Thursday, July 30, 2009

How to get a bug bite the size of a golf ball to decrease in size?

Enroute to the last horse show on the weekend, my horse received a bug bite in the trailer, right where the girth sits. Unfortunately it blew up quite large so my rider had to withdraw her from the event as it was just too close to the girth. It's now been two days and this lump is still quite large. How can I get it to subside?
Answers:
DMSO gel will help. It will make it drain and shrink in size. I would also recommend scrubbing it with hydrogen peroxide and gauze to help open it up to drain. Then when you go to ride, take a combine dressing and place it under the girth if possible to help pad the area. You can also try cold hosing it twice daily and prayer never hurts.
Good Luck!
If it is as truely as big as you say, that is no normal insect bite. The horse could be having an allergic reaction or it could be infected. Seek medical attention for the animal.
A mosquito, horsefly, wasp, blackfly, none of those should have a bite the size of a golf ball! I think you should get it looked at by your vet it if doesn't dramatically improve in the next day or two.
There are two things that I would consider. First, could it have been a spider bite? Some spiders, such as the brown recluse, can cause huge tissue damage with their bite. They can end up with an almost liquid, destroyed amount of tissue in the center of the bite (A spider liquifies their prey and sucks their juices, so their bite as the ability to destroy alot of larger animal tissue although it doesn't kill them) If it is a spider bite your horse probably will need the swollen area opened so it can drain, and other treatment to make sure it doesn't continue to fester.
The second concern I would have would be that your horse is developing a celulitis secondary to the origional bite. Perhaps you've seen a person that was bit by a wasp or a horsefly, and they develop an infection (a cellulitis) at the site of the bite. In a person the signs are a dark red area to the wound, hot to touch, severe pain and worsening symptoms which could include an elevated tempature. People will most likely require IV antibiotics to resolve this problem, and it can actually be life-threatening if not treated. As a nurse I care for several people each year who develop cellulitis from bug bites. I have never personally seen it in a horse, but it is quite possible and will need treatment.
So I would monitor this carefully. At any sign of it getting worse, or taking much too long to heal, you need to have it checked. Perhaps something as simple as oral antibiotics, antihistimies or steroids will do the trick, perhaps you'll need more.
Then again, perhaps your horse is just having an unusually bad reaction to a simple bite and it will clear up soon on it's own. You will have to watch this carefully and decide for yourself. Calling the vet too soon will waste time and money, but calling too late can cause your horse long term problems. Good luck.
If its really the size of a golf ball, you should get a vet.
For now, dont ride her, the girth will only make it worse.
Check on it, if it doesnt go down in 2 days then call teh vet.
Good Luck!
I agree with it being a possible allergic reaction, but if it feels heated, do not apply DMSO or any heating agent. If it gets larger in the next 2 days, call your vet and let him know it may need draining. Until your vet can get there, get him on SMZ 960 mg, 10 pills twice daily as an antibiotic to prevent infection when it does drain. If it doesn't seem to be getting drastically bigger, go by your vet and ask for a few doses of Dexamethazone. It will help with the allergic reaction and will help decrease the inflammation. Good Luck!
Underwood horse spray. it works on everything. and i mean evrything. i think they have a website but you would have to check. the stuff is amazing.

No comments:

Post a Comment