Shetland with sweet itch having a bad summer

[MNMyShiningStars]

Hi all, I was hoping to pick your brains if you don't mind...

We have a 4 year old shetland gelding that started itching in the end of his 2 year old year. Was managed previously with a fly rug and biteback. Always lived out with the main horse herd with access to the open stables etc. Twice yearly dectomax and brewers yeast and nicotinamide in a small handful of the feed the others get. All good.

This year he has just been awful, the poor pony has itched himself bleeding raw and gone through 4 fly rugs already. It's made him headshy and difficult to catch as well which is not like him at all.
We've tried the ear hole fly rugs but his neck is too short so they dont stay on. We've tried sweet itch snuggy hood with and without neck and they dont stay on. Normal fly masks, all come off as he will rub himself on the floor if nothing else to itch on.

He's been bathed in the biteback shampoo and creamed daily with biteback silver and sprayed with their fly spray.
Feed wise he literally gets a mug of soaked veteran vitality with brewers yeast and nicotinamide tablets. Last week added black salt (stinks!!).

We've accepted that the grass and open stables with the main herd are not woring for him now so he's been seperated with friends sweet itch cob on a bare electric fence field with hay put out.

Vet has advised that they would rather not use steroids due to his type but he will be seen again if we can't get this poor pony under control.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Is it only a boett that will work, and what do we think our chances are of keeping the hood on? Grateful for any input. Thank you x

 

[exracehorse]

Poor pony. Sweetich is awful. My boy wears a proper sweetich rug. It’s also about keeping them super clean and smelling nice. So to not attract the flies and midges. I smother in good old fashioned benzyl Benzonate. Which deters. And soothes. Then cover with Johnson’s baby talc. Luckily he’s grey so it all blends in . Then the rug. I also put sudscteam around his man area. And again throw lots of talc on. As otherwise he kicks out underneath and makes himself swollen.

 

[GypsGal1718]

I hope he gets better

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

Poor pony. Sweetich is awful. My boy wears a proper sweetich rug. It’s also about keeping them super clean and smelling nice. So to not attract the flies and midges. I smother in good old fashioned benzyl Benzonate. Which deters. And soothes. Then cover with Johnson’s baby talc. Luckily he’s grey so it all blends in . Then the rug. I also put sudscteam around his man area. And again throw lots of talc on. As otherwise he kicks out underneath and makes himself swollen.

Thank you! Will stock up on some benzyl benzonate, talc and sudocream and give these a go. I feel so bad for him.

 

[rabatsa]

Poor pony.

Rule out the sweet part of sweet itch. No grass or sugar feeds at all. It can take several weeks to get those already in the system cleared out. If this proves to be the problem then rugs will not be needed and future management is sorted,

 

[Fransurrey]

I have an Exmoor with sever sweet itch and appreciate the rug issues. A fly mask with ears under the rug with ear holes is the answer for the holes staying on the ears for me. When she was muzzled I used to thread that through the ear holes, too. Things that work for us (bearing in mind she's water phobic, so I can't bathe her properly):

- neem oil/benzyl benzoate 20/80 ratio. The BB I make up myself to keep costs down (see below), but you can buy it as a ready to apply 20 % lotion. I apply to everywhere except open wounds, which I cover in sudocrem.
- Farrier's shire feather oil. Not marketed for this purpose at all, but I've found she likes the smell (hates neem) as it's minty and it's handy for applying to tail dock, base of mane and teats. Neem and BB is less gunky, though and leaves her less oil slicky.
- keep slim and off grass. Mine is one of those who is true SI, but it's definitely much worse if she's having too much green stuff. She's currently rubbing holes in her rug and this coincides with her putting on some podge with the wet Spring. Hoping the dry weather stays and she sheds it naturally, as I can't exercise her.
- bed bath (bucket and cloth!) using Selsun 2.5 % shampoo. I make it as a slosh solution and don't rinse (that's just one trauma too far for her).

BB lotion:
200 mL 100% BB bought online
75 g emulsifying wax
200 mL neem oil (needs to be at room temp or higher for pouring)
hot (not boiling) water

Melt the wax either on low power in microwave or by adding 1-200 mL hot water. Add the BB, followed by the neem, all with stirring. Decant quickly into a 1 L bottle (I use old squash bottles) using a funnel, then top up to 1 L with hot water which also rinses the funnel.

Lastly, I haven't tried it, but reportedly worming with ivermectin works. I haven't tried this as my vet research background taught me a lot about anthelmintic resistance and she hasn't been bad enough this year (but it's on standby!).

 

[TheMule]

These rugs are a better fit than most other brands- https://www.ruggles-horse-rugs.co.u...-c58/shetland-miniature-uv-fly-rug-combo-p101

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

Poor pony.

