Sweet itch - advice please!

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MissMoo

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I was wondering if some of you kind people would be able to give me some more information regarding sweet itch and what can help alleviate the symptoms etc?

My OH's friend has a horse who is suffering and they asked me if I had any suggestions but having never had to deal with the problem...............

They've tried Benzyl Benzoate and he has bought a sweet itch rug but any other suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance :)
 
We feed 25g of Brewers Yeast powder every 24hours for 450kg bodyweight. We also apply Nettex Itch Stop Salve twice a week to all previously affected areas. We have been feeding Brewers Yeast for 2 years now and this year there is no sign of Sweet Itch. Last year was 90% better. Brewers Yeast is reasonably inexpensive and we feed it to all our horses it has made a big difference to all of them. They are shining, have strong hooves and are all calm and relaxed.
 
Feed brewers yeast, put netex itch stop salve on the sore itchy areas. DON'T feed garlic. Keep them covered up, away from anthing that they can itch on until you get them chilled and stop the itching. They will wreck any rugs until they stop manic itching.
 
As above, although I feed 50g of brewers yeast for a 620kg horse.

Mine has very bad sweet itch, so is covered up in a sweet itch rug (cheaper version of a boett). He is also in during the day and out after dark, to minimise contact with the evil midges.
 
minmax said:
Feed brewers yeast, put netex itch stop salve on the sore itchy areas. DON'T feed garlic. Keep them covered up, away from anthing that they can itch on until you get them chilled and stop the itching. They will wreck any rugs until they stop manic itching.
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Mine has sweet itch which I manage with a boett rug purely.....but can I ask about not feeding garlic? dont feed garlic until you get the scratching under control or dont feed at all? Just I have never heard anyone say to not give garlic to sweet itch sufferers thats all....:confused:
 
Don't feed garlic full stop. It is believed to stimulate the immune system, which is the last thing a horse/pony with sweet itch needs...
 
We look after an 18 YO pony who has suffered with SI every year till now, this year we started feeding her Teeburb - smell takes some getting used to, but it has done the trick, she still has 2/3 of her mane and most of her tail, and she's certianly not as miserable as she has been previous years. She has worn a fly rug as well, but she trashed it a couple of weeks ago and still hasn't been rubbing. Fingers crossed.

I've heard "Think Fly" is good too. You've got to start feeding them before the flys start biting, though - once the itching has started, it's harder to get it stopped.
 
Brewers Yeast and SkinSoothe by EquiNatural (www.equinatural.co.uk) - incredible difference. Our chronic sufferer is now sporting a 6 inch mane and full glossy tail, and hardly even rubs his nose on his box when he comes in. All natural herbs, and smells yummy.
 
I had to remove a very severe sweet itch sufferer from grass completely because he is effectively diabetic. To my complete surprise it has totally cured his sweet itch as well as his dietary problems!
 
my boyfriends a vet and he advised me to plait my ponys mane, i also use avon skin so soft twice a day, this seems to have stopped flys annoying him during the day. i bought my pony a normal cheap fly rug which seems to have helped. if your horse gets any sores from rubbing you shud try nappy cream it soothes the sore areas. my pony hasnt been as bad this year which i think is down to all the new things ive tried
 
Expensive I know but I bought my mare a Boett rug and it has worked brilliantly! First year she had already started itching when I put it on and I thought she would just rub it to shreds but she didn't.

I no longer use gallons of fly spray etc and the rug is still going strong in its 5th season :D:D
 
I removed as much sugar as possible from my horses diet, including restricted grass, for the purposes of keeping him barefoot.

As a 'side effect' of this his sweet itch has gone!

Two years ago he completely rubbed out his mane and tail, this year he is turned out with no rug and he has a completely intact mane and tail.

I do feed brewers yeast, magnesium and oil just mixed with hifi.

Wonder why it's called 'sweet' itch.........?
 
I make up a supplement of garlic granules, yeast and linseed oil which I feed to my sweet itch boy all year round. Then at the start of the 'season' (about April) I spray him with sweet itch lotion twice a day and brush it in. It has benyl benzoate in it and really works well. He's got a full mane and tail.
 
My friend has a competition pony who is always suffering from sweetitch. This year, she got some Homeopathy tablets from Equus Health www.equushealth.co.uk - literally called sweetitch tablets! Been on them all summer, with sweetitch rambo hoody perm. on,but this is the first year he has not scrubbed out half his mane and tail and is finally looking great during the summer,instead of bald!!!
Well worth a go - advised to get on the tablets early in the spring!
 
I've always heard feeding some Brewer's Yeast (or a marmite sandwich) every day, spraying Avon Skin So Soft as a midge repellent, bathing the mane and tail in strong cold tea if horse isn't a grey, avoid turning out and riding at sunset and sunrise, avoid rivers and keep rugged up as much as possible :) xx
 
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