Is there a test for sweetitch?

My horse was allergy tested a couple of years ago.

His neck was shaved and he had loads of different substances applied in small dots. One of sets of tests were for various biting insects including Culicoides (midges), so there is a test to see if your horse is sensitive to midge bites.
 
As Perissa said. I had this done to a horse I had years ago who would itch half his mane out especially every summer and roll like mad with itchiness. I always thought it was sweet-itch but when a Boett didnt help at all I got him allergy tested, turned out he wasnt allergic to midgies at all - was actually most types of grass, mould (found in hay) and dust (found in stables!)!! I tried treating him with a fancy course of jabs from Holland but it didnt work.
 
Do you ask the vet for these allergy tests??

My horse gets a weepy eye in the summer, it's clear, like a costant stream of tears. My vet advised that he thought it was an allergy, I had a lady come out to see him from Animal Aromatics and she diagnosed that it was a type of grass he was allergic too. I think she was right as it has gone away over the winter.

I would be interested to know if there is an actual test you can get to find out!
 
The common practice now is testing by serum. It was fabulously sold to me, but in reality it is insensitive and throws a lot of false things back.

My girl is apparently allergic to cockroaches an a Brazilian tree... She is a welsh mountain pony!!!!

For us, keeping a note of weather, feeds, time of day were the keys to unlocking allergies. also seeing if rugs improve it. Quite often it is useless to know the cause (trees, pollens, flies) etc as the management will always be similar.

As for managing it, a decent rug like a ripstop cotton sheet is great or if you have electric fencing and no trees or hedges then snuggy hoods. I also use global herbs Skratch plus - fantastic results for us but a pain to feed (I feed in marmite sandwich).
 
The test that perisa describes is the better One IMO, and how humans are tested.

In our case she turne out to have an auto immune disease anyway but still feel she has moderate sweet itch. Her tests showed her allergic to dusts, moulds, a Brazilian tree, cockroaches beech trees, rape seed pollen... List goes on! No way I could win - cant live out due to pollens and any live in due to dust! Much better to identify triggers and manage it symptomatically ie if you know hot days make it worse then stable etc.

I found that when It was difficult to control, out 24/7 was the best solution. Now that I have control of it with the Skratch and rugs, I can leave in/out much more easily as her state determines - sunlight is a big aggregating factor for us so she is in on hot days.

Also worth stopping feeds and doing an elimination diet - grass, mollases and garlic all send mine loopy!
 
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