Sweet-itch despair...

[teddy_]

I am really struggling to manage my mares sweet-itch in this heat. Unfortunately, stabling her during the day isn't ideal as her stable gets all the afternoon sun. However, it now looks like she is also suffering from photosensitivity. She has a large crusty scab on the back of one hind pastern. I have the vet attending this afternoon to diagnose as it could be mud fever.

The added complexity is that she's an inherently hot horse who even in the winter, doesn't need much in the way of rugging even when clipped. So, the sweet-itch rug is just leading to her dripping in sweat. I have sort of downgraded her rug to a Weatherbeeta Kool Coat in an attempt to make her more comfortable in higher temperatures.

If she is suffering with photosensitivity, I will have to stable her during the day(?), but doing this and keeping her rug on would simply be inhumane, as at least she has a breeze in the field. I just don't know what to do as if I stable her with no rug, she will rub her tail senseless. I did think maybe I could take the rug off and pop a tail bandage on, or is that a stupid idea?

Any suggestions or advice greatly appreciated, as I am a complete sweet-itch novice.

She is already being fed Nicotinamide to try and aid the sweet-itch.

 

[irishdraft]

You could ask your vet about the injection that's available for sweet itch, it might make life easier if it works for your mare

 

[teddy_]

You could ask your vet about the injection that's available for sweet itch, it might make life easier if it works for your mare

She has already received the Insol vaccine and I cannot see that it's helped at all, to be honest .

 

[paddy555]

I am really struggling to manage my mares sweet-itch in this heat. Unfortunately, stabling her during the day isn't ideal as her stable gets all the afternoon sun. However, it now looks like she is also suffering from photosensitivity. She has a large crusty scab on the back of one hind pastern. I have the vet attending this afternoon to diagnose as it could be mud fever.

The added complexity is that she's an inherently hot horse who even in the winter, doesn't need much in the way of rugging even when clipped. So, the sweet-itch rug is just leading to her dripping in sweat. I have sort of downgraded her rug to a Weatherbeeta Kool Coat in an attempt to make her more comfortable in higher temperatures.

If she is suffering with photosensitivity, I will have to stable her during the day(?), but doing this and keeping her rug on would simply be inhumane, as at least she has a breeze in the field. I just don't know what to do as if I stable her with no rug, she will rub her tail senseless. I did think maybe I could take the rug off and pop a tail bandage on, or is that a stupid idea?

Any suggestions or advice greatly appreciated, as I am a complete sweet-itch novice.

She is already being fed Nicotinamide to try and aid the sweet-itch.

if you are talking about LV rather than. mudfever then you could put sox on so she could go out.

 

[Cortez]

Can you get a fan on her in the stable? If there is a window or grill? This will both cool and keep the air moving which will help with keeping midges away. I also recommend Biteback Neem Supreme sweetitch spray. Sweetitch is soul-destroying to manage, you have my sympathy.

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

I have managed to keep my little shetland comfortable with minimal itching with the b3 nicotinamide, brewers yeast, salt and cetrizine. He is out in a lighter full neck fly rug in this heat and has biteback sweet relief and the spray once a day. He has open access to stables and yard and does have an itch on the gate but the rug keeps him covered enough. It is a nightmare, I hope you can find a solution.
On another note our other horse had a photo sensitivity issue and he was found to have high liver enzymes picked up on bloods for an unrelated issue, which came down with a vet prescribed liver tonic. Just thought it was worth a mention.

 

[smolmaus]

As well as the Neem Supreme Cortez mentioned, Biteback have a full range of products. I like the sweet relief spray (benzyl benzoate based) for spraying right into the tail dock to soothe itching thats already present there. I noticed a difference this year when I planned badly and ran out, big time mane loss . I havent used their Sweet Sun Relief but it is marketed for sun-sensitive areas and includes sunscreen so it might be worth a shot for you.

I agree with callybbi too that the photosensitivity is worth looking into. The horse I know who also suffered from that it was also due to liver problems.

