really suffering from sweet itch this year

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samp

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Ok so got Lottie beginning of Sept 05 (had v mild sweet uch no bald patches though and she had simply been wearing the Riff Raff fly rug. This survived til the end of the season.

Last year I bought the Boett rug and used about 1/8 of a 1L bottle of Benzoyl Benzoate all season, no bald patches etc, also fed loads of garlic

This year she has the Boett (bit battered) and I thought I would try the megatek rebuilder and also their spray for itching after she had 1/3rd on mane missing. However now she has almost no hair left on top of her tail and her mane is not really growing. Also stopped Garlic and added brewers yeast

Shall I invest in another rug, try different products? Help a very distressed comp horse and owner
 
Its such a bloomin nuisance and quite a worry. Did you rug her up early enough (March) as it only takes one bite to set the cycle off again ?

With a Boett you can turn out 24/7 and shouldnt have the need to buy expensive lotions. If stabled, I have to ensure that Barneys bed is spotless so it doesnt attract the midges indoors.

Sorry I cant be of more help.
 
She had it on from March. She is in at the worst time of days. Yesterday she was in earlier and just had clearly scratched and scratched (of course had she not of had her Boett on there is no doubt she'd be bald!)
 
I soooo sympathise with anyone who has a Sweet Itch horse!! My cobbie has severe SI to the point I have considered having him PTS. However we moved to Devon and I now have him in a field high up the valley overlooking the sea and he doesn't even need his rug on now (well rarely).

I would recommend her living out if possible. Being in a stable just gives her more opportunity to rub. Or how about putting a ceiling fan or a fan of some sort in her stable if you have to keep her in. Midges are poor fliers so a windy environment is ideal. Also, the Boett can be worn when you exercise your horse. It may be that your horse is getting bitten during exercise and its keeping the reaction going.
I've also heard feeding Brewers Yeast is good or Marmite. Net Tex Sweet Itch Salve is great (although messy).
 
I have an itchy boy too and he is worse this year, partly as we were near a pond but have moved yards because of this!

I did try the Equine America "Itch No More" lotion, having tried most at £14 a pop thought what the hell as he was so uncomfortable.....he lives in his fly rug all the time even when in so doesnt rub himself raw....he does however seem a lot less prone to rubbing to the extent of sores since using this lotion. NOt saying it a wonder lotion but you apply every few days, messy as hell wear gloves! - do put a strip of the stuff on horses belly.....as what i didnt realise until recently...was....that even if they dont get bitten on mane and tail area, say they get bitten on the leg, they will still show symptoms of itching on mane and tail! - so it is imperative that you pay attention to belly and legs foremost!

It is horrible condition and my boy hates the summer, if I am 10 mins late to the yard he begins fretting as he wants to get in his stable away from midges...

I have also found that washing with tea tree shampoo every other day (mane and tail area) gives some relief, but ultimately after an hour or two I have to plaster him with gunge again!

Good luck x
 
Thanks guys, I am off next 2 days so I will give her a jolly good bath and also clean her rug
 
If you need a new rug have a look at what is offered on this site....Boett are very expensive but they do the Pagony Eczema Rug at a fraction of the cost & it looks like it should do the job:

http://www.divoza.co.uk/subcat57-1296.aspx

Good Luck
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