itchy tail! :(

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MrVelvet

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my youngster has an itchy tail!! hes bothered a lot by flies so i've just bought him a fly rug so hopefully that might keep them off him! he rubs his tail on anything he can find, hes wormed, i wash his tail once a week with sensitive shampoo, and i cover him in fly spray twice a day! does anyone else have this problem? i thought it could be mild sweet itch? can they get that in one place? do they still sell benzyl benzoate? if so is there a solution i can make up with that stuff that might help? im open to any suggestions, recommendations!! i just dont want him to ruin his lovely tail .. ahhhh!!
 
My 3 year old also has a very itchy tail... I'm hoping it's something which is a passing phase. My other mare was the same as a youngster and no longer itches...
 
My horse has mild sweet itch and rubs the top of his tail this time of year. I apply NAF D Itch most days and it seems to reduce the itching :)
 
There's been a few threads about this lately, I think it is quite common at this time of year, my gelding rubs his tail off if I let him (or don't catch him in time!) I use hibiscrub to wash then use sudocream, it's messy - but it does seem to stop him for a while.:)
 
I have the same problem, mine has mild sweet itch and rubs his bum in his stable so the hair is all matted and split at the top of the tail :(
 
ok only use this if have a fly sheet on but i use baby oil - pour some on and rub it in through to skin(baby loves this bit) - 2 years ago baby now would not have a mane or tail and rubbed to blood but now full tail and mane( i really believe its relive the itching and only put on once or twice a week ) BUT please remember its an oil and will burn skin in direct sunlight but with a fly sheet on it works well - god i love baby oil sudacream and vaseline - cheap but damn fine stuff for many reasons :)
 
My new mini shetland yearling was rubbing his tail. it looked like a bottle brush :p All i had to hand was some olive oil so i rubbed that well into the hair and the underside of the dock. He hasnt scratched since and iv only applied it once more 'just in case'
 
Best thing to stop this and help those with sweetitxh is a mixture of liqued paraffin and old engine oil, works a treat and really seems to sooth the itch
 
Another vote for baby oil, only thing that worked on an 11.2 chronic sweet itch pony I used to know, the midges hate it because its sticky/greasy, and it soothes the dried out skin that results from rubbing! Although you'll spend half your time washing your fly rug as it gets everywhere :P
 
lol sophie i never wash her fly rug as its greasey and wooo hoooo more protection but glad some one else who loves baby oil he he he he ehe :)
 
My 10yo ID started itching his tail recently, when the vet was here Monday I got her to look at it and she said it looked like mild sweet itch and recommended I used a sweet itch hoody! Never affected him before. It's gone all dry and flaky at the top. Iv been putting a dollop of marmite in his feed and he has brewers yeast in one of his supps. I also use coopers fly repellent and up until now (without the hoody, as waiting for it to arrive), it doesn't seem any worse!
 
I make a solution of TCP/water up in an empty spray bottle, works wonders and is handy to keep for any fly bites, give them a spray and gone by the next day
 
Just out of curiosity for those who use baby oil, does it not burn them in the sun? Or do you only apply in the evening? I know the SSS has burnt greys, that's why I was thinking this. If not, will give it a go on mine as I'v got loads of the stuff and mine's chestnut.
 
ooh thankyou everyone :) i have lots of things to try here!! i have lots of baby oil lying around as iv not long had a baby and everyone seemed to be some which i have never used! he went out this morning with baby oil and his fly rug so fingers crossed he will come back in one piece!! thanks again everyone for replying :D xx
 
bumblelion said:
Just out of curiosity for those who use baby oil, does it not burn them in the sun? Or do you only apply in the evening? I know the SSS has burnt greys, that's why I was thinking this. If not, will give it a go on mine as I'v got loads of the stuff and mine's chestnut.
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if you put a fly rug on them too, the rug should cover his tail (if it has a tail flap) and keep the sun off :)
 
missshell said:
My horse has mild sweet itch and rubs the top of his tail this time of year. I apply NAF D Itch most days and it seems to reduce the itching :)
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Agree with this. Not a NAF fan but the pink D'itch cream works a treat. It is very greasy so doesn't wash out in the rain - only problem is you won't get a horse show shiny with ease!!
 
I know you said he was wormed but when mine was manically itchy and unhappy it took me ages to realise that it was actually pinworm. These release an irritating substance as they release their eggs and made my horse stupidly itchy. As soon as I wormed him (with the right stuff - can't remember which one i tried first but it didn't touch them, even though it was stated as working on them. Strongid p worked well) he stopped itching.
 
My horse gets an itchy mane and tail (no it's not sweet-itch) and when I found out that benzyl benzoate was coming off the market, I stocked up on several bottles. I have been told that your vet can get it for you, will be asking mine before my stock rubs out. :)
 
Hi. Try Benzyl Benzoate as others have suggested from hyperdrug. One of my horses has mild sweetitch and this works and means that she doesn't need to wear a rug.

Kelsi had pinworms which made her bum very itchy. I asked the vet about it and she said that they don't show up in worm counts and they have had a lot of pin worms that are resistant to wormers. She told me to use a Pyrantel based wormer and this worked.
 
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