The Boett rugs are supposedly the best ones for keeping them cool in hot weather. I havent used one myself but they get excellent reviews on the big Sweet Itch groups on Facebook.

 

[teddy_]

Thanks all!

The vet has been and it's not photosensitivity due to how localised the scab is. Definitely mud fever, phew . So, we have the standard anti-inflammatories and antibiotics for now as it's not an area I am going to be able to clean that easily, but she has also put up some sedation so I can get in there and give it a good scrub (the mare is pretty raw, young and a bit too nifty behind - so not an area I'd willingly pick at!).

I was using the Biteback products, but also ran out ... Rookie error, so I shall order some more now.

 

[Carrottom]

I find Filtabac cream is good to put on any scabs if they are out in the sun. It's antibacterial and sunscreen.

 

[Wizardsnecklace]

We are struggling to manage one of our ponies sweet itch. He is a 19 year old Connemara who we bought as a 6 month old newly weaned foal and he developed SI as a 3 year old. He had the Insol injection for the second year running this year, but it's not helping at all. I had a conversation with my vet earlier, and she is putting him on a course of Prednisolone tablets to help break the cycle. If he's ok on them he might be able to have a monthly steroid injection next year. He's not carrying any extra weight , never had laminitis, so she's happy to start with the daily tablets as we can stop them if he has an adverse reaction to them.

 

[Melody Grey]

Kill itch is a really useful product- not cheap but quickly effective in my recent experience.

 

[Hallo2012]

just an FYI for stabling itchy ponies in the heat-wet fly rugs. makes my itchy one much much happier.

 

[claret09]

totally agree about kilitch amazingly effective. next year start using it before she starts itching - use it daily especially to start with. sweetich seems to progressively get worse over the years if you don't treat it properly. my boy has sweet itch but you would never know now - before i bought him he had rubbed his tail raw and has scarring on his quarters from rubbing. i always start putting kilitch on before the bugs are out so he has a protective barrier - he is also washed very regularly - two or three time a week during the bug season. he has a horseware aussie rug in the field - he has a really expensive rambo fly rug but we find the aussie rug is better and cooler in the heat, although he is not out at night or in the heat of the day - but has never come in sweating. he also has premier equine summer turnout boots and a shire full face mask that goes over his nose. with careful management he very rarely rubs now but if he does he immediately has a bath and has kilitch applied. hope that helps. always use horse shampoo as well - it's not as stringent as human shampoo

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Biteback cream really helped mine and he has niacinamide supplement as well, I also wash him in dermoline medicated shampoo once a week and now after 3 years of doing this routine he only really rubs his mane in the middle of his neck, and I don't even use a sweet itch rug all summer now.

I do apply the biteback repellent twice a day and I use the relief cream on any rubbed bits sheath and tummy daily

 

[teddy_]

Thanks all. I gave her a jolly good bath on Saturday and applied the Biteback silver cream to all of her itchy bits and have repeated daily since, she seems more comfortable for sure! I found a new rug too that's offering adequate coverage but isn't as heavy as a conventional SI rug - it's an Amigo rip-stop hoody, and she seems a lot cooler in this . I shall have to buy another!

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I also wash him in dermoline medicated shampoo once a week and now after 3 years of doing this routine he only really rubs his mane in the middle of his neck, and I don't even use a sweet itch rug all summer now

I do the same, weekly wash in head and shoulders shampoo at the moment. The middle of the neck is the main area my mare rubs to, and her ears/poll.

She hasn’t itched her tail all summer which is a huge improvement, last year (not rugged) she was bum rubbing crazily so the Shires SI rug has definitely cured that.

The heat and SI rugs are such a pain.. I’ve kept my mare clipped mostly all of summer, re doing it last week and that definitely helps.

Mine also suffers with summer mud fever on her pasterns.. so I feel your pain @teddy_eq I have a £37 pot of vet mud fever cream and have found sudocrem better!

