Itchy butt — 3rd double dose update on p. 4

[Cindyg]

Just to be clear, I’m talking about my HORSE’s butt, not mine.

He’s been on allergy shots for a year, so obviously he’s seen an allergist. She did the skin prick test.

I bath him frequently, weather permitting, always with some special, healing shampoo that someone has recommended. His sheeth runs a bit dirty; but the vet cleans it several times a year and doesn’t recommend doing anymore frequently.

He’s on Dr. Kellon’s protocol for allergies which is massive amounts of ground flax, spirulina, and chondroitin. I’ve tried just about every “Stop Itch” supplement that’s out there.

He does not have pinworms or any other kind of worms. Just had him retested yesterday, and we did the tape test for pinworms.

I give him the Spot-On every-two-week Pyrethrin treatment year round to keep flies off him. Surely no flies were biting this week (the week of the Artic chill); but he’s still scratching. And I’ve used Neem oil. And all the homemade fly spray recipes. And the natural fly sprays that you can buy.

He’s had the steroid shot and the hydroxyzine (long term) with no improvement.

What else can I try? What else can sneak under the radar?

[alibi_18]

What type of bedding is your horse on?

Also, a friend’s horse was allergic to her soap detergent… which she cleaned blankets and saddle pads with…

[Cindyg]

All pasture. No bedding. I don’t use any detergent on his saddle pad, and he doesn’t get blanketed.

[Scribbler]

I wonder if butt itching becomes a stereotypy like cribbing after a while. Or the inflamed skin demands more itching.

[Xanthoria]

Break the itch cycle with antihistamines. Give 0.2-0.4mg/kg cetirazine BID for a week. You can get 500 tabs for $20 online easily, or at Costco

[Jungle_Monkey]

If my gelding has ANY tiny bit and I mean tiny bit of sweat or “dirt” between his butt cheeks or just at the back of the sheath he will scratch his tail off and rub his butt raw. I do think it can become a bit of a habit as well. I also know I have some skin issues and will scratch own skin raw even though I know I should stop, I can’t.

[Jungle_Monkey]

I meant to add that I wipe in between his legs, back of sheath area very regularly with a warm face cloth. It helps a lot. I even do it if he is not working and in the winter.

[myhorsefaith]

Are you sure he’s itchy, or could it be that he’s trying to relieve pain? One of mine that has issues in his hind I notice has rub marks on his cheek on one side in one spot of his cheek and tail.

[eclipse]

You say you bath him frequently with “special” shampoos, try not bathing so often and just rinse with plain water instead. Even herbal shampoos can strip natural oils, leave a residue, cause allergic reactions etc!

[Cindyg]

@Jungle Monkey

I meant to add that I wipe in between his legs, back of sheath area very regularly with a warm face cloth. It helps a lot. I even do it if he is not working and in the winter.

Yes, I’m going to start doing this. Just water?

[Cindyg]

@myhorsefaith

Are you sure he’s itchy, or could it be that he’s trying to relieve pain? One of mine that has issues in his hind I notice has rub marks on his cheek on one side in one spot of his cheek and tail.

Maybe. He sure doesn’t seem to be in any pain. He’s hardy and sound.

[Cindyg]

@eclipse

You say you bath him frequently with “special” shampoos, try not bathing so often and just rinse with plain water instead. Even herbal shampoos can strip natural oils, leave a residue, cause allergic reactions etc!

I know. This is an endless loop. It’s impossible to guess if some of the treatments are actually making things worse. Like, I’m feeding him spirulina for the itching. What if he’s allergic to spirulina? (But the scratching started long before the spirulina.)

At any rate, he hasn’t had a bath since September, and he’s still itching.

[Cindyg]

@Scribbler

I wonder if butt itching becomes a stereotypy like cribbing after a while. Or the inflamed skin demands more itching.

Yep. This is entirely possible. I’m not sure how I can know.

