Sweet itch or something else

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putasocinit

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Posting for a friend, she has a year old shettie who has suffered this year with sweet itch, rubbed his mane and dock hair off and has scabs over his body, she has put coopers on him, she has used the sweet itch cream, she has a cortisone cream from vets, she is feeding flax seed, she didnt feed alfalfa during summer when it was worse so possibly no allergy there, any suggestions you pony pros out there, poor boy is not a happy lad
 
When you say "sweet itch cream" would that be "Killitch" (or Benzyl Benzoate)???

IF the pony has rubbed itself raw, then all the remedies in the world won't help because the ONLY way to prevent sweet itch is to stop the midges biting in the first place (i.e. cullicoides midges, the ones that cause Sweet Itch). The only way to do that is cover the pony up; as its a small pony I'd suggest a Boett or something similar. I use a Rambo Sweet Itch hoody for mine but don't know if they come in the smaller sizes (anyone else know???).

You can feed all the supplements you like and/or apply every topical ointment possible, but if you don't cover the animal up its all a waste of money & time!!

Also consider where the pony grazes; the worst places are where midges congregate i.e. fields near standing water, lowland marshy areas and/or under trees or common land. Best places are as high up as possible to catch the breeze.

Do a search on here for "sweet itch" as there's an awful lot in the archives.

Your friend might also consider asking the vets to run some bloods as it just might be the case that there are other allergens involved.

Oh and avoid feeding garlic, its not helpful for sweet itches. Avoid sugar/mollasses as far as possible - think "sweet" itch.

But basically friend needs to cover the pony up ASAP; certainly from the months of say mid-Feb through to October-time is when special care needs to be taken and the pony covered up ALL the time when outside. But outside of these times you can still get midges around!! I'm a bit surprised the vets didn't suggest a cover-up rug TBH...... elementary really for a sweet itch. Stabling in really bad midgey weather (i.e. still air, musty sort of weather like we're having here at the mo) might also be necessary to cover the Dawn to Dusk period. My boy will ask to come in and stand in if its really midgey weather - he'll also "ask" for his rug to be put on - will be visibly agitated until it goes on!

I feed my sweet itchy boy Brewers yeast; Cider Vinegar; micronised Linseed and Clivers (sticky stuff, you can pick it when in season and chop and add to feed or buy the supplement). I tend to avoid expensive supplements - a lot of the "fly" ones contain garlic which isn't what you want.
 
Thank you i will tell her, yes i think it is killitch. Yes agree cover the lad up. Will advise her to feed what you suggested and avoid what you suggested.
 
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