Rule out the sweet part of sweet itch. No grass or sugar feeds at all. It can take several weeks to get those already in the system cleared out. If this proves to be the problem then rugs will not be needed and future management is sorted,

I'm onto this! Been far too soft but he's restricted now and just need to sort a better feed as he has the veteran vitality purely because it's what my others get and he does only have a handful. Thank you

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

I have an Exmoor with sever sweet itch and appreciate the rug issues. A fly mask with ears under the rug with ear holes is the answer for the holes staying on the ears for me. When she was muzzled I used to thread that through the ear holes, too. Things that work for us (bearing in mind she's water phobic, so I can't bathe her properly):

- neem oil/benzyl benzoate 20/80 ratio. The BB I make up myself to keep costs down (see below), but you can buy it as a ready to apply 20 % lotion. I apply to everywhere except open wounds, which I cover in sudocrem.
- Farrier's shire feather oil. Not marketed for this purpose at all, but I've found she likes the smell (hates neem) as it's minty and it's handy for applying to tail dock, base of mane and teats. Neem and BB is less gunky, though and leaves her less oil slicky.
- keep slim and off grass. Mine is one of those who is true SI, but it's definitely much worse if she's having too much green stuff. She's currently rubbing holes in her rug and this coincides with her putting on some podge with the wet Spring. Hoping the dry weather stays and she sheds it naturally, as I can't exercise her.
- bed bath (bucket and cloth!) using Selsun 2.5 % shampoo. I make it as a slosh solution and don't rinse (that's just one trauma too far for her).

BB lotion:
200 mL 100% BB bought online
75 g emulsifying wax
200 mL neem oil (needs to be at room temp or higher for pouring)
hot (not boiling) water

Melt the wax either on low power in microwave or by adding 1-200 mL hot water. Add the BB, followed by the neem, all with stirring. Decant quickly into a 1 L bottle (I use old squash bottles) using a funnel, then top up to 1 L with hot water which also rinses the funnel.

Lastly, I haven't tried it, but reportedly worming with ivermectin works. I haven't tried this as my vet research background taught me a lot about anthelmintic resistance and she hasn't been bad enough this year (but it's on standby!).

Thank you so much! I have literally just ordered the 100% Benzyl benzoate on the recommendation so once this arrives I can start using. I do have some neem oil in the tack room from a few years ago when a horse had mud fever living out on grass livery in a marshy field. Does this go off? Will look at the feather oil, and have added selsun and oatmeal shampoos to the shopping list x
Interesting re the ivermectin, I need to go and get a wormer for 4 week old foal, so I may look into giving this a go.

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

These rugs are a better fit than most other brands- https://www.ruggles-horse-rugs.co.u...-c58/shetland-miniature-uv-fly-rug-combo-p101

Thank you, will have a look!

 

[Fransurrey]

I do have some neem oil in the tack room from a few years ago when a horse had mud fever living out on grass livery in a marshy field. Does this go off? Will look at the feather oil, and have added selsun and oatmeal shampoos to the shopping list x
Interesting re the ivermectin, I need to go and get a wormer for 4 week old foal, so I may look into giving this a go.

Neem oil can go rancid if it's stored at too high a temperature, but as long as your tack room isn't an inferno and above 25oC in the summer you should be ok. I buy neem in large quantities and keep it in my shelter storage over 2-3 years! Current batch was in 1 L bottles, though, so is stored under the bed at home!

 

[rabatsa]

I'm onto this! Been far too soft but he's restricted now and just need to sort a better feed as he has the veteran vitality purely because it's what my others get and he does only have a handful. Thank you

My itchy one can have NO grass at all. Last year I let four equines share a 20'x20' patch of grass alongside a path they used and she still itched until they were fenced off even that.

 

[maya2008]

We used: a proper sweet itch rug with as much coverage as possible; the spot on stuff (Coopers for example), fly spray whenever the rug was off. It’s mostly working for friend’s Welsh A who was very very bad, but she would still benefit from coming in away from the midges at dusk and dawn.

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

Thank you all. I think we will probably try the ruggles rug first unless I can find a second hand boett for sale.
And I've looked at the veteran vitality and it has garlic in it so will change that as well. He won't eat a plain chaff, been there tried that, so will have to stick with a mash/soaked feed so he gets the supplements. Not sure if they're doing much but don't want to stop them at this time of year in case x

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thank you so much! I have literally just ordered the 100% Benzyl benzoate on the recommendation so once this arrives I can start using. I do have some neem oil in the tack room from a few years ago when a horse had mud fever living out on grass livery in a marshy field. Does this go off? Will look at the feather oil, and have added selsun and oatmeal shampoos to the shopping list x
Interesting re the ivermectin, I need to go and get a wormer for 4 week old foal, so I may look into giving this a go.

If it's neat benzyl benzoate you need to dilute it with a carrier oil.

 

[cornbrodolly]

A proper sweet itch rug is a must - no fly rug is thick enough to prevent the midgies biting through.
I dont bother with anything else - lotions ,potions,supplements etc , apart from the Insol injection in spring. Our horses are inside at nights , in a large barn with my horse furthest from the doors , midges dont follow far inside buildings.
My horse[ in avatar] also started age 2 , but with a rug on from March to Nov , and fly mask of course , she manages pretty well.