[Cindyg]

@Xanthoria

Break the itch cycle with antihistamines. Give 0.2-0.4mg/kg cetirazine BID for a week. You can get 500 tabs for $20 online easily, or at Costco

Thanks for the idea. I’m going to try this. ETA: Oh, wait. I’ve already tried Hydrozyzine, which is an antihistamine. That didn’t help at all. Would Cetirazine be any different?

[fjordmom]

First what did he actually show to be allergic too - flies, pollen, grasses, dust,… what? You need to ID the source to target the problem. Then avoiding the trigger, where possible, is action #1.

I see you already have him on flax. That helped my one with serious sweet itch. I also give him MSM. Have you tried that? He was truly itch free (with a fly sheet) all summer and continues to be. Breaking any new itch cycle ASAP also helped to keep him from getting back to the old itch and rub routine. I use benadryl tablets for that. Super cheap at Sam’s Club.

One of my other horses was very sensitive to certain fly sprays, especially the natural ones with citronella in them. Maybe trying something different than the ones you’ve been using, especially those concentrated spot-on ones, would make a difference. Be aware the even though fly sprays come in a scadzillion different colored bottles, almost all of them have the same active ingredients or at least ingredients that are in the same chemical class. You’ll need to read the label to get something truly different. Have you tried Eco-vet? Interesting stuff that has worked well for us and has not caused any reactions on any of my horses. It does not work against cullicoides gnats, the source of sweet itch, though. For that I find Bite-free or Mosquito Halt works best (along with fine mesh, physical coverings).

[equiniphile]

Is his tail dry? My gelding will start to rub his tail if it gets too dry, so I apply an olive oil moisturizing cream to the top 8" of his tail every few days, which seems to do the trick.

[Cindyg]

Hi Fjordmom!! My itchy guy is a Fjord too!

Yes, I’ve tried Eco-Vet. I used it daily for three bottles. Still scratched.

The allergy test showed him mainly allergic to weeds, and the desensitization shots should be addressing that.

Yes, I fed him an entire tub of MSM (a dose at a time, of course).

Regarding the spot-on fly treatment: He could not tolerate the one called Spot On, but he is fine with an alternative brand called Rid Fly. Same active ingredients, but different (unlisted) inactive ingredients. Honestly, this is the treatment that I thought made the most difference of everything I’ve tried. But he was scratching long before I tried this, so I doubt this is causing the scratching.

[Jungle_Monkey]

Just warm water, nothing added. Try doing it whenever you’re up to visit him for the first couple of weeks and see if it helps. I really try to put as little as possible on my sensitive gelding. I have found this approach to work best with him. I try to only hose him off with water if he’s sweaty and rarely bathe him with shampoos. And if I do give him a bath I use Ecolicious Squeaky Green and Clean Shampoo. (Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Silk Powder)

If I put fly spray on him in the morning (he wears a fly sheet) I always try to make sure it gets hosed off the same day. He doesn’t live outside so not sure if this is an option for you. Straight vaseline around the sheath area keeps the little flies from getting in there. It’s messy but inexpensive and usually non irritating.

I also am very careful with his feed. He gets timothy pellets, rice bran, some plain beet pulp with supplements. I found he’s sensitive to soy and alfalfa. He gets grassy hay grown at my farm so I know exactly what he’s eating.

Platinum Performance skin and allergy helped too.

Good luck, it’s very frustrating.

[Cindyg]

@Jungle Monkey

Platinum Performance skin and allergy helped too.

I’m really tempted to try this. It seems the magic in it is DHA. I’m wondering how much DHA is in the flax and spirulina I’m already giving him. ETA: Quick google tells me Spirulina and flax contain ALA which is converted to DHA.

This product also contains Quercetin, which I’ve already tried in another product.

And Thymus Protein Complex. No idea what this is, but I certainly haven’t tried it.

Everything I try is $100 and several months spent.

[Dressagelvr]

Allergies are so tough. The shots often don’t work.

​​​​​​I hate to say it, but he’s probably allergic to something in his field.

Have you tried moving him to a different farm?