Sweet itch help

[celandine]

hello

Long time no post .....

So weve just acquired a new pony with sweetitch, have heard for various people have had this pony in the past , with some she didnt suffer , others who managed to get it under control .

But the people we have got her from had her in a wooded area by a stream , no fly rug or spray .

Shes rub most of her mane and tail now , we got her on saturday . Poor thing has had about 7 homes and shes not quite 6. I've given her a full bath minus legs with antibacterial and antifungal shampoo , ensuring it is fully rinsed out as she was just so greasy all over have used Lincoln fly spray and have a fly rug for her , last night we stables her in a cool stable from 6 pm until the midges had gone around 8 am. Shes got more fly spray on bit due tot he wind theres no flies around today so have taken her rug off

Have introduced Dodson and Horell no itch supplement with a tiny amount of fast fibre as shes a little 13hh good for cob. Now I know theres no miracle cure for her , but we arent near any water ways , no trees in the field , electric tape against the post and rail as my mare is an idiot and pushed through it, no long grass to attract more flies etc, is there anything prone have found to be amazing? I've just ordered some options from biteback

Is marmite the amazing cure people say it is ??
Or am I managing rhisnall wrong?
Our childhood pony had severe sweetitch tot he point of being unrideable in the summer.

 

[Red-1]

Charlie Horse would have been a sweet itch horse, I found the key was in putting a sweet itch rug on in February, before the itching started. A normal fly rug didn't cut it for outdoors use. We tried a full Boat, but actually preferred the Rambo or Shires sweet itch versions.

He was out at night and in during the day during the fly season, with a fly rug on in the stable too. The stable rug we could get away with a mesh fly rug. We used fly papers and the high fly areas (windows etc) were sprayed twice a day, plus the stable was kept very clean.

Once they have started to itch, it is a vicious circle, the itching breaks the skin and makes them itch, plus broken skin attracts the midges. Hence, for next year, a sweet itch rug has to go on from February. Add a full face mask with ears and nose when the flies come out, also fly boots.

I have used various potions, Avon Skin So Soft, fancy American fly sprays etc, but I found removing them from the field and continuous fly rugs (including when ridden) was the answer.

We managed to keep Charles symptom free by this.

 

[Cortez]

Sweetitch rug, face mask, Biteback spray & cream, keep away from marshy, wet places and stable at dusk / dawn. Bathe regularly - I have used a neem shampoo, but anything to keep them clean and less likely to rub. Sweetitch is a curse and a heartache, I'd never knowingly take on another horse with it.

 

[be positive]

It sounds as if you have a good set up and are well prepared, as already said it can be trial and error as to what works, marmite is really just brewers yeast which can help, we have started ours on an anti inflammatory supplement this year and he is the best he has been, this may be just that his owner is managing better but we will continue with the supplement as it may well be the key, he is out 24/7 in a good rug, has regular baths, especially his legs and gets benzyl benzote on his mane, tail and legs every few days as well as fly spray.

I mention the legs as the condition is systemic so the midges will bite anywhere they can, often the back of the front legs, front of the hinds and under the tummy, the obvious reaction is to the mane and tail but it is generally not there they are bitten, although the face can be another target.

 

[tiahatti]

My little pony wore a mask & sweetitch rug all summer. I used phase power fly spray on her legs.

 

[Chianti]

My pony has very bad sweet itch so I've been on a steep learning curve for the past four years. If she's very bad I would keep the rug on - even if it's windy- until you really have it under control. The midges may not be able to fly but she'll still be itchy. Keep rugs clean. I change mine every week and the fly masks more often if needed. You may have to try a range of lotions and creams before you find one that helps the most. What works for others may not for you. I also think that they become immune - mine did really well with Biteback for a couple of years and then it seemed to be less effective. Smother the rug in fly spray. I'm trying homeopathic tablets this year. There is an injection that's meant to be used for ringworm I think that helps some but you have to start a series early in the year. Basically keep them covered early on and try to remove anything they can rub on - having said that mine's pretty good at scratching himself! His back leg can do amazing things.

 

[brightmount]

You’re probably doomed for this summer season as she has already been bitten. As others have said, next year she needs a sweet itch rug on as soon as the turnout comes off, or if she suffers really badly, a Boett under her turnout from February.

The midges can bite through a fly rug so only a sweet itch rug offers enough protection. I like the Premier Equine one.

I also feed my horse 10 cetirizine tablets a day, and use Switch or Z-itch on the mane and rump on a weekly basis.

Stabling can make it worse as the horse has something to rub on. Ideally she needs to be out with electric fencing.

I’ve had a horse with sweet itch for 15 years, and it’s manageable, although I’ve been refused livery on account of it.

 

[swilliam]

Our shrextb gets it very badly if we're not careful - ths year we didn't get organised in time, and came up one day to find he had demolished part of his stable. A rug 24/7(shire's sweet itch rug), brewers yeast, linseed and salt and Feedmark's itch free have got it back under control.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

My older boy suffers quite badly from sweet itch. I feel this year is the first year we’ve cracked it and that’s down to him wearing a sweet itch rug and mask 24/7. He’s also bathed regularly with medivet and I wash his mane and tail with polytar medicated shampoo from boots.

