Swollen bridge of nose yesterday, today many oozing raw spots all over head

[Fairview Horse Center]

When this was first noticed, there wee a couple of tiny spots, almost like rain rot spots, that the scabs had been removed.

Bridge of nose is now becoming raw on both sides, probably from drainage, but she now has small spots on her jaw, above her eye, near her ear, etc all beginning to ooze yellow serum.

Allergic reaction? Multiple bee stings?

She is acting normal, normal temp, eating normal, doesn't seem to be really sensitive on nose or other spots. Nothing anywhere else on her body.

Any ideas? Thanks. (I believe vet will be visiting her tomorrow if not better.)

[AEM74]

Could be bug bites and subsequent rubbing/itching. Noseeums (sweet itch) maybe? Those things are terrible and when my gelding suffered with them a couple summers ago he had yellow ooz coming from the bites. Does she have bites anywhere else - belly, girth, along mane? Those are common sweet itch zones, too. Good luck!

[ddb]

Chiggers? Never seen them on my horse - in fact never saw them at all until this weekend. I'm suffering with bites all over my feet now. Started looking like moquitoe bites - now red and swollen. YUCK!!

[Fairview Horse Center]

No other areas have oozing wounds but her head.

[SLW]

A bug/bee bite would be high on my list. Next would be a contact allergy but I would also expect to see irritation on her lower legs if that were the case.

[copper bay farm]

Ground bees? They looked like very small yellowjackets. My husband was out weed wacking around our pasture the other day and my kids and dog were attacked a few minutes later when they walked down the driveway - all three were stung multiple times. I think he stirred them up and they came out mad looking for anything to sting. The bites were about the same as you describe. Nasty buggers at this time of year.

[*JumpIt*]

We've had two horses at my barn come up with the exact same thing, first one was about a year ago and was accompanied by neurological issues and ended up having a brain tumor and had to be put down. Second one came in just last week half his head swollen and yellowish discharge from his forhead, very itchy. I think the vet came out this week to see him but I haven't heard what the verdict was, I doubt it is serious else I'd have gotten a call or he wouldn't still be getting turned out.

[kid rock]

sounds like ringworm! Spray areas with Tinactin.

[My Two Cents]

Do you have wild parsnip in that part of the country? We had a dog get into some and she had swelling and then oozy sores that itched until she had them raw.

[shawneeAcres]

Sounds like fie ants, do you have them taht far north yet? we have them here and that is exactly what the bites will look like

[whicker]

How is your horse?

I live near you in Fauquier co. and have had the same thing happen with 3 geldings in the same pasture. The pattern looked like they rolled in a patch of horse nettles. I washed them with novalsan let it sit for 20 min and then washed again, rubbing the scabs and inflamed area with a very clean small sponge. Then I rinsed and patted dry. That method worked. Took a few days of care.The nettles have poisoned barbs that pierce the skin and cause the reaction.

They are nasty for people, too.

[Patty Stiller]

I get a vet ASAP! This could be something very serious like a brown recluse spider bite. If so it can cause severe and permanent tissue damage.
DO NOT DELAY calling the vet, and do not self treat this. If is is not that serious you did not harm by calling the vet, but if it IS that serious you could cause great damage by waiting.

[Fairview Horse Center]

She is much better. We did some hot compresses with epson salts, then applied cortizone cream. By the next day she was about 75% better. Yea! Very strange.

[2LaZ2race]

This is stupid.. but can horses have an allergic reaction to poison ivy like people? That's what it sounded like to me!

[CAH]

I second the chiggers. Nasty little things, itchy as hell. I just went through a nasty bout with them myself. Yes it could be just on the face, all she had to do was graze into a patch.

[equusus]

I third the chiggers. They cause many small oozing bumps, looks almost like hives- but they ooze.

[grayarabpony]

Do you have Fire Ants up there? I agree with Shawnee Acres that the bites like look just like that, and do cause swelling and tissue damage. Ask me and my horses how we know. :( (I absolutely hate those things!) Either that or yellow jackets or some kind of mining bee.

[Benson]

If there is tall grass in the pasture, there is a chance of contact with horse nettles, which are blooming right now.

Mine had the same thing on his legs last week from a trail ride through tall grass and subsequently, horse nettles. Vet said to wash daily with a betadine wash and it would go away. It has mostly disappeared, but a few spots remain on his lower legs.