Has anyone had their horse pts because of sweet itch?

No but there were times when I considered it.

I have had two with severe sweet-itch and tried everything including the vaccine trials; every product under the sun from around the world. I learnt to manage it and even had them living out in the summer through a mixture of Boett rugs from February onwards; BioEos capsules, strong fly spray and Camrosa.

It's time consuming but found the Sweet-itch help line helpful even if I just wanted to moan!
 
I know it sounds like you've tried most things but I had really good results with global herbs scratch. I had a TB x ID who was raw with scratching but this literally sorted him.
It does stink and possibly doesn't taste great so you do need to be a bit tough. He went on hunger strike for 3 days but once he worked out it was that or nothing he started eating it and we never looked back.

Good luck x
 
So as well as being itchy she has a navicular, Cushings, arthritis and bone spavins? To be honest, the poor girl doesn't sound in the most comfortable of positions :( Is she an older mare? I think if I were in your shoes I would be seriously considering making a decision that would take her pain away. I know it's a horrible decision to have to make but sometimes it's the kindest thing to do for an old friend.
 
^^this.
And the small melanomas.

I agree, it's seems like you've tried your very best, and as some one else said, it's like putting an arthritic oldie to sleep rather than make them suffer another winter.

A tough decision, but the right one, IMO.
 
OP hope you are feeling more positive now. I have found that Boett and Piriton and NO alfalfa has transformed my ponies lives. Its not necessarily a midge bite allergy only but a grass allergy too as with mine. It can take a week or so to get the itching under control if they have already started but honestly mine are normal horses now they wear their rugs and have the medication. they have fly spray in their forelocks at the moment eg ASS or whatever you like but later in the year will wear their Boett face masks as well as their rugs.
 
This is from a homeopathic vet regarding sweet itch, might be worth considering:
There is almost certainly an allergic component in sweet itch, usually to midge bites (Culicoides) and perhaps also to grass proteins. Since a malfunction of the immune system is involved, vaccination may play a part, because it is the one intentional challenge to the immune system that we purposely present to the horse or pony. In fact, onset of symptoms can sometimes be related to a vaccination event, within three months.
The conventional response to this disease is to use anti-inflammatory agents, in the form of long-acting steroid injections. These will sometimes reduce symptoms. Topical steroid creams may be offered, to try to soothe the skin lesions. We have seen severe and intractable laminitis follow from steroid treatment and cannot recommend this route.

Using natural medicine methods, especially homeopathy, we aim to cure the disease or at least reduce the tendency. At the AVMC, we have succeeded in about 70% - 80% of cases. This may sometimes be only by ‘controlling’ the problem, not actually ‘curing’ it, but a cure is possible in many cases. A homeopathic prescription is chosen on the basis of constitutional features, since this is a chronic disease, and there may be a need for symptom-based homeopathic prescribing in support. Aromatherapy can also help some patients. Using homeopathy sweet itch can become very manageable or even a thing of the past.

Common homeopathic remedies, that have worked in past cases, chosen according to signs in the individual patient, are Arsenicum, Calcarea, Silica, Graphites, Nux vomica, Natrum muriaticum, Hypericum, Thuja, Tuberculinum, Sulphur and Pulsatilla. Hypericum and Calendula lotion can be very helpful.
 
exmoorponyprincess1 said:
So as well as being itchy she has a navicular, Cushings, arthritis and bone spavins? To be honest, the poor girl doesn't sound in the most comfortable of positions :( Is she an older mare? I think if I were in your shoes I would be seriously considering making a decision that would take her pain away. I know it's a horrible decision to have to make but sometimes it's the kindest thing to do for an old friend.
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Agree with this :( It's a horrible decision to make but sometimes is for the best
 
id suggest its not SI id ask the vet to allergy test or mention a course of steriods, i had a horse that itched all the time i even had one idiot vet tell me he had lice . in the end we tested as well as skin biopsys and the horse was allergic to pretty much everything in life.
 
Antihistamines have been tried already and as mentioned before, I cannot use anything steroid based as she goes very footy verging on laminitis so the injections / pills are a no go really.

Having spoken to the vet, she says that the majority of things that she could allergy test her for would mean her potentially being stabled for the whole of the summer. There is no quality of life for her in doing this.

