Sweet itch & feather mites

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ItsJzo

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Well I have 2 questions as both are new conditions to me!

Sweet Itch - This is on behalf of a friend, I hear about it everywhere but have always been lucky enough to have horses that don't suffer with it!!
However my friend's welsh section d mare appears to have developed what I would consider is sweet itch, however it is only on her face, she has no other signs of it anywhere else and I would have thought you would find other patches across the stomach/tail area etc?
They are little bald patches in places, and other places is a nasty scabby infected looking patch, she has quite a lot of it all round her face, she is a scratcher and does scratch alot, I suggested sudocrem & a flymask when we first noticed these ''bite'' type looking patches, but it has made no difference whatsoever, and is definitely getting worse. She is on NAF D-Itch now also but obviously should this be sweet itch (as I have imagined it is), then that won't cure the problem..if I got a picture, could someone give me a definite?


2nd Question... I unexpectedly picked up a new mare this week, a gypsy vanner. And I was told she had mites in her feathers that had been treated by anti biotics and thorough bathing, however I bathed her for the first time yesterday and upon lifting the feathers, notice she is bleeding again, but as she is still a bit funny with her feet, I cannot get hold of her feathers enough to have a close look...

What would be everyones suggestion in regards to this? Have a vet out again to see whether mites have returned or just not left in the first place? Or should I start stabling her for the time being? She lives out and definitely enjoys being out. Will get some piccies up in the new lounge soon!
And again if pictures will help I will try and get some!
 
Hi

The first horse doesn't sound like sweet itch to me, my horse is a sweet itch sufferer and suffers with it on her mane, tail and face. She could just be sensitive to fly bites, I would recommend a fly cream like super fly plus, which really helped my mare. It is really strong but soothes as well. Before assuming it is sweet itch, your friend cld get blood tests done to confirm this. I know a lot of people who think because their horse is itchy, it is sweet itch. Believe me if it was, u would know and have to keep them covered up! Hope that helps.
 
Could the patches on your friend's horse be ringworm? Seems very strange that the problem is only facial - if the horse touches cows over a fence for example then ringworm is a possibility.
feather mites - know the problem well and have pm'd you.
 
First horse sounds like it might be lice, Deosect or Coopers fly repellant plus and to be repeated after 14 days.
Second horse I would have suggested Frontline spray for feather mites but not if she is bleeding, I would get the vet to take a look.
 
OK, so horse one: "sweet itch"??? Answer, nope!!! Mine's got SI and its noticeable, especially at this time of year, by looking at the mane & tail - if there's rubbing to these areas (and some horses can rub themselves raw) then yes its SI, but just the face, no! As someone else has said, maybe lice, but what I did wonder upon reading the sympthoms is maybe Ringworm??? If it IS Ringworm, then its a highly infectious disease (humans can get it as well) and you really need to get your vet out to deal with it. If there are other horses grazing with yours then they're likely to get it as well. Sorry!

Second horse: query re. feather mites. Yes this is a problem with big hairy feathered cobs. There's another thread on here which gives loads of info entitled "Feather Mites Nightmare" - this is a very recent thread so worth a look.

Basically feather mite is not something to trifle with: its a form of chorioptic mange and horses can become very distressed with it, stamping their feet, and itching themselves. The treatment my boy is on at the moment is as follows: one tube of Eqvalan (given yesterday orally); then in two weeks time, another tube; then two weeks after that the third & final dose. Eqvalan contains ivermectin which is one way of dealing with the problem.

The other thing to do is to clip off ALL the feathers so you can see what you've got, and apply a medicated shampoo. The other thread recommended some (human) shampoo for head lice!!! OR Selsun Shampoo (Head & Shoulders has the same basic ingredient).

But don't ignore it. The poor horse will get immensely distressed and it can get very nasty.

Do have a look at the other thread here on HHO as its got some good stuff and helpful links.
 
I heard that pig oil and sulphur mix is good for feather mites, keeping the feathers well oiled up and washing them once a week? I maybe wrong but I'm sure people have told me that :D
 
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