Hi

I am after some collective advise.....my horse, who is a 18 year old shire x welsh cob is suffering from one very itchy back leg, at the top of his heal. So much so he is currently on box rest with several stiches as he as sliced the back of his leg open on fencing tring to scratch it.....
The vet has treated for mites and lice, not stopped it. There are no marks or cuts or bites on the leg....tired a seet itch treatment not helped...
He is currently on anti-histamines...which is helping....so far I have had an expensive vets bill with no real solution to the problem and I am really worried that once he is back out he will do the same thing again.........
If anyone has any ideas what it could be please let me know.

Thanks

Now, don't take this as gospel - but someone told me that an effective way of ridding this is to use 'chip shop vinegar'.?

I get a feeling this may sting a bit, but probably not as much as rubbing a leg to the point of stitches being required.

Apparently this chap has been using it for years and has no problems at all now.

Cheap enough to give it a try I suppose.

Sometimes, the old traditional ways are the best - who knows - let me know if you try it and it works.

Sounds like the problem with this is finding the cause. With all dermatitis it can be such a struggle to find the root of the problem. Vinegar could be worth a try, thats one I hadnt heard!
Do you hack him out and if so where, what is he bedded on and also, do you use any conditioning or detangling sprays on his tail?

Hi

Thanks for the comments, might give the vinger a try!

In answer to your questions, generally I dont hack out and until this spell of box rest he lives out as he is not a big fan of being stabled(is currently having sedative gel to relax him a bit)
I am generally not a users of lotions and potions on his tail unless we are showing.
He did have a similar issue last year and we treated for mites, then I moved fields and the problem seemed to stop.
The only thing I thought it could be related to was the long grass, currently my turn out paddock grass is a bit long (waiting for it to stop raining to get them topped) last summer the old field had long grass. Could it be something in the grass irrating the skin?
I suggested this to the vet and he gave me an odd look and moved swiftly on.....

Hi peachie, try this link www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/postlist.php/Cat/0/Board/hhovet
and scroll down the page until you get to Feather Mites (almost at the bottom of the page). hope it will be of help.... regards, Amanda

Hi Amanda
thanks for that, interesting reading!!
Th depressing thing is we have tried most of those treatments without a great deal of success.
Myself or the vet can not find any evidence of investation of mites and have done injections, front line,aong with the worming injection that is supposed to help and feathers clipped off. The works...........