Sweet Itch - how rapidly does it happen?

[Lisamd]

I have a 3 yr old TB x ID whom I bred, so have had her from day 1. She has never suffered with SI before but this past week - from Sunday eve she appears to have developed full blown SI.
She is incredebly scratchy, has pulled the gate off it's hinge and broken the fencing. Her skin in the mane area has thickened and she has several 'raw' patches as well as thinning of her coat on her neck.
She has had d-itch and manuka honey cream applied twice daily and is wearing a fly rug again.

I have 4 others who are fine.

Does it come on this quickly or should I be worried about something else?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmmm, sounds like SI for sure; it would figure as there's been so many blimmin midges this last week.

Best thing is to cover up with a hoody or Boett or similar; if the midges can't bite in the first place then you won't get the problem.

I've not heard of using Manuka Honey cream for SI; dunno if anyone else with a SI on here has used it????? Might the sweetness of it attract midges? I dunno, but just a thought.

I always use "Killitch" (or benzyl benzoate, same thing) and always find it effective if applied morning and evening. This year I've even managed to turn mine out without his fly-mask on by using it around his face & ears.

It would be interesting to see if your horse develops sweet itch symptoms next spring; you need to keep a watch from mid-February onwards and start feeding supplements (if this is what you decide on doing) from January really. As soon as the night-frosts go, you'll have the midges out!!

I feed Brewers Yeast & Linseed, one scoop per feed (fed twice a day), plus Seaweed (one scoop) in last feed. Also Clivers (the sticky stuff in hedges) is good apparently; when its growing I just tend to put some out in the field or in a haynet.

 

[fizzer]

We have one that has been the same, he was swishing his tail also. Had him 12 years and past week has been scratching like mad. Have been using global herbs scratch plus and the cream twice a day.

Tonight he seems a little better, so touch wood its starting to work. Weird how it can just start.