How can this be sweet-itch?

[JackDaniels1]

I posted last week about a retired mare (living out 24/7) itches like hell when she comes in for groom, farrier etc - as in nearly has the stable building down!! Bum, tail, mane, head etc....

Anyway vet came out to see to other horse injections and i asked him about said mare, i said i had tried lice shampoo. He said to get some lice powder but he couldnt see any lice. So then he said it's probably sweet itch but as she itches all year round (as in in winter as well as summer) it would indicate it wasn't sweet itch.....

Anyhow, have got these ''tablets'' for her (forget the name now!) and going to get a sweet itch rug and lice powder.... if all else fails, bloods.

What do you think re sweet itch?

 

[c2b]

Could it be an allergy to something other than midges?

My mare displays typical sweetitch symptoms. Various vets have told me it is, it isn't and it could be sweetitch.
So I treat as if it is sweetich which eases her itchyness.

 

[JackDaniels1]

How do you treat? any recommendations for rugs?

 

[c2b]

Have tried all sorts of lotions and potions over the years.

Only things that work for us are benzyl benzoate to reduce the itchyness and wearing a sweetich rug. I feed brewers yeast but to be honest not sure it actually does anything apart from make me feel like I am doing something.

Our preference is the Rambo sweetich hoodie. Very very tough fabric. Worst one I had (and the most expensive) was the Fal silver sweetitch rug.

Removing as much as possible for them to rub on in the field and avoid stabling. My mare just rubs if stabled.

This year since moving to a place where she can live out 24/7 has been the best for her in terms of how her mane is. First time ever we don't have a completely bald patch although it is very thin in that particular place.

 

[babymare]

the reaction to midges can start so soon in year and carry on so late - only need one little sod to be there - but after reaction as started it can carry on past midge time ie habit - my vet said fly sheet from feb to oct or later if needed as once they are bitten once thats it the allergic reation starts and they rub- me fly sheet and baby oil and E 45 cream - rub oil in at night every 3 or 4 days so it soaks in but also covered by fly sheet then at nigh t E45 cream rubbed in - messy but hey i have full mane and a full tail so mmmmmm - she still rubs but given i have tried every damn horse product but back with baby oil and E45 MMMMM works for me xx

 

[Fransurrey]

Sounds like she's having too much grass to me. My mare has terrible Sweet Itch (when not managed), but hers is partly managed by keeping her on a sparce paddock. I still need to treat topically, but she rarely wears a fly-rug, now. Sweet Itch arises due to an over-active immune system reacting to bites. You have to pin-point what causes the over-active immune system, not just treat the skin. I would consider feeding Brewer's Yeast and linseed to her and re-address her diet. Mine is treated as a laminitic.

ETA: Just to give you an idea of how over-reactive the system can be, I ran out of BY last year and so she was off it for 5 days while I waited for more to arrive. In that 5 days she had a god-damn awful reaction where all her fur fell out. I could rub her and the clumps came away in my hands, leaving baby-soft skin under the scurf and tiny winter hairs starting to poke through. This was during peak grass-growth time and also when she was shedding her summer coat (she starts this in July). I've got pictures somewhere, but until I realised it was an acute reaction and she wasn't in any discomfort, I pooed me pants! So remember, it ain't all about the midgets!

 

[CBFan]

My boy is like this... only itches his bum and tail in the stable... not seen him try out in the field or any evidence of it. My vet gave me some deosect spray on monday (potent stuff!) and I applied it twice - monday night and tuesday moring. and haven't had any itching since. worth a try?