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Angie J.
Member
Username: ajudson1
Post Number: 1253
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, Jun 23, 2007 - 9:13 am: |   |
My Arab mare has one ear that is full of raw sores and the ear is very warm to the touch.
She's just miserable, doesn't know what to do for relief. Spent hours trying to get to the point of rubbing inside it, but she's in too much pain, freaked out when ever I attempt to go inside her ear.
Any one have suggestions as to what to do to help her out? What can I, or should I, put in her ear if I can?
From what I've read on here, don't appear to be mites, or lice. As she also has a mass of sores with swelling under her belly also, I believe it's from the same "bugs".
They have access to shelter 24/7, except when in one pasture; then I put fly masks on and go heavier on the fly spray.
My other 3 horses love their ears rubbed inside, and love being rubbed under their jaws to get the crusties off. No one has the ear sores though. Apparently Willow is tastier to the nasty flies!
Thanks. |
Diane Edmonds
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 1022
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Jun 23, 2007 - 9:51 am: | |
Hi Angie, it's the nats! We have them too and they also attack the under belly. One of my geldings also had sores and a little blood in his ears.
I was a little late this year, but usually I take swat and put it all over their hair on the outside of their ears and a line down their bellies. It works very well and my geldings ears are all better now. When I put it on the outside of the ear and a little inside I could see the nats crawling out (yuck) they died and he is fine now. |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: mrose
Post Number: 2917
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Jun 23, 2007 - 9:54 am: | |
Hi Angie! Sounds like bites from what we call "no seeums." Little, tiny gnats that bite like crazy. They especially are bad around the ears and parts of the stomach that have little hair. We have one horse that is especially sensitive to them and I have to bring her in the barn in the evening when these things are especially bad around here. The ones we have seem to be impervious to every fly spray and other concoction I've tried. Swat helps, but gets drippy in their ears. The bugs are able to bite through the flymasks, except the extremely fine mesh ones, which the horses really tear up.
I little anti-itch salve, like the cortisone ones used for poison ivy helps. Maybe if you put some on her stomach and it felt better, she'd let you get near her ears? (If only horses were so logical, huh?) If you keep her in when these guys are out, her sores will get better, and as they do maybe she'll let you touch her ears. |
Angie J.
Member
Username: ajudson1
Post Number: 1254
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, Jun 23, 2007 - 11:31 am: | |
Thanks, I am using the Swat. Just about out, better get more. Will try the anti-itch creams. Hope she lets me help her out soon, poor girl. |
Heidi Hocker
Member
Username: heidih
Post Number: 217
Registered: 9-1999
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 25, 2007 - 8:45 am: | |
My Arab mare and my friend's QH gelding have the same problem. With my Arab mare I started using the Cashel Crusader Fly mask with ears. Within a few days the sores in her ears started healing and now her ears are perfectly healed.
She hated the flymask ears at first, but adjusted within a few days when her ears didn't hurt any more. |
cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 634
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 25, 2007 - 11:33 am: | |
Crusader fly masks are the best and this year they have them with PINK ears in support of breast cancer. My girls wear them and so do the boys , but don't tell them! Cindy |
Christine C. Mills in NC
Member
Username: chrism
Post Number: 1180
Registered: 4-1999
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 25, 2007 - 5:10 pm: | |
I wonder why the gnats/flies are only working on the one ear.
I think it is something else that is attracting the insects and would suggest an aural plaque.
My horse has aural plaque in one ear and it gets red, tender, raw. The only thing that keeps it "damped down" i.e. not too sore/reactive, is something called dermafas. I rub a bit in each day and also use a fly mask. She allows me to handle her ear, but it is always a bit tender so I bridle by unhooking cheekpiece.
Just a thought. |
Angie J.
Member
Username: ajudson1
Post Number: 1261
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 25, 2007 - 5:39 pm: | |
Christine,
DrO,
what is aural plaque? I'll search for it on here, came on to post because the ear is still full of the red/raw sores, and now there is swelling at the base of her ear too.
Because it's been very hot and muggy, they are in during the day, out at night. I am going to keep her in constantly for a few days, and also try some spray for that is for insect bites, poison ivy and sunburn.
She has some sores in both ears, just the one is so much worse. She still has them under her belly too, and my one gelding was so sore and swelled under his jaw/chin that he was bleeding, probably from trying to scratch it.
It's like we have some new super bugs this year that don't mind the fly sprays.
Any more suggestions anyone? Any tips how to get near the ear even? Thinking of trying blind fold her, and using the spray, or for even more fun, I could lay her down and sit on her head. See if we both come out of that one alive! She's just a little 900 pound mare, but still dangerous when in pain. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 18747
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 26, 2007 - 8:01 am: | |
Hello Angie,
We have discussions on aural plagues, try the search form above it should bring them up in order of relevance.
As for treating these sores I see Swat recommended above but I would recommend thick applications of petroleum based triple antibiotic ointment. I think the antibiotic will help and the petroleum (Vaseline) base is just as repellant as the Swat. If you like the Swat you can still put it on, or even better the face mask with ears.
Panalog creme would relieve the discomfort even quicker but is not repellant and you would have to get it from your vet.
DrO |
Angie J.
Member
Username: ajudson1
Post Number: 1262
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 26, 2007 - 9:48 am: | |
Thanks DrO.,
Did search aural plague and don't believe that is what is bothering her.
I did manage to spray an antibiotic anti-itch pain relieving spray in the ear while I had her blind folded. Protected her eyes that way and gave me a chance to put something in her ear. Just a short spray, didn't think I needed something running in her ear to ad to the problem.
After a couple of hours of trying to get closer to the ear, all I managed was to get her fly mask on...with SWAT rubbed in the mesh ear. I have no idea how to actually rub something in the ear at this point...My arms feel like I hung by them for hours without rest from our battle last night!
Did I mention this is the same mare that had the worst reaction to the rabies vaccination? And the reason my last plans for vacation were canceled? I am 2 weeks from a major vacation trip here...grrrrr....sigh. |
Lisa Brand
Member
Username: trouble
Post Number: 140
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 26, 2007 - 12:06 pm: | |
my gelding just had similar symptoms, only his sores were on his legs and appeared in just a few days. I thought he had been eaten alive by a mysterious "bug". Vet said to use ivermectin (I had just dewormed with it 2 weeks prior) and in just 3 days sores are healing and no new ones are evident.
Just a thought in case you are desperate. |
