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T O P I C R E V I E W
Sue J
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 08:43:08 AM Every spring my 18yr old mare Penny suffers from flies biting around her udder and she reacts badly. I always seem to get caught out and again this week although there's been a really cold wind blowing (we live on top of a hill) and the ground is dry, she has started to react. Her symptoms are that she starts to ooze serum which then turns into a sticky almost toffee like substance around her udder, then her udder and the tops of her legs start to swell. I have her in at the moment but i'm not really sure when this happens, whether it is during the day or at dawn and dusk. To be perfectly honest there doesn't seem to be many flies about although there may have been more last week end when i think it may have started. I am currently bathing with warm salted water, which I find dries it up and then puttting on Aloe Vera. I did used to buy a spray from Hilton Herbs years ago which I found worked every time in preventing it but for some reason they no longer do it. Just wondered if anyone else had this problem and had found anything that works? Sue
7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Sue J
Posted - 17 Apr 2010 : 1:03:20 PM Thanks everyone for your input. I have kept her in during the last 3 days and it is beginning to improve slightly. I have managed to get hold of Aloe Vera in a spray which is easier to apply while she is so tender. My older mare who was fine yesterday has now started with it and had to bring her in today. Strangely I have two other mares who don't seem to be affected. On in particular is in foal and starting to bag up and yet she has no sign of any problem at all, very bizarre! Zan I think you are right it must be a specific type of fly that is prevalant at this time of year. It's so annoying as we've had good weather the last couple of weeks, i've gradually taken off rugs and left out overnight as we are supposed to be going away for a week from Monday pm (if we can fly!) and I have friends staying to look after everyone, was hoping they wouldn't have much to do!
Zan
Posted - 17 Apr 2010 : 09:45:43 AM I had a mare who had this problem several summers in a row. The only way I could deal with it was to keep her in during the day and out all night. Tried all sorts of lotions and potions but nothing worked, and she was in a great deal of discomfort with it, so there was no way I could leave her out. She had always been okay out 24/7 before that, and was fine again when we moved a few miles away, so I think it must have been one particular kind of fly that was specific to that area.
gg
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 11:12:47 PM My mare suffers from this. i use sudo cream on her udder and put up with a sticky tail after swishing!
Julie
Karon
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 3:07:00 PM My oldest mare, Ash, has the same problem and up to now I haven't found anything that works really well so I'm going to try Aloe on her this year.
Mrs Vlacq
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 12:10:26 PM Sorry - the sweet itch helpline, based up the road from us - very handy Found the aloe spray - made by forever living.
Sue J
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 11:03:07 AM Thanks Laura, yes an Aloe Vera Spray would be ideal, i'll see if I can get some. Who are SI?
Mrs Vlacq
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 10:01:25 AM Poor girl Sue - must be so irritating for her. Mim gets a bit like this around her naval when she's very pregnant, so the skin is taught. She doesn't swell, but gets the sticky bits and itches. Once the skin is in tact again you could try Pure Gold from the SI helpline - it's a really good barrier - fixes the itchy cobs ears and sheath. I picked up an Aloe Vera spray which is great for reaching fiddly places, soothing too if you keep it in the fridge. Have used it on myself!!
