Poor Sid, sore ear

Jane&Ziggy

Jane&Sid these days!
Apr 30, 2010
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I have been worried about Sid's ear for a few days. He has always been sensitive around this ear (the right) and it has been getting worse.

Today when I got to the field he was scratching his ear with the tip of a hind hoof - impressive yoga for a horse of his build. I managed to have a look, which is not easy as he is very defensive of it, and saw that there is a nasty, scabby, pink/dark red area just inside his ear at the bottom.

Taking pictures of the giraffe was extremely difficult but I gave it my best shot

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Because I have no idea what the matter is, I just applied some soothing gel - aloe vera with chamomile and so on, very cooling and clean. He didn't mind having the gel applied at all so it must have felt nice.

Because he had some scabs behind his knees when vetted, his insurance already excludes skin conditions (just bloody typical) but I will get the vet if he needs it, though probably not over the weekend. Can you make a stab at what the matter is? Any suggestions for treatment?
 
Id trim the area with the scissors. He could be getting too hot. Id use some antiseptic cream, maybe some hibiscrub with a cloth.
 
I didnt think sudocream was antiseptic. It is used to stop dry peeling skin on old people lke my OH. But I googled it on NHS and it is antiseptic.
 
Some skin issues need a bit more than topical antiseptic creams to clear them up. A mild steroid cream could help knock it on the head.
As you say sid his head sensitive. Id go for something in this instance like the betnovate as its stronger than antiseptic nd therefore likely to knock the issue on the head with minimal application and treatment.
 
Does he wear a fly mask? Could be sweet itch or fly bites that have got a bit infected since the warm weather we had last week.
 
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If it’s been there a while I’d not panic, but definitely clean up best you can and carefully put cream on (you don’t want anything running down inside his ear), if it looks knarly I’d get some sedative so you can clean it up properly. Chances are he’s itched it because of bugs and made it sore and cream and protection will sort it out.
 
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