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Discussion on Why is my horse itching his tail and does daily wormer help thin horses? | |
Author | Message |
Member: Byerazz |
Posted on Friday, Jul 29, 2005 - 9:33 pm: Just two quick questions. My horse is 14 years old and we have been having problems keeping weigh on him. It has been suggested that i put him on daily wormer. Does anyone else agree that sometimes daily wormers may help these horses? (Note my horses teeth has been done and we are waiting for blood work to come back to see if there is anything there.)Also I have been noticing that he is itching his tails. In March I used Pyrantel paste, in May I used Ivermectin/praziquantel then in June I used the Pyrantel again and then July 11 I used Anthelcide (Oxibendazole). His sheath is also cleaned biweekly. Any thoughts to why is has just started itching? |
Member: Erika |
Posted on Friday, Jul 29, 2005 - 10:19 pm: So Sarah,Picture this: you're outside in summer heat with no clothes on...every kind of bug that bites has access to you. I think my tail would itch, too! Seriously, my friend swears by a mix of Listerine and baby oil to get rid of tail itchies. Anyone else heard of this? |
Member: Shirl |
Posted on Friday, Jul 29, 2005 - 11:15 pm: Yes, Erika, I used to use Listerine all the time by itself - with a little oil I think it would be even better. My vet also said to smear on Zinc Oxide Ointment on any obviously raw areas. Keeps the bugs off and gives releif.Shirl |
Member: Hwood |
Posted on Friday, Jul 29, 2005 - 11:22 pm: Yep, Erika,I used to mix Baby Oil, Listerine and Witch Hazel in a spray bottle and put it on the dock of my Appy gelding's tail. He was extremely sensitive to "no-see-ums." Didn't someone on this site also say that they discovered ticks on the dock of their horse's tail, and that was why he had been itching so much? |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Friday, Jul 29, 2005 - 11:23 pm: What kind of listerine? Regular I'm assuming?I wash the tail really well once a month or so, then rinse really well...Then all I do is rinse my horses tail weekly...no shampoo, conditioner, nothing. I do brush it daily to get the dirt out, I'm lucky that he has enough tail for two horses...He does still rub a little though. |
Member: Byerazz |
Posted on Saturday, Jul 30, 2005 - 11:45 am: OK everyone I just went and got some Baby Oil and Listerine and I already have Witch Hazal. Now how do I mix this up. I actually have notice he is itching his neck and shoulder. I am guess it is just because of how being turned out and being rained on the really hot. Do you think I should give him a bath and use conditioner to get some mois. bath in the skin.I have already given him a Iodine shampoo bath. |
Member: Shirl |
Posted on Saturday, Jul 30, 2005 - 1:48 pm: Sarah, I've never used the mixture, so maybe those who have will chime in here. As for the shampoo, I know Equus MediTec Shampoo is very good, gives back some moisture to the skin. When Sierra was really bad my Vet recommended Relief Shampoo, which the vet's office carried. You put it on, after wetting the horse down, I concentrated on the very worst spots, let it set 10 min. then rinsed off. It helped a lot. These itches can be so frustrating. Best of luck.Shirl |
Member: Cmitch |
Posted on Saturday, Jul 30, 2005 - 2:37 pm: could also be ticks in the top of the tail. you might check that out as well |
Member: Hwood |
Posted on Saturday, Jul 30, 2005 - 5:09 pm: Sarah, if I remember correctly, I mixed equal parts of each of the three ingredients, and put it in a spray bottle. It made his tail kinda greasy, but I think the mixture helped his skin. |
New Member: Turning |
Posted on Sunday, Jul 31, 2005 - 12:13 am: Agreed on the equal parts.We have been using one part Listerine to one part baby oil for years and it always works. Even without the witch hazel, you should see almost immediate relief. |
Member: Annes |
Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 10:17 am: I use just listerine on one of my horses who rubs his tail. It is an immediate relief for him and one time a week seems to be enough. I do always check thoroughly for ticks first because once I looked for days and finally found a tick high up under this back leg. He was fine once I got the tick out. |
Member: Vickiann |
Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 11:00 am: Sounds like a skin thing since now itching is past just the tail, but if tail scrubbing persists pin worms can cause that -- some wormers are more effective than others. Also, I presume you know about removing "the bean" from the horse. You can clean the sheath often enough, but if "the bean" is left in it can cause tail itching that will literally go on without a break for years. |
Member: Byerazz |
Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 4:10 pm: WE call them peas, but yes I know what you are talking about. My sisters horse when we were younger almost die because of a pea.This guys will not let me really get near him and just puts himself up inside tight. What would you suggest? I also will look up for the wormer's for pin worms. He seem to only do it two or three days and I have not seen him do it since but I also am not watching him every mins. Thank you for your help, Sarah |
Member: Lisamg |
Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 5:36 pm: Sarah;Unfortuneatly, there are many causes of tail rubbing. I have fought it all summer with one of my geldings. At first we thought it was mites, and may have been when it originally started two years ago. But the rubbing continued right where it left off the following summer. They don't rub in the winter. We had skin scrapings done on the worst itchers and no mites. We worm regularly so my vet suggested it is probably fly bites. So every morning I spray fly spray directly on their tails. Then each night, I check to see how itchy they are on their docks. My worst itchy gelding will cock his tail and look back at me when he's real itchy. When he's that bad I use regular hyDrOcordisone cream (like people use) and rub it in real good on the dock. Does the trick. When they don't show a lot of itchyness I use the listerine/water mix. I've experimented and when I don't use anything .... they often rub. I have managed to keep the hair breakage to a minimum on most of our horses. My husband's standardbred mare though, has a very thin tail to begin with. This year she's rubbed a lot of what she had off. I guess if they were out 24/7 with nowhere to rub their butts on it would not be such as issue. Although they would still be itchy and miserable. I think they feel better when they don't itch. Good luck. Lisa |
Member: Hwood |
Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 8:37 pm: You know that "After-Bite" that comes in the pen applicator? I believe it is a combination of Ammonia and Mink Oil. I wonder if that would help on specific bites on horses. |
Member: Vickiann |
Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2005 - 10:47 pm: If you cannot keep the "bean" or "pea" out yourself you need to have a Vet tranquilize the horse and clean it out. With one of my horses who is VERY bad about this, I have the Vet do the bean removal twice yearly when I have my semi-annual immunizations. The "bean" is a MAJOR cause of tail rubbing in horses. Some get much worse build up than others and that will determine how often it must be cleaned out. When the problem has been pin worms, I have a horse that has rubbed his hind end absolutely raw -- enough to take off skin and cause anal swelling. The ivermectins work pretty good on pinworms. If your horse only rubbed for 2 or 3 days rather than pinworms it may well have been insects or the bean/pea problem. Gnats especially seem to like black colored tails. Good fly spray can prevent a lot of misery. For general skin problems the povidone/betadine/iodine shampoos are very good, but used often can cause some drying. Be sure to rinse really good. I very much like the RELIEF product mentioned in one of the prior posts for rain rot or problems that involve sores on the skin. For faces or a very mild washing the Baby Magic baby wash (with aloe is especially nice) is very good. Good luck with the itching! |
New Member: Sargent |
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2005 - 3:06 pm: I went out on my noon hour and purchased a BIG bottle of Listerine. My black Walker's gorgeous tail is getting thinner because he keeps rubbing his rear end. Thanks for the tip. Here's hoping the Listerine/Baby Oil will give him some relief. |
Member: sully |
Posted on Thursday, Jan 25, 2007 - 1:30 pm: Hello,Just going through the worming articles and came across this one. Just wanted to add that I have heard that mares will rub their tails due to dirty utters. I know my mares love it when I clean there and will stretch out for as long as I want to clean. In the winter time when I cannot give bathes it helps. If you have never done this with your mare, make sure you are standing out of harms way so you do not get cow kicked if they are not used to it. Sully |
Member: corinne |
Posted on Friday, Jan 26, 2007 - 4:07 am: I two have had success with itchy tail and listerine! Good luck. |
Member: shirl |
Posted on Friday, Jan 26, 2007 - 11:51 am: You might also try Gold Bond Anti-itch Powder.Shirl |
Member: corinne |
Posted on Friday, Jan 26, 2007 - 1:55 pm: Ahh yes Shirl I have had good results with the Gold Bond as well. I have even tried Anti Itch Monkey Butt powder I got at this western tack store and it works great during hot sweaty months under his fly sheet to prevent itching all over from sweat etc. |