Fly allergy HE! Canter Pants?

[BEJ]

My horse is extremely allergic to flies (and EVERYTHING ELSE) and despite being on allergy shots/PO meds and wearing fly boots, sheet and mask he will chew the front of his hocks and forearms. I’ve been contemplating buying Canter Pants for him, but I’m concerned he’ll be too hot here in the Texas summer. Does anyone know of a finer mesh Canter Pant like product that will cover his entire leg? When I say I have tried every product, medication, topical product, I really do mean it. Don’t worry, vet sees him regularly and I keep her updated with pictures. My latest acquisition is a pair of hock nets, but I’m concerned they’ll slip and bind.

We’ve tried keeping him in with multiple fans, but even with all of his protective gear he will chew himself. He has a looooong list of allergies, which I have eliminated as best as I can, but the flies seem to be the worst irritant for him. He is perfect in the winter.

To sum it up, vet said he is allergic to being a horse!

[Bluey]

We had a 5 year old gelding super allergic to gnats and many other stuff and every spring he would maim himself rubbing raw his face, neck, shoulders and belly down to blood.
Nothing worked until his vet gave him a shot of Depo-Medrol, a long acting cortisone preparation.
That carries it’s own risks, founder one, but vet thought it was the last remedy.
Worked for about 3 months, then a second one got him thru until winter.
We did that all his life, he was one of our ranch horses until late 20’s, he never foundered.
As soon as he started rubbing again, he got another shot.

Wondering what your vet would think of that, if you have not tried it yet?

[Simkie]

You might try making him some donkey pants out of a cheap pair of cotton pants before plunking down the cash for those canter pants.

Like so but if you search for donkey pants on goggle, you’ll turn up more pics

https://www.reddit.com/r/VetTech/s/nsGJdNbZnP

I’m thinking about doing the same for my little mare. I’d use some 100% cotton poplin pants like…uh…something like this.

https://a.co/d/5gtr0mB

[BEJ]

When I say we’ve tried everything I do mean everything . He stopped sweating when given antihistamines and we are very cautious giving steroids due to him being draft pony. Keeping him covered is the best option at this time.

[IPEsq]

Have you tried something like Desitin or Zinc paste on the areas he is prone to chewing? It will keep the bugs from biting there. Or is that just what he targets when he’s getting flies anywhere?

[Simkie]

Something else that might be worth a shot, if you haven’t tried, is an nsaid. I started Equioxx for my little mare that’s being driven absolutely bonkers by bugs, and in two doses, she’s ramped down by maybe 80%.

I really don’t know why–is the stomping and kicking at flies exacerbating something that’s uncomfortable, and that makes her overall less tolerant and more reactive? Or is there an inflammatory aspect to the bites themselves that’s driving her nuts?

I figure I could rule in rule out pain versus inflammation by switching her to Tylenol…but she’s been so miserable I think we’re just going to take the win and stand pat.

If you do try whipping up some donkey pants, I hope you share pics! I did a pair of fronts forever ago for my gelding when he poked a hole in his elbow. Such a tough spot to bandage, but a pair of jeans, and a couple blanket leg straps, really did a good job of covering the area & keeping it clean. It was in the fall, so heat & sweating wasn’t an issue for that one.

[IPEsq]

For the allergy testing, you aren’t supposed to do it if you have given NSAIDs in the previous 2 weeks. So there probably is something to that.

[GraceLikeRain]

The canter pants may be pretty toasty in Texas. Mine is a half step beneath your horse: years of rubbing herself raw, 40 Zyrtec a day, apoquel fail, blew through steroids, etc.

This summer has been our best to date with nothing oral. Stall during the day with a fan. Night with mask, sheet, boots, and swat. We are also doing equioxx because someone said it helped their Hail Mary allergy horse. Her itching has been much less but I think it’s more stall than the meds. That being said she still occasionally rubs a sore on her face and currently has a lumpy bald spot on her chest from raking it with her teeth so maybe we are in a pretty similar boat.

What sheet are you using right now? Have you looked at the one from lemieux? That one appears to have the longest drop I’ve seen. I don’t know if it would give you knee coverage but it might help discourage if it’s long enough that you could spray no chew on the bottom hem. It’s so hard when they itch badly enough to hurt themselves.

[Simkie]

@IPEsq

For the allergy testing, you aren’t supposed to do it if you have given NSAIDs in the previous 2 weeks. So there probably is something to that.

Oh that’s good to know, thank you! Makes me feel a little more legitimate and a little less mad scientist

[luvmyhackney]

Can you use the tubi-grip bandages that just pull up the leg instead? Or just socks with the toes cut out?

Maybe something like this?
https://sunmedica.com/products/horserap-full-leg-woundrap?

[BEJ]

He’s best protected in his Amigo Camofly but I switch out with a lighter weight mosquito mesh when it’s super hot and he has to be out. He has front fly boots, I even have the tall Rambo ones, but they just don’t stay up. He is smeared head to toe in one concoction or another just about daily. He is in during the day under fans but has to have his sheet, mask and boots on or he’ll be bloody. I did an elimination diet just in case, but no luck. (Allergic to wheat, soy, corn, oat and peanut ugh, and every bug, mold and tree. Even cats and dogs )

[BEJ]

@luvmyhackney those look like a good option! Thank you!