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Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch

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Last activity 2014-03-11 10:28 AM
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Rustynailfl
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2014-03-10 9:52 AM
Subject: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch




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Just ordered some for my guy who gets miserable every summer, trying to catch it early this year as I just seen him itch a little yesterday. Being in S. FL and the humid buggy weather, the poor guy just cant catch a break. What have been your experience with this? I am praying it helps! I have tried EVERYTHING else we could think of in the past.

I was told to start out with 8cc once a day on top of feed for 4 days, then 6cc for 4 days, then 4cc for 4 days as a loading dose. After that try 2cc every other day, if he is doing well try 1cc for a day or two but if I see any sign of reaccurance to up him back up to the 2cc every other day. Pretty much use my own opinion but we want to get him down to the lowest dose we can.

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geronabean
Reg. Sep 2003
Posted 2014-03-10 9:55 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch


Queen Bean of Ponyland


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Im in N Fl. I used it on a mare for a while. I used 5cc orally weekly and it worked perfect.
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barn mom
Reg. Oct 2006
Posted 2014-03-10 10:04 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch


Military family

Sweet Tea


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try "bug check". turned our horse around !! took about 3 weeks. we keep her on it. (ne fl
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quikchik
Reg. Jun 2007
Posted 2014-03-10 11:41 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch


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My horse had a bad reaction to it (laminitic). Vet prescribed it, and I think the dosage was 8cc the first day, then 5cc a day for 4 or 5 days, but that was for horse that was already broken out.
He was ouchy in his feet the day after the first dose, so I never finished the doses. He didn't have any lasting affects from it, but I won't ever use it on him again.

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luvropin
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2014-03-10 11:45 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch



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Have you tried bug off from Smart Pak? I have a mare that gets oozing hives and had to do the Dex thing before for her. Bug off really works, have to give her a double dose for about 10 days then can go to maintenance. I think what you are planning as far as a Dex dose sounds good. I went to every other day on my filly and kept them away until I found the Bug Off. I feel your pain, the poor things are miserable!
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ACEINTHEHOLE
Reg. Apr 2005
Posted 2014-03-10 11:51 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch



Tough Patooty


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Platinum Performance has an allergy powder that works wonders for summer itching.  Much safer than having your horse on dex all the time. 
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Rustynailfl
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2014-03-10 12:02 PM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch




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Thanks all!!

What are some negative reactions that I should keep any eye out for just in case?
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missroselee
Reg. Jul 2006
Posted 2014-03-10 12:11 PM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch


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Damn Yankee


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MOVE OUT OF FLORIDA!!!!

Just kidding.  When we were in southern GA my mare had herself a bloody mess from itching and rubbing herself raw.  We tried this and everything under the sun.  The only thing that worked was a steroid injection once a month.  I would have to ask my vet which one it was.

But as soon as we moved to Missouri, she got so much relief!!  Wish there were easier cures for GA and FL :
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Rustynailfl
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2014-03-10 12:28 PM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch




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missroselee - 2014-03-10 1:11 PM

MOVE OUT OF FLORIDA!!!!

Just kidding.  When we were in southern GA my mare had herself a bloody mess from itching and rubbing herself raw.  We tried this and everything under the sun.  The only thing that worked was a steroid injection once a month.  I would have to ask my vet which one it was.

But as soon as we moved to Missouri, she got so much relief!!  Wish there were easier cures for GA and FL :( 

No kidding! lol
I have done the steroid injection before and it also seemed to help, it was a mixture of a few things that the vet put together but the main ingredient has been on back order for all vets for a long time now (per my sister in law who works at a vets office)..so we are giving this a try. I hope it will help just a good!

Edited by Rustynailfl 2014-03-10 12:29 PM
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missroselee
Reg. Jul 2006
Posted 2014-03-10 12:31 PM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch


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Rustynailfl - 2014-03-10 1:28 PM
missroselee - 2014-03-10 1:11 PM MOVE OUT OF FLORIDA!!!!



Just kidding.  When we were in southern GA my mare had herself a bloody mess from itching and rubbing herself raw.  We tried this and everything under the sun.  The only thing that worked was a steroid injection once a month.  I would have to ask my vet which one it was.



