how many supplements is too much?

[Toffee44]

Just been reading on the forum about sweet itch. I have never fed my girly anything just kept her fly rugged and marinaded in fly repellent however some one has suggested Marmite or a vit B supplement.

My mare currently has Hi fi Lite 3/4 scoop, speedybeet and garlic(x1heaped tablespoon) for her arthritus she has balsamic vinegar and 'no bute' once daily in her feed. Is it worth adding marmite to her feed to see if it eases her sweetitch or would you think this is too many supplements? Never been one for supplements so not really sure whether its worth trying or not???? Plus marmite and balsamic vinegar arent really horsey bought supplements.

 

[thedunthing]

No i wouldn't consider that to be too much.

worth a try,also kill itch is very good for sweet itch,its not a supplement you just put it on the mane and tail (i think) I'm not sure who makes it though, sorry not much use!

 

[Donkeymad]

Not sure why you are giving vinegar AND No Bute. The No Bute on it's own is enough for the arthritis. I don't think adding marmite would do any harm, or you could try Brewers yeast which is more effective.

 

[Nakipa]

I had a mare with sweet itch and gave her Cider vinegar, garlic granules and brewers yeast tablets (about 12 a day). It definitely made a difference.
I have never heard of giving horses balsamic vinegar. Brewers yeast is the same as Marmite but more palatable and probably a lot cheaper. I bought them in the supermarket from the healthy living section.

 

[Toffee44]

Vet recommended I use no bute in the winter months incase the arthritus progresses or the cold makes her uncomfortable (shes rugged and has full access to field shelter). As for balsamic vinegar someone recommended if after using it on their own horses for a number of years. I asked my vet and she said that it would do her no harm. Two weeks later I had a much free moving pony and a happier one too

I suppose my honest answer is im too worried to take her off the balsamic incase she gets really stiff and well miserable. When the arthritus first came through this winter I thought she had something a lot worse my bubbly happy girly went really miserable and just was not herself. It could well be that the arthritus has settled for now and this may be why she is more free moving and happier? Just dont want her to go down hill again.

Her sweet itch is manageable and we have coped for 7 years. She is a coopers marinaded pony in the summer. Just wondered if the marmite/brewers yeast as now suggested would be a helping hand or should I leave it as it is?

 

[teddyt]

Agree with donklet and nakipa, brewers yeast is better than marmite as a source of B vits.

I would remove the garlic though. Garlic stimulates the immune sysem and a horse with sweet itch already has a heightened immune response, so boosting it further actually makes itching worse. You are using coopers and a rug to repel flies, so even if the garlic did help in this respect (doubtful) you dont need it!

Linseed would help both the sweet itch and arthritis because it contains anti-inflammatory fatty acids and also helps make the skin more oily. IMO that would be better than brewers yeast.