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

If it's neat benzyl benzoate you need to dilute it with a carrier oil.

Yes thank you, the bottle I've ordered has the instructions on it to do this

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Yes thank you, the bottle I've ordered has the instructions on it to do this

You can buy it neat on ebay that's where I got mine it's so much cheaper.

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

You can buy it neat on ebay that's where I got mine it's so much cheaper.

I ordered this one:

Benzyl Benzoate BP/ USP Grade 99.9% 1000ml (1litre) Ideal for Sweet itch | eBay

1000ml (1lt). BENZYL BENZOATE. BENZYL BENZOATE BP/USP. PURE GRADE 100% Benzyl Benzoate. DO YOU PRODUCE OTHER PRODUTS?. : Yes we manufacture a range of industrial chemicalsa at our blending and formulation facility in Cheshire.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Switch, which is only available from vets has saved two of mine that have awful sweet itch to the point one pony has scars all over her bum. Apply once a week and both are now out rug free with full manes and tails. I've tried everything mentioned above and all rugs including Boett, but the switch has been a game changer for mine

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

Switch, which is only available from vets has saved two of mine that have awful sweet itch to the point one pony has scars all over her bum. Apply once a week and both are now out rug free with full manes and tails. I've tried everything mentioned above and all rugs including Boett, but the switch has been a game changer for mine

Thank you. I do have the vet out next week for our foals passport markings so could look at getting a bottle while they are out anyway.

 

[poiuytrewq]

These rugs are a better fit than most other brands- https://www.ruggles-horse-rugs.co.u...-c58/shetland-miniature-uv-fly-rug-combo-p101

They are lovely but just a quick word of warning! I got and tried mine on last night, Looked wonderful in the stable but as soon as the head go's down the ears pop out. They seem very short in the neck compared with the same size PE of Shires SI rugs, so just be a bit careful trying it on!
I stupidly turned out before I realized so can't return it.


@exracehorse- Whats with the talc? I've not heard that before.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Switch, which is only available from vets has saved two of mine that have awful sweet itch to the point one pony has scars all over her bum. Apply once a week and both are now out rug free with full manes and tails. I've tried everything mentioned above and all rugs including Boett, but the switch has been a game changer for mine

Switch is now available online with no prescription (my vets told me this week and I ordered some).

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Switch, which is only available from vets has saved two of mine that have awful sweet itch to the point one pony has scars all over her bum. Apply once a week and both are now out rug free with full manes and tails. I've tried everything mentioned above and all rugs including Boett, but the switch has been a game changer for mine

I've just had a look at this Arabi has rubbed his tail raw this year his always rubbed it a bit but never to this extent thing is he is allergic to so much there are only certain things I can use on him so this kind of thing I'm wary of.

I've been just cleaning it with water and spraying twice a day with silver zinc oxide spray as its acts as a barrier and I know his ok with it its looking better and his not rubbing it now.

I think his allergic to benzyl benzoate and alot of fly sprays and creams make his hair fall out.

I literally have to patch test him for everything.

 

[lar]

Have you tried him on anti histamines?

 

[Gloi]

For ponies who are hard to fit I found Cornerstone Browbands made to measure sweet itch rugs to be good and not badly priced.
Although it smells, neem was good for mine. I coated all the bits not covered by the rug in it.
Over the years I tried all the different feeds and restrictions and supplements and found no difference to the itching. Antihistamines had some effect. Brewer's yeast none.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Have you tried him on anti histamines?

No I haven't his never really rubbed like this before I might try him on some.

 

[mavandkaz]

These rugs are a better fit than most other brands- https://www.ruggles-horse-rugs.co.u...-c58/shetland-miniature-uv-fly-rug-combo-p101

I use this on my sweetichy Shetland and it's brilliant. Well their old version, as we are now into year 4 with the same rug. Fits well and he's yet to put a hole in it.

 

[Poingsettia]

Nettex summer salve is a good cream for SI in my experience, and lasts between applications.

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

They are lovely but just a quick word of warning! I got and tried mine on last night, Looked wonderful in the stable but as soon as the head go's down the ears pop out. They seem very short in the neck compared with the same size PE of Shires SI rugs, so just be a bit careful trying it on!
I stupidly turned out before I realized so can't return it.


@exracehorse- Whats with the talc? I've not heard that before.

Thank you for

They are lovely but just a quick word of warning! I got and tried mine on last night, Looked wonderful in the stable but as soon as the head go's down the ears pop out. They seem very short in the neck compared with the same size PE of Shires SI rugs, so just be a bit careful trying it on!
I stupidly turned out before I realized so can't return it.


@exracehorse- Whats with the talc? I've not heard that before.

Thank you for the heads up. If I cant get hold of a second hand boett I will try it but be sure to see how he is head down before I let him off so ca return if need be.