 

[teddy_]

I do the same, weekly wash in head and shoulders shampoo at the moment. The middle of the neck is the main area my mare rubs to, and her ears/poll.

She hasn’t itched her tail all summer which is a huge improvement, last year (not rugged) she was bum rubbing crazily so the Shires SI rug has definitely cured that.

The heat and SI rugs are such a pain.. I’ve kept my mare clipped mostly all of summer, re doing it last week and that definitely helps.

Mine also suffers with summer mud fever on her pasterns.. so I feel your pain @teddy_eq I have a £37 pot of vet mud fever cream and have found sudocrem better!

That's good to know re Sudocrem. I think I might try and get my hands on some Filtabac too.

 

[tda]

Killitch is benzyl benzoate. You can buy BB cheaper and dilute it yourself

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Be careful with benzyl benzoate one of my horses is allergic it makes his hair fall out and burns his skin, luckily its not the one that itches I also use gold label wonder gel on his tail and any rubbed bits it's soothing and it helps with hair growth.

 

[oldjumper]

I am really struggling to manage my mares sweet-itch in this heat. Unfortunately, stabling her during the day isn't ideal as her stable gets all the afternoon sun. However, it now looks like she is also suffering from photosensitivity. She has a large crusty scab on the back of one hind pastern. I have the vet attending this afternoon to diagnose as it could be mud fever.

The added complexity is that she's an inherently hot horse who even in the winter, doesn't need much in the way of rugging even when clipped. So, the sweet-itch rug is just leading to her dripping in sweat. I have sort of downgraded her rug to a Weatherbeeta Kool Coat in an attempt to make her more comfortable in higher temperatures.

If she is suffering with photosensitivity, I will have to stable her during the day(?), but doing this and keeping her rug on would simply be inhumane, as at least she has a breeze in the field. I just don't know what to do as if I stable her with no rug, she will rub her tail senseless. I did think maybe I could take the rug off and pop a tail bandage on, or is that a stupid idea?

Any suggestions or advice greatly appreciated, as I am a complete sweet-itch novice.

She is already being fed Nicotinamide to try and aid the sweet-itch.

I feel your pain! We have managed a severe SI horse who has other skin allergies for 20+ years but despite all had a successful SJ career. It’s a horrible condition and what works well for one has no effect on others. With this in mind….Boett rug def best and least heating. Put on wet when really warm. You can hack/school in it too. Beware static when removing and be prepared to replace regularly. Aloe Vera and Dead Sea Majik (human stuff) to sooth and wash. When really bad - piriton tablets. Buy piriton 500 online - cheap as chips! Our little TB cross has up to 20 at a time.
Once you find a regime that works it will become less daunting. Good luck!

 

[Molly22]

I use biteback products for sweet itch and their fly spray. I have tried lots of other products but these seem to work for my horses the best.

 

[Xmasha]

Have you tried a product called Switch ?

 

[teddy_]

I feel your pain! We have managed a severe SI horse who has other skin allergies for 20+ years but despite all had a successful SJ career. It’s a horrible condition and what works well for one has no effect on others. With this in mind….Boett rug def best and least heating. Put on wet when really warm. You can hack/school in it too. Beware static when removing and be prepared to replace regularly. Aloe Vera and Dead Sea Majik (human stuff) to sooth and wash. When really bad - piriton tablets. Buy piriton 500 online - cheap as chips! Our little TB cross has up to 20 at a time.
Once you find a regime that works it will become less daunting. Good luck!

Thank you for the Piriton tip, they are so expensive off the shelf!

 

[teddy_]

Have you tried a product called Switch ?

Yes, I do apply Switch weekly. I think I have sort of used too many different things now, so I am not sure what's keeping it manageable! SI horse owners must be the only ones excited for winter .

 

[ycbm]

Piriton is just branded cetirizine hydrochloride, easily found online really cheap.

Always look up the actual drug of anything non prescription, it can normally be found in the generic version.
.