Scratching, allergies, and alfalfa

[Cindyg]

My horse has been scratching (like crazy) for 2-3 years. I have tried (and am doing) all the typical internal and external solutions.

We’ve done the skin-prick test, and he’s been on allergy shots since January. He’s really bad right now.

My specific question is about alfalfa. He shows allergic to alfalfa (among many other things). The only alfalfa he gets is in his supplements (a grass balancer, a feed-through fly control, an itch-allergy control supplement).

Is the amount of alfalfa in his supplements significant enough to take him off all supplements? Or would you guess that the good he supplements are doing him override the distress caused by the alfalfa in them? Another way to put it: Would you guess the small amount of alfalfa in his supplements is significant compared to all the other allergens and biting bugs in his environment that I can’t eliminate)?

Another question: He has never had a skin-scrape test. Nobody has really studied his skin. Could there be more help there? Even if it revealed something significant, it’s hard to imagine what is left for me to try to remedy it.

The allergist that did the skin-prick test is the expert in my area. When I google, it’s her name that comes up over and over. So, I’m not sure what other vet to turn to for more help.

I appreciate your advice.

[mmeqcenter]

If your horse is allergic to alfalfa, then I would remove alfalfa from its diet.

[JB]

Yes, you should at least start by removing all alfalfa from his diet, even the small amount in any supplement.

The thing about allergy testing is that sometimes, when allergens are present, their immune system is in “overdrive” and responds negatively in testing to things it may not really be allergic to. So knowing you have an alfalfa allergy, I would get that out, and in a few weeks to a few months (it can take several months for things to calm down), do some more testing.

[Color_of_Light]

I third removing all alfalfa. He’s allergic to it, he’s being fed it and he’s reacting to it. It’s like someone with a lactose intolerance. Give them a tiny bit of lactose and all hell breaks loose. What else did he test positive to in the allergy test and is he still exposed to any of those antigens?

Can I ask what is the anti-itch supplement you use? Does it seem to work?

[cayuse]

Yes, remove all alfalfa. I have a pony with an alfalfa allergy and just one dose of an alfalfa based supplement was enough to give him hives.

[vxf111]

My horse is allergic to alfalfa (and timothy, corn, soy, and oats) and yes I removed it entirely including supplements. Even a small amount can cause a reaction. I also did allergy injections for him and it helped tremendously. Between the elimination diet and shots-- he became 100% asymptomatic within 6 months.

[hunterjumper98]

I would absolutely remove all alfalfa from his diet. As an owner of a horse with grass allergies, I feel your pain.

Have you tried giving him regular Microtek baths to soothe his itchy skin and bring him some relief as his allergies rage? My guy gets so itchy to the point where he has rubbed some hair off his sides some summers even on medication, and a good soothing Microtek bath does his skin wonders, It just helps calm their irritated skin and bring them some relief.

Also, have you tried putting him on Prednisone orally? It comes in a flavored powder that is much easier than having to give them regular injections. My guy has done well on it and gets allergy shots less often.

[Cindyg]

Yes, he gets a weekly Microtek bath. He’s on Hydrozyzine. My vet discourages Prednisone because, isn’t it bad for founder- or lamanitic-prone horses?

Thanks for your advice, everyone. I’m going to start a new thread on what on earth do I feed him.

[Peggy]

As others have said, remove all alfalfa. That is what my vet advised with my alfalfa-allergic horse. Of course all those nice, easy-to-feed pelleted supplements seem to have alfalfa in them. I switched my horse to the HorseTech supplements which seem to be pretty much just active ingredients.

[Cindyg]

@Peggy

As others have said, remove all alfalfa. That is what my vet advised with my alfalfa-allergic horse. Of course all those nice, easy-to-feed pelleted supplements seem to have alfalfa in them. I switched my horse to the HorseTech supplements which seem to be pretty much just active ingredients.

Yes, I’ve used HorseTech. But what do you put the supplements in? I feed in nosebags that don’t have a solid bottom (more of a tight mesh). (And this is due to my boarding situation.) The powered supplements will fall right out. And I can’t mix with applesauce because of the mesh/cloth nosebags.

Also, I just placed a huge order with SmartPak. LOL. Crying. Everything will have to be returned.

[Peggy]

@Cindyg I mix it with O&M. Fortunately horse is not allergic to oat hay or molasses. I moisten/wet (depending on enthusiasm level of the water faucet) to keep the powders kind of stuck to the O&M it and put it in a bucket that hangs in his stall. The pellets go in a separate tub that sits on the ground, but he has an unfortunate tendency to fling the food from that all over the place.

I started the wetting because he made pretty ugly faces when I started with the HorseTech (and again when I got a new supply, so I’ll probably have them add peppermint flavor to it next time). At one point I was also mixing crushed peppermints in with it–fortunately it was near Christmas and the local WinCo had bulk crushed peppermints.

[vxf111]

They make orchard grass pellets and timothy pellets. Those are “dry,” alfalfa free options

[Peggy]

@vxf111

They make orchard grass pellets and timothy pellets. Those are “dry,” alfalfa free options

And oat hay pellets, as well as a variety of mixes.

[theresak]

I know you are working with a vet and have a diagnosis - but have you considered adding a high-dose of natural vitamin E? I think the suggested dosage for allergies is up to 8,000IU natural vitamin E per day.

[quietann]

Consider there’s something at the barn itself that he’s allergic to, and try another barn for a week?

Seriously, I have seen the barn be the problem in two horses, mine and one of my friends’. The latter horse, a TB gelding, was never quite right at the barn where he was boarded, and was getting hives a lot. And then one day he had hives all over and trouble breathing. It was really scary, and required the vet, obviously. The vet immediately said “you need to get him out of here” and the owner immediately trucked him over to another barn for a few days. His symptoms mostly resolved there, but when the owner moved him back, he got much worse again. The vet came that day and took him to her place, and ultimately became his owner. Last I heard, he did require careful management, but was happily packing a little girl around. The barn the horse started at was a good barn with good care, nothing obvious for a horse to react to – but that one sure did, and it was extreme.

My mare’s case was not as severe, but the last barn I had her at, she had way more allergy symptoms – runny eyes, rubbing her tail out, hives, heavy (but not heavey) breathing, a cough etc. She was on various oral antihistamines except during the winter, had to have dex injections a couple of times for hives, steroid ointment for her eyes, wore a fly mask constantly all summer, etc. I eventually got her blood tested for allergies and that indicated she is mildly allergic to a lot of things, mostly pollens and insects. I had her on allergy shots for about 18 months but I don’t think they did a lot of good. It was pretty miserable. I just moved her to a new barn at the beginning of April and so far (cross-fingers) she has had minimal allergy symptoms. She is no longer outside 24/7 but the barn is cleaner. I do have her on generic zyrtec once a day (and will keep her on it because the pollen still bugs her a bit but she is SO much better.