Silly Question? - how can you tell if a pony has sweet itch or is just a bit itchy?

[ncarter]

Hi All,

As per the title really - how can you tell if a horse / pony has sweet itch or is just a bit itchy?

If my pony gets put out without a rug or a fly rug, when he comes in you can see he has has a rub on his back side, but it is not bald or raw. He doesn't rub at all when he is tied up or in his stable whilst he is being fed/groomed (he lives out). His mane has only been rubbed by his winter rugs. The previous owner didn't mention anything about sweet itch and he had a full mane and tail when I got him although he did have some fly bites on his shoulder. But my YO says he has sweet itch.

Has he got (mild) sweet itch? How do I tell for sure?!

Thanks in advance for any guidance!!!

 

[Toffee44]

Not entirely sure but my mare with Sweet itch gets upset in March due to midges. And once she start scratching it becomes an obsession. Her skin is a bit rough in her itchy areas.

My little filly has scratched (thought great another sweet itch) her tail out a bit so I washed it out with medicated shampoo and she has stopped scratching it. So I think it was just a bit skanky and itchy???
Her mane is a bit rough at the base as well but I think that is where my mare and her are grooming.

Not sure if that helps or not??

 

[MrsMozart]

A sweetitch pony will itch and rub on whatever he/she can reach. Base of mane, top of tail, head - those are the main areas. They will rub until it is raw

Keeping in at dawn and dusk, away from wooded areas and away from muck heaps. Some are okay just in a fly sheet, some need something like a Boet rug.

 

[BobbyMondeo]

If his tail is all one length and doesnt look like it has been rubbed out he probably doesnt have sweet itch as the dock is the first place they normally start itching. Look right through the hairs in his tail and mane right down to the skin and look for "dandruffy" areas and any sore patches. Also look for any sore/bald patches on his face.
My advice would be to get a rambo sweet itch rug they are really good and half the price of a boett rug. I had a horse with sweet itch a few years ago and it practically stopped him getting the bald sore patchs. My boy lived out all summer with this rug and fly mask to stop the little buggers getting to him. Hopefully it wont come to that.

Id give him a good wash and see if that helps the itches

 

[ZorroR]

1 word - Killitch!

Its a godsend. It dunt matter if your horse has sweet itch or is jus a bit itchy, a good wash and some killitch (its a blue bottle) later your horse should be feeling great. Its working for ha horse atm who hasnt grown half of his mane for about 4 years!! xx

 

[showqa]

Don't think it's a silly question at all. I'm sure that the vet can carry out a blood test for it, should you feel that you need a categorical answer.

 

[lialls]

If he is only rubbing his tail area it could be worms too