 

[Surbie]

Mine is in a sweetitch rug from late March till October/November. I chose a yard without streams nearby and with relatively exposed fields for extra breeze. I feed micronised linseed & yeasacc to help his skin and I oil his mane & tail a few times a week to keep the skin supple. Given he's rugged he won't burn. I have 3 sets of rugs and change them every 3-4 days. So far it's all working this year.

His sweetitch is relatively mild compared to some I have seen and he's currently out 24/7 in a field with nothing he can rub on. 2 other ponies on his yard have sweetitch and have had the injection - it's worked to an extent on one and not really on the other.

 

[EmmaC78]

Agree with others, it needs to be a sweet itch rug rather than a fly rug, it offers much better protection. I have just bought the rambo sweet itch hoody and it looks good so far.

 

[Britestar]

Our sweet itch cob is doing great this year so far with no rubbing at all. Started him on Goodbye Flys stuff a while back and its amazing. Not the cheapest by worth every penny.

 

[Yeomans]

Sulphur tablets, one a day availlable in bottles of 120 for about £8. Google Ainscoughs.

 

[Brownmare]

I have had 2 with sweet itch. Both were better when moved to a more exposed, windier field but the most effective thing hands down is benzyl benzoate (Killitch) followed by a rambo sweetitch hoody. Feeding brewers yeast and micronised linseed also help, as does removing places they can rub and it is critical to start treatment before they start rubbing.

 

[Gloi]

My old lad had bad sweetitch. A good sweetitch rug and hood are a must as is electric taping off absolutely everything that could be rubbed on.. I put somethg oily on every part not covered by the rug, either neem oil or nettex summer freedom or biteback cream. When the midges were bad he had cetirizine tablets 15 twice a day. He also got a regular dose of deosect poured on. At the worst times I rode with a rug on

 

[hobo]

My favourites are either a premier equine or shires sweetitch rug on from March till Nov. Nettex summer freedom is excellent and I hog his mane before he is rugged for the season so cream gets were it is needed. He is just a field ornament and this works well for him. Many years ago (70,s) I had a riding sweetitch pony and we got by with benzol benzoate there was no such things as sweetitch rugs than. If they have started to itch badly though you need the vet to give a steriod to stop the itch cycle while you put the other things in place.

 

[celandine]

Wow this is so helpful thanks guys , we washed her mane and taile again last night after her ride , rugged and put in her stable , this morning no signs of rubbing, shes been on the Dodson and Horell itch free for 4 days now so I dont think it's that, but maybe just better management ? I've put some green oils on th bits she had rubbed raw and washed the scabby bits and removed dead skin.... perks of being a nurse who loves picking dead skin . I remember rubbing in cornocresine into a really poor mare we had before and it worked wonders for regrowth but didn't want to do that as so messy. Green oils is on and rug back on and shes out in the field after another ride and wash . Shes fully feathered so keeping them to prevent leg bites .

Have just been and got some brewers yeast for her too. I feed fast fibre which contains linseed but will add linseed slowly in the next few weeks


People that add salt , is it just table salt ??

 

[NinjaPony]

Mine has sweet-itch and is allergic to horseflies. This year I decided to wage war on the sweet-itch:
-since March he has worn a sweet-itch rug 24/7, with a mask and fly boots in the field
-every day, rug comes off, and I apply benzyl benzoate to his tail, mane shoulders and girth area
-I use carr and day martin's insect gel on his sheath daily
-any exposed bits get sprayed with Tri-Tec fly spray
-I hack him out (when I can ride...) in a ride on mesh fly rug, fly boots and mask
-every week his mane and top of tail get washed with Micro-Tek shampoo, and creams re-applied
-he has 20 cetirizine tablets a day

This probably seems quite extreme, but I've seen the results of his allergy tests and they are not pretty. So far, we've had a bit of mane rubbing but otherwise nothing at all and he seems much more comfortable. The trick is starting it before the midges appear, but it sounds like you are doing every thing you can to make her more comfortable.

 

[Esmae]

You will need a good sweetitch rug and masks etc. I found the cleaner I kept pony and rugs the better he was. I'd never take on another SW horse. It is the most heartbreaking thing to do absolutely everything and they are still not comfortable.

 

[Firefly9410]

I have looked after a few with sweet itch and found various things to help. Herbal supplements such as D&H Itch Free are great for helping the skin heal itself which is needed when it is being rubbed all the time. Benzyl Benzoate from pharmacy or in Killitch and Sudocrem helps those who are not allergic to it. If they are it makes the skin flake off. Hair can work as a protective from being bitten or it can make them warm and itchy exacerbating the problem so whether to clip it all off or not depend on the individual. Boett rugs are amazing but you have to keep on top of repairing any holes rubbed in it so the midges cannot get in. Creams and sprays containing DEET are good midge repellent. Battle I think it is make a yellow cream Summer Fly Cream for sheep good because you can easily see where you put it! Barrier Super Plus Fly Repellent or Parasite Repel help too. Stabling 6pm-8am helps some, others rub more in the stable. All sweet itch horses seems to prefer being clean and the dirt sticks to creams when they roll too. As a last resort Deosect works used as per the instructions diluted and saturated the coat head to toe and keep the horses dry 48hrs but I found I only had to apply it once every two months to control the sweet itch. Think it stings though horse hated it. So sad your little horse been passed around so much already. I have never minded being the one to look after the sweet itch horse maybe I am weird!