Itchy horse/sweet itch

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Janah

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I don't want to upset anyone, but had me thinking.

I have just had an episode of hives. I felt really unwell also hot on my outside but shivering on the inside, hope that makes sense.

I also had this dreadful urge to scratch to the point of I could have scratched myself raw.

I know when horses/ponies have sweet itch we do our utmost to stop them scratching to stop them rubbing themselves raw. However, what does that do to them mentally? Are we letting them suffer?

I offer no answer as I have non. I do know that sweet itch sufferers are at best, coping for nine months of the year.

Just a thought.
 
I hear what you're saying, I have excema myself and the need to scratch can be extremely strong. What I do know though is that it's better not to scratch, it only makes it worse in the long run.

I'm not sure that we ever manage to stop our horses scratching themselves, they can get to most parts of their body with one foot or their teeth so stopping them scratch on fences really just limits damage, it doesn't cut the scratching out altogether
 
It's a cycle, the trick is to stop them itching in the first place

You'll only ever be partially successful as Wheels says but you can limit the damage done
 
A lot of it about this year -probably due to the wet. The grass is growing more quickly and the sugars can make them more itchy. The problem is, what to do about it?
 
well my poor boy has been attacked all on his legs this year but I think its the only part they can get too. I hate SI I will never ever buy a horse with it again BUT every day I do the best I can and I just hope he knows that :(
 
I don't stop mine from scratching, I make sure they don't get itchy. I stop them from being bitten so they are not itchy in the first place.
 
That has got to be the best solution, Katherine.

I was thinking of the sweetitch suffering mentally from constantly being itchy.
 
I agree with Katherine, you have to do all you can to stop them being itchy. However, you also have to stop the, scratching. I have itchy skin, excema and hay fever, mostly, I can stop myself scratching, because I know, it makes it worse. A horse doesn't know it makes it worse and lives for the moment so we have to stop them for their own good.
 
It is incredibly stressful for the horse...no doubt about it.
I considered PTS for my cob 10 yrs ago...he was so stressed as I couldn't bring it under control where I was. I then moved him and the change and his quality of life improved hugely. He still gets itchy despite being rugged before the season starts but it is relatively mild and he copes well.
Stopping them from being able to scratch is the kindest thing you can do IMO. It only makes it worse and my cob will almost get in a frenzy if allowed to scratch, and will scratch because he can rather than because he needs to. There aren't many places they can't reach by rolling/mutual grooming or using their own legs/teeth:)
 
ibot said:
well my poor boy has been attacked all on his legs this year but I think its the only part they can get too. I hate SI I will never ever buy a horse with it again BUT every day I do the best I can and I just hope he knows that :(
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Apply neem oil to the legs and belly, ibot. Works MUCH better than fly spray and lasts for days per application. Just don't do it before a hot date or a meal out (like I did last weekend, but it made for interesting dinner conversation, thankfully with people that have horses!).

I appreciate what you're saying, OP, as I suffer dry skin, too and it's SOOOOOO good having a good scratch! That's why I buy robust rugs for Chloe, so she can itch (against the smooth corners of the shelter), but doesn't do any damage to herself. Mind you, her itchiness is limited by management and diet. I suspect without that we'd be on a losing battle. On our last yard she only had the ground to rub on, due to mains electric fencing and I did feel a bit sorry for her, but thankfully we moved before the grass really came through.
 
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Fransurrey said:
Apply neem oil to the legs and belly, ibot. Works MUCH better than fly spray and lasts for days per application. Just don't do it before a hot date or a meal out (like I did last weekend, but it made for interesting dinner conversation, thankfully with people that have horses!).

I appreciate what you're saying, OP, as I suffer dry skin, too and it's SOOOOOO good having a good scratch! That's why I buy robust rugs for Chloe, so she can itch (against the smooth corners of the shelter), but doesn't do any damage to herself. Mind you, her itchiness is limited by management and diet. I suspect without that we'd be on a losing battle. On our last yard she only had the ground to rub on, due to mains electric fencing and I did feel a bit sorry for her, but thankfully we moved before the grass really came through.
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Hey thank you so much for that I have actually used neem oil on him and have found it great.

I hate the smell and it does seem to last the day and even when I kiss him it sometimes has made its way onto his nose :D:D eeeewwwww
 
I have a sweet itch sufferer (and also have an allergy to bites myself, so know how horrible it can be) but I've found that using brewers yeast and skratch plus in feed at around february time (I was getting in into my mare's system when it was still snowing! :o ) works really well, and I will continue feeding it to her until around october time. This combined with a good rug and avon skin so soft spray, works miracles. My mare was a complete itchy mess last year (despite me doing everything i could) but this year she has been LOADS better, and is a very happy and comfortable horsey at the mo, which I'm thrilled about! the hard work and persistence does pay off :D
 
Unfortunately you simply cannot cover every bit of skin. I have a severe case and he wears a sweet itch rug, belly wrap, sheath cover , face mask and boots and is sprayed with either power phaser or coopers repellant. I try everything to 'not let him get bitten so he is not itchy in the first place' but in his case it is every part of his body affected and not just mane and tail so inevitably it does happen.
 
jgmbng said:
Unfortunately you simply cannot cover every bit of skin. I have a severe case and he wears a sweet itch rug, belly wrap, sheath cover , face mask and boots and is sprayed with either power phaser or coopers repellant. I try everything to 'not let him get bitten so he is not itchy in the first place' but in his case it is every part of his body affected and not just mane and tail so inevitably it does happen.
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Same....

The only way to stop him ripping himself and his rug to shreds is to give him nothing to rub on.
 
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