Can a horse develop sweet itch at 28 yrs-having never suffered before?

[Porkie]

Just wondering ??? ............

He's developed a very sore, weepy tail - it's kind of clear gooey stuff !! A lot of people on my yard are saying it's sweet itch......

Phoned vet who said to just use hibiscrub and nothing else as it sound infected and creams like sudocream just trap the 'nasties' underneath and help it spread - and if worse to get him to come and have a look.

It's no worse but not exactly better either.

Is it possible for an older horse to develop it after so many years of never having it? Also, I don't have much experience of sweet itch but I thought it was really dry and flaky - where this is red raw, weepy and burning .........

I feel so bad for him it's obviously itching like hell !!

 

[Shilasdair]

It is possible for horses to develop sweet itch at any age. It's an allergy to midge bites.
The clear gooey stuff might just be the serum part of the blood. Your vet's advice to wash it with Hibiscrub (remember to dilute it well) sounds good - and maybe try to keep him in at dawn and dusk, especially on still days when the midgies are active.
It could also be rainscald, I suppose, but Hibiscrub would deal with that too.
If you aren't sure - get your vet to take a look.
S

 

[iluvcobs]

yep sure is, and it is possible to cure it.
My cob at 4 had sweet itch, she is fed 1000mg of Flax Seed oil daily all year round and is now 8 and has never had it returned!! phew.......tho I am now left with a ver expensive fly rug which I wont get rid of as it could be an omen good luck!!

 

[MurphysMinder]

I had an ILPH (WHW) pony who developed sweet itch at about the same age. We had had her for 10years without a sign of it and then suddenly she started itching her mane and very quickly it was a real problem. When various pills and potions didn't really help I bought a Boett rug and she lived happily for another 6 years .

 

[MontyandZoom]

Monty had a really sticky weepy tail and then developed some sores on his back. I got the vet out but it turned out to be a secondary infection caused by lice (eeew!). For the actual sores, hibiscrub cleared them up quickly.

 

[Porkie]

Oh

I was hoping you were all going to say 'no, of course it isn't sweet itch' !!! And tell me it was something simple to cure !!

Bottoms !!