I made the decision on Saturday that when the midges really started chewing between her legs and she started rolling to scratch herself, then that would be the time to let her go. Unfortunately, yesterday when I went to the yard she had small scabby bits between her legs and when I turned her out, she started trying to scratch by laying in the sitting up position (if you know what I mean!). She does this to try and scratch her udder. Much as I had made the decision on Saturday, now this has happened I'm all in a quandry again :-(
 
Have you contacted BHS Friends at the End? They might be really useful to have a chat with and support you through this really difficult time.
My heart honestly goes out to you, it is such a horrible decision to have to make but sometimes it really is the kindest thing. That doesn't make it any easier though :(
Your poor mare sounds like her quality of life isn't the best with her current issues and only you can help her now. It sounds like you have made the right decision but just need to have the courage of your convictions - maybe that's where BHS Friends at the End could help? They may be able to support you enough to help remove the guilt (or at least partially reduce the guilt) you are no doubt feeling - it's such a horrible situation that you are in but remember your mare doesn't know anything about your inner turmoil...all she will be thinking/feeling just now is discomfort with her ailments.
I've supported two close friends through this very situation within the last 12months, very happy to chat by PM if you need any support x
 
I agree with exmoorponyprincess1, I think that combined with all your mares other issues it isn't fair to let her put up with the sweet itch on top, the cushings could well be making her skin worse and if there is no way to resolve that then I think you have to let her go while she still has some quality of life left.
 
I think you said earlier that you can't move her because she doesn't like to get wet? Just move her somewhere exposed and put up a wooden shelter... She can always move to a less exposed field in the winter anyway.

I'd also try stabling her in the day and turning out at night with a nice bath every few days just with water to relieve the current itch. Midge bites only last a few days so once she's out of their way, she'll recover. The problem is once they've scratched, the scabs are itchy too... But if you bathe and apply something to stop the itchyness, she should slowly recover.

I have a few midge bites on the back of my neck, head and stomach (don't ask me how they got there) myself and they've been itching like crazy for the last 5 days so I can sympathise with your poor horse!
 
Mitchyden said:
I made the decision on Saturday that when the midges really started chewing between her legs and she started rolling to scratch herself, then that would be the time to let her go. Unfortunately, yesterday when I went to the yard she had small scabby bits between her legs and when I turned her out, she started trying to scratch by laying in the sitting up position (if you know what I mean!). She does this to try and scratch her udder. Much as I had made the decision on Saturday, now this has happened I'm all in a quandry again :-(
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She has so little quality of life! Trying to scratch bites on her udder- poor thing:( And you know more than anyone else what it would progress to in the coming days and weeks.
I agree, you may friends at the end comforting to talk to right now.

It takes courage to make the right decision - i don't envy you, but it seems you know already what is best for her. You have tried hard for do long.
 
The dreaded phone call to the vet has been made and she goes at 1pm tomorrow :-(
I still don't know if I am making the right decision for her and I will feel forever guilty but I've lost all the fight left in me to proceed any further. At least when the midges come out in full force later on in the year, I will know she's not suffering :-(
 
It sounds like the right decision, it shouldn't have to be a fight to keep a horse comfortable, and with her other issues it will probably only be a matter of time before her suffering is too extreme. Far better to pre-empt that and let her go now before things get worse. I'm sure that the vet will agree with your decision.
Taking a life is always hard, but when you are taking it to alleviate suffering then there is really no need to feel guilty. I will be thinking of you and hope all goes well. xx
 
Yes you are Michyden, think of yourself in her situation, feeling in agony and not being able to make the itching go away just make it worse, I miss my mare 3 years on but I did the right thing by her and have never regreted it also I tried the cavellesse and it didn't work.
 
Mitchyden said:
The dreaded phone call to the vet has been made and she goes at 1pm tomorrow :-(
I still don't know if I am making the right decision for her and I will feel forever guilty but I've lost all the fight left in me to proceed any further. At least when the midges come out in full force later on in the year, I will know she's not suffering :-(
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You know your horse better than anyone else.
Be confident in your decision, it's done out of love however difficult. Big hugs for tomorrow x
 
I'm glad your able to make the decision with the support of others. I can imagine that many put their feelings before that of the horse. We as owners must put them first, and who wants to suffer??
You will feel guilty, I've been there, but the knowledge that she is torment free should apease this. Huge hugs for tomorrow x
 
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