Sweet itch / brewers yeast

[carthorse]

My horse suffers from sweet itch and wears a snuggyhood rug which I wash every week. He rips it to pieces but I keep mending it. He has been having yeast extract[ like marmite ] and not sure it helps.Is brewers yeast better, where do you get it and in what form?
He has a really nasty raised patch which has increased in size on the ribs /back area at present and some of the hair has come off. Not sure if it is a reaction to a bite or sweat rash, I put some canaster cream on it today and that seemed to help. He is not tender on it but if you touch it he makes faces like he would love it to be scratched[ tilts his head]
We have the vet coming next week for injections so will get it checked then. He is still performing really well and winning dressage with 70% plus so not sore or in pain. just itchy.

 

[SilverSkye]

Think it works on the same basis, i work in a health food shop (human) and if any is wanting an insect repellant we advise to take viamin B1 as it actually stops insects bitting. Marmite being a yeast extract is high in vitamin B which ( i assume ) is why it is good for horses with sweetitch. Brewers yeast is a mixture of vitamin Bs and would definately be stronger than feeding marmite so might well be worth a try.
Having spoken to all sorts of supplement reps they say by taking vit B1 it makes your blood smell like a vegetable to insects therefore they are not interested in biting?? ( have to say have never tried it myself but we have a lot of repeat customers that swear by it.

 

[carthorse]

So it is available in health food shops, my daughter tells me he has not been having the yeast extract so that might be why he is worse at present. I will definately get him back on something today

 

[SilverSkye]

You can buy brewers yeast in tablet form from health food shops yes but i am unsure how you would know dosage for a horse think 500 tablets is £3.29??

 

[samp]

If any thing I would say my horses sweet itch was worse when she was on it, so after couple of months and looking worse ever I took her off and put her back on the garlic which seemed better to me

 

[joanne1920]

ive just bought 1kg of brewers yeast made by equus health care for £6 from my local tack shop!

 

[welshies]

wheres your local tack shop?

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

mine has developed sweet itch but only slight so i jumped in with rug, benzyl/skin so soft and a marmite sarnie for brekkie. i bought the brewers yeast last night and he threw his feed manger off the door and kicked it around in a right strop, we added garlic but to no avail, it came off the door again. oops possibly back to plain ole marmite sarnies then, ill see how he fairs tonight but he was not happy this morning! a rather unhelpful reply but amusing i thought

 

[Theresa_F]

I get mine from Simple Systems. I have also found adding instant linseed has helped with the general itchy problems.

SS so far have been the cheapest option.

The brewers yeast really does make a difference - my boys - who are a 15 hand gypsy cob and a 16.3 clydesdale get a tablespoon twice a day of the yeast and a mug a day of the linseed.

Also gives a great coat and you may find you can reduce other fattening feed with the linseed as it is excellent for putting on condition.

 

[joanne1920]

http://www.equushealth.org.uk/prod_details3.htm scroll down until you get to brewers yeast

local tack shop Equicentric Near Ely, Cambs