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How to get a bug bite the size of a golf ball to decrease in size2007-11-24 21:16:15

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!

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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.

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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.