Draft Horse Village

mycontact25 · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 57 Location: NW Lower Michigan

Levi is 9 years old, and developed a permanent case of hives the second week of May. Despite everything we tried, I ended up taking him to MSU for a dermal patch series of allergen tests. He's come back allergic to just about everything. We're now doing a series of allergy shots to build up his immunity but I've been told I will be giving him a shot every month for the rest of his life.............(I figure that to be about 15 more years or more).

Anyone else have allergy sensitive horses??? And what do you do to help them when they're having issues.
Does anyone give Benadryl to their horse when they have hives??
Anyone had good luck using fly sheets?? I imagine this will be the hardest part of the whole thing, keeping a fly sheet on him.

Any and all information would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

farmgirljen · Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 11:52 pm Post subject:

We have a cat that is allergic to dust, pollen, grass seed....which means that in the dead of winter he is sleek and beautiful, and atarting in mid february through most of the summer he is half bald, itchy, covered in hives, and lives in a benadryl haze.... he is 15 years old though, and has lived a good lfe. I would see what antihistimine sprays might help, as well as useing the fly sheet...but man that sucks!

draftjunkie · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:00 am Post subject:

yes we have a QH mare that gets bad hives and will even get huge raw areas all over her.....however, since she has been on flaxseed, her allergies are gone and she is doing great, no dex no nothing but flax in her grain 2x day.

Rudy · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:24 pm Post subject:

I know two people who have/had horses like that.

I don't remember what was done with one, but the other sent a hair analysis to Uckele and they made a custom mineral/herb blend for the horse and as long as he gets it he has no hives. Without it he has them 24/7 to the point he rubs hair off his body.

She had the analysis redone this year since he got a mild case of hives this spring and the mix he gets was updated. Poof went the hives again. Smile

mycontact25 · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 57 Location: NW Lower Michigan

Thanks Rudy, for that tidbit of information. I will look into that for my horse.

Cielo Azure · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:36 pm Post subject:

In during the day, out at night...
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Jill @
Cielo Azure Percherons
http://www.cieloazure.com

mycontact25 · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 57 Location: NW Lower Michigan

Well, here's one solution to our bug allergy problem........... It's taken a few times dressing him to really get used to how it all goes!! He doesn't seem to mind it and so far, it's held up pretty good, but he's only out 4 or 5 hours to graze and then back in the barn.!

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mycontact25 · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 57 Location: NW Lower Michigan

Well, the weather is cooling, and the bugs are disappearing, and we aren't having as many issues with itchy hives as before. We had to cut back on the amount of allergen we were injecting, and how often. .4ml once a week now. But we see small improvements. Levi doesn't have a hives episode after injection anymore. The injection site still swells, but not as much and goes away faster than before. I think his main issues is really the black gnats. I left him out a tad too long one morning and was able to watch the hives rise right up on his skin. Hmmmm. It's been tough being patient, and not being able to use him for anything, but I think we'll be able to go back to driving soon. We mowed the pastures earlier this month, and that seems to have helped. Out after dark, in before the sun is up works VERY well, thanks!! He's adapted to daytime stall life just fine. Things are looking up here!! Ya'll have a super day!