved on it's own.

You could try some benadryl, but it should clear up on it's own in a day or so.

 

[7Ponies]

Just be aware that hives can be a life threatening health problem. If your horse should get them internally, it could cut off airways and lead to death.

My horse got them once too from flyspray. It was a spray I had always used, but the company had apparently changed the formula. We had to have the vet come out to help save her.

When it doubt, please call your vet!