When should I call the vet if my horse’s itching is getting worse?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse’s itching is getting worse, call the vet if the skin is breaking down, there’s swelling, discharge, marked discomfort, or the itching is becoming hard to manage despite sensible fly-season care. Mild seasonal itching is common, but worsening signs can mean the skin is getting inflamed or there may be another underlying cause.

Things To Check

1. Check whether the itching is worse at turnout, at dusk, after exercise, or after grooming.

2. Look closely for redness, broken skin, scabs, rubbing patches, swelling, heat or discharge.

3. Check the mane, tail head, belly, ears, face and lower legs, as these are common itchy areas.

4. Note whether your horse is stamping, tail swishing, head shaking or rubbing on fences, doors or stable fittings.

5. See if any recent changes could be involved, such as new turnout times, different bedding, a change in grooming routine or more fly activity.

6. Check whether other horses nearby are being bothered by flies or midges as well.

7. Keep an eye on appetite, behaviour and comfort, especially if your horse seems restless or unusually sensitive to touch.

Common Causes

The most common cause is fly or midge irritation, especially during warm, still weather or around dawn and dusk. Some horses are simply much more reactive than others.

It can also be linked to sweet itch or another allergy-type skin problem, where the itchiness tends to be persistent and can worsen each season.

Less commonly, dry skin, mud and sweat irritation, grooming friction or biting insects in a specific area may be part of the problem. If the skin is sore, infected or deeply damaged, the itching can become more intense.

What To Do

Start by reducing exposure to flies and midges as much as you can. Turnout timing, stable management and keeping high-risk areas as comfortable as possible may all help support your horse.

Inspect the itchy areas daily and keep a simple note of when the itching is worst, what the skin looks like and whether your horse is improving or getting worse. That pattern can be very useful if you later speak to the vet.

Try to avoid repeated rubbing, as that can make the skin more sore. If the coat is sweaty or dusty, use a calm grooming routine and only wash or clean areas as needed so you do not add more irritation.

If the itching is spreading, the skin is becoming raw, or your horse seems increasingly distressed, arrange veterinary advice rather than waiting for it to settle on its own.

Products That May Help

A seasonal fly-care collection can be useful as part of your normal management routine when you are trying to make a horse more comfortable during fly season.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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