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Discussion on Horse biting at his sides
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New Member:
lloyd
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 3:23 pm:
Why would my racehorse bite his sides, taking the skin off and leaving large welts. He has been checked for worms and is clear? The vets don't seem to have an answer, leaning towards having a mental attitude, however he is very sensible in all other work he does?
Regards,
Lloyd
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 3:36 pm:
Is he a stallion?
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New Member:
lloyd
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 3:52 pm:
Sara,
He is a 6 year old standerdbred gelding.
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Member:
sonoita
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 4:05 pm:
Is some tack rubbing and could be bruising or pinching?
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 4:12 pm:
I know some dogs will mutilate themselves in an effort to get relief from itchy allergies. Could this be true of your horse as well? Just a thought...
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Member:
canderso
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 4:23 pm:
I had a Schoolmaster that used to mutilate himself when he got too bored or too stressed. (He came to me from a competitive show barn). I never saw the behaviour, I suppose because our barn is considerably less 'stressed', and maybe because he started getting 4+ hours of turn out a day (whether he wanted it or not).
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Member:
corinne
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 4:53 pm:
Lloyd...if I recall correctly this is the same horse that has been tying up all the time that you just posted on last week? Could this be related? Could he be colicking chronically?
Do you have the track vets involved? What do they say?
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Member:
lloyd
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 5:30 pm:
My gelding does to much damage to himself when I turn him out.
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Member:
amara
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 6:35 pm:
as mentioned, as he been checked for any other physical problems-like allergies, or any tack problems?.. any colicky symptoms ever?...
some horses, as mentioned, turn to self mutilation when they are stressed... it is not usually a sign of boredom, but instead the way a horse reacts when in a situation that it considers stressful-which could be what we may consider a non-stressful situation, but is stressful to them... it is similar to other coping mechanisms such as cribbing or weaving...
studies have shown that certain bloodlines predispose horses to manifesting obvious coping mechanisms, and within those bloodlines we have found that some lines manifest certain particular coping mechanisms.. do you know anything of the bloodlines of this particular horse?...racehorses are more prone to aberrant behavior because of the stress inherent in their life....
the use of the elizabethan type collars that keep a horse from turning his neck might mitigate the immediate problem, but actually stopping it will probably take some more intensive work...
but as mentioned check the physical first...
good luck
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 6:38 pm:
In short Lloyd horses do this because of:
- pruritis (itching)
- pain (skin or abdominal)
- frustration
Unfortunately your posts don't give us a clue as to which it might be. Can you tell us more or what this looks like and when it happens? Also what tests have the veterinarians run and what were the results?
DrO
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 6, 2007 - 7:16 pm:
I was asking about it's sex, because stallions will sometimes do this out of frustration if other stallion are breeding and they aren't.
As Dr.O. said, more details are needed. Have you had a chance to talk with your local vet? He might have some ideas since he knows the horse. If it's "just" stress related there are some things you can do to help him, but you do need to rule out the physical first if you haven't already done so.
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Member:
lloyd
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 - 8:13 pm:
Dr.
He tries to bite his sides just infront of where his stomach tucks up to join his hind quarter. He tries to bite them after I jog or train him, as soon as I get off the sulky or in his stall during eating and outside when he is turned out. Another thing he does when you ask him to pace fast is hike his head high in the air until he gets his speed up and also holds his head very high in the cross-ties. Never seen anything like it..
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Mar 16, 2007 - 6:41 am:
Lloyd is one of the horses that is being put on omeprazole? Has a veterinarian examined the horse and if so what were his findings? Sara's question about sex is a valid one as stallion's will have a raised suspicion for the frustration (self mutilation synDrOme) diagnosis.
DrO
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