Horse problem. Maybe a allergic reaction??

Question

Ok so yesterday i was groomming my mare and I saw in between her nostlals was all scabed over (not like one big scab but like little ones) like she sctatched it. So I brought her on the cross ties and I notices that under her bottom lip had like small hives. Those didnt seem to hurt her as much as the scabs she would let me touch them to put cream on and they wernt inside her mouth... Her nose is very sensative, when I tryed to get close to it she would toss her head. She also has a little bit of a runnie nose, its like a white discard. There arent any scabs in her nostrols though (I checked). I dont know how long she has had this exzatcly but about 3 days ago I saw her eatting off the round bale I noticed she would filp her head every so often. I didnt think anything of it I just figured that it must have just been like a pokey peice of grass or twig. Shes still eatting and drinking fine other then the hay part but do you think I should just wait it out, or call the vet?

Answer 1

Don't worry about your spelling, we're NOT English majors here.  LOL

You mentioned the sores and scabs, but didn't say her nose and mouth were swollen.  If swollen, then chances could be that she's allergic to SOMETHING in the bales, but sounds like there's something baled in that round bale besides hay.  You might check for thistles, other weeds with pokey or stinging stuff.

I'd pick through the bale and see what's in it.  You may just have to call the hay broker and tell him something's wrong with his bales.

Answer 2

Sounds like fly bites.  You can try to rub fly spray all over her nose/face at least twice a day and see if it clears up.

But I believe that EVERYONE on this horse board will tell you to call the vet.  It's just the sure-fire answer.

Answer 3

Both allergic and irritant contact dermatitis cause bumps that form crusts that appear like scabs...it could come from something in the hay or something else she got into.  The lesions can become infected by bacteria so you should get a vet to look at it; at least apply an antibacterial ointment and cleanit with saline or hydrogen peroxide a couple times a day....a Cashel long nose fly mask would help to block sun exposure as well if she is light skinned and prone to sunburn.

EDIT: Also, the nasal discharge might indicate that an allergic response is also taking place in the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, causing excessive mucus production.

EDIT AGAIN: The crusts are not a sign of healing...they are dried serous fluid oozed from the lesions.

Answer 4

Hmmm...I would just call the vet. you dont want it to get worse.

Answer 5

Is she on alfalfa

EDIT= is it on pink skin, is it sunburn?

Answer 6

Does her body tempurature seem fine? no excess sweating or shivering or anything ABNORMAL? it's scabbed ver so it's already healing

and the hay was proabbly poking her scabs or something

maybe get some diesnfectant cream so nothing gets infected

is she on current wormer?

i'm not sure about the runny nose sorry

but it it is a lot of discharge then i would call a vet but if not then just make sure all her bodlily functions are normal, maybe she has a cold?