But as soon as we moved to Missouri, she got so much relief!!  Wish there were easier cures for GA and FL :
No kidding! lol I have done the steroid injection before and it also seemed to help, it was a mixture of a few things that the vet put together but the main ingredient has been on back order for all vets for a long time now (per my sister in law who works at a vets office)..so we are giving this a try. I hope it will help just a good!

Wish I had more suggestions.....but nothing else ever worked for my mare.  My vet did mix up a steroid ointment but that was to put on the spots she was already rubbing raw. 
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Barnmom
Reg. May 2006
Posted 2014-03-10 8:42 PM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch



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You can use an injectable form of Benadryl, sometimes works great, sometimes not.  We had a racehorse that would get itchy during the summer and to avoid anything that would test we had to use ACTH gel (injectable) and that also seemed to help. 
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casualdust07
Reg. Mar 2005
Posted 2014-03-10 11:09 PM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch



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we give dex orally for various reasons. Just be sure you NEVER STOP DEX COLD TURKEY! When you decide to stop giving dex after a period of even several days to a week… taper them off. When you administer cortisol-like drugs, the body will shut down its own production of cortisol to maintain healthy levels. So when it's time to stop giving dex, you have to give their adrenal gland a chance to increase its own production…you don't want them to be cut off cold turkey
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trophywife
Reg. Jun 2009
Posted 2014-03-10 11:45 PM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch



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Allergy testing!! I have seen the results.. had a mare that would get "itchy" in the summer and we drew blood and sent off for testing.. the lab made up serum and we give her allergy shots (just like humans).. very small amount (1cc) just under skin every 21 days.. she hasn't had the first inclination to scratch since.. Well worth the money!!
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SoonerLawyer
Reg. Jul 2011
Posted 2014-03-11 8:27 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch



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I just sold a horse last summer that had TERRIBLE summer itch. He would rub his entire mane and most of the top of his tail out. It was awful. We gave him a shot of dex about every couple of months. It seemed to help a little but it wasn't a cure all. He would also lose all the hair on the white part of his face between his eyes and it stayed scabby all summer. In the winter it would grow hair, but it would still be hard underneath like it wasn't healthy skin. He was 19 so I wasn't as concerned about the harm the dex can do long term.
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Gunner11
Reg. Mar 2011
Posted 2014-03-11 8:51 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch



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I feel your pain! My gelding gets terrible summer itch and I feel so bad for him. I mentioned it to the lady who works on him (chiro/massage) and she suggested giving him two tubes of wormer, wait two weeks and give two more tubes of wormer. She swears it will work. She said it's due to a type of mite or bug living on the horse that goes dormant in the winter and comes out when it's hot.
I figured it was worth a shot, so I did the two tubes, two weeks, two tubes routine and now I'll just have to wait and see how he does this summer. If he starts itching again, I'll probably get some tests done to see what exactly is causing it so I'm not wasting time and money trying to treat it on my own.
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Rustynailfl
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2014-03-11 10:18 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch




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casualdust07 - 2014-03-11 12:09 AM

we give dex orally for various reasons. Just be sure you NEVER STOP DEX COLD TURKEY! When you decide to stop giving dex after a period of even several days to a week… taper them off. When you administer cortisol-like drugs, the body will shut down its own production of cortisol to maintain healthy levels. So when it's time to stop giving dex, you have to give their adrenal gland a chance to increase its own production…you don't want them to be cut off cold turkey

Thanks for letting me know this! I will definitely keep this in mind next winter!
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Rustynailfl
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2014-03-11 10:21 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch




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Thanks all!!

I am going to see how this goes and if he starts to itch bad while on it I will definitely be getting some test done. I feel so horrible for him! I know he miserable. Plus States is in a few months and I want to try to keep him looking his best! lol I’m always the one with the hairless horse, but of course I think he's handsome anyway!!
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cheryl makofka
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2014-03-11 10:28 AM
Subject: RE: Oral Dexamethasone - Summer Itch


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One of the adverse reactions of dex is founder, read up on it before you give it
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