Supplements for itchy horse

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turfey21

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Hi all,

My horse has come over from Ireland and has settled in really well (he has been here for 2 months now) although he is quite itchy.
He stamps his feet and has the little red scabs just below his fetlocks, he has not had his feathers clipped.
We have hogged him out.
The vet has checked him and said that he does not have mites?
He is quite an itchy horse though and will itch his sides, ears and his bottom, not really his tail though.
I spray him daily with fly spray and I can see the lumps where the flies have been biting him.
I have ordered some ruggle-it today and have been trying to find a supplement ie Naf - D-itch or Probiotics but there seems to be so many on the market that I thought I might ask someone on here what they have used and would recommend.
The vet has said that he is just itchy and can give him an injection when he comes at the end of the week to stop him itching but ideally I should be building up his immune system from the inside.

He has pasture mix, Honeychop, garlic powder and a little bit of oil daily and lives out 24/7 - as he doesn't rub when he is out but the minute he comes in to his stable he will start to itch and loves being groomed in an itch like motion on his flanks.

Thanks all in advance

He has not itched himself raw but I want to nip this in the bud before it drives him mad.
 
Mmmm, sounds like sweet itch, or at least a mild version of it, to me, although TBF it could well be an allergey, especially as he's come in from another area. It might be worth asking your vet for some bloods to be done to establish exactly what the allergens might be, so you know.

But personally I'd bung on a sweet itch hoody rug, for now, and see how that goes. That way, the flies won't be able to bite him, and that just might solve your problem.

Mine has sweet itch (mild to moderate) and doesn't show any symptoms if I cover him up. I feed him Brewers Yeast, plus Linseed Oil daily in his feed, and last feed at night just a teaspoon of seaweed.

I've been there, done it, as far as special supplements are concerned. IMO the huge majority of the "specialist" ones are a total waste of money, you're better off using a total management regime rather than feeding a lot of expensive gunk!!
 
Hi, I am usually very sceptical of 'products' but my horse has been transformed by global herbs 'skratch'. He got incredibly itchy last winter vet called etc and no cause found. combined managment - minimal rugging as is a very hot boy with the Skratch and he was a different horse. if I stop it he starts itching again although is now on half maintenence dose. it's worth a try but I realize will not suit all - if he is a fussy eater if may stop him eating as it stinks. mine however will eat anything.
 
Thanks for your replies.

I am also usually quite sceptical of the supplements etc but think it is worth a go, I am not gonna rug him up as he is quite a well built chap and ideally I would like to try and help him rather than him having to wear a rug throughout the summer every year - as the flies don't seem to bother him it appears to just be harvest mites and perhaps different types of flies and grass here from Ireland.

Thanks I will look into the Skratch. I have narrowed it down to the following to try but although he will eat his honey chop and pasture mix with garlic he will not eat carrots!
Dodson & Horrell Itch Free
Feedmark - Fly Formula, BioPro, EquiDermis Plus
 
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