Sweet itch please help

[equibabe20]

I know this should be in vetinary section but more people read this. My shetland has sweet itch she is itching alot of the time and has new rubbed patches almost everyday. Im using a cream and an anti-itch spray which is helping ease the problem, except she is terrified of sprays so actually covering her with it is very difficult.
I would love to get her a boett but I really can't afford one, are there any other similar products that are cheaper and will fit a shetland?? Also any feed supplements? Thanks in advance X

 

[B_2_B]

Jasper at Mossburn has bad sweet itch and equineem helps loads! that's the brand name. he also has it in a cream so it's not scary! it's really good but i'm not sure on pricing sorry.

 

[TiaPony]

http://www.dinkyrugs.co.uk/17601.html
maybe?
x

 

[JoBo]

You are going to think I'm mad but I swear by Marmite. I put a large tea spoon of it in my cob's tea (also did with by ex IDxTB ) and I'm sure it helps! I also find that tea tree spray seems to help once they have itched themselves. I know how they feel I'm really itchy myself at the moment!!

 

[Honeypots]

http://www.divoza.co.uk/product6981.aspx

Not sure if they'll go small enough...
apparently Brewers yeast is good but haven't tried that yet..

 

[Stinkbomb]

Snuggy hoods do one for mini sizes but still quite pricey

Snuggy hoods

And equine clothing company do one for shetlands which is a bit cheaper.Dont think you'll get a small size much cheaper im affraid.

Equine clothing company

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Horseware do a few rugs which go small enough for shetties, and try weatherbeeta too.

I try not to buy from the specialist companies as they're pricey for sizes which in actual fact are pretty standard pony sizes. For example, our shettie takes a 4'6 rug, and it cost me half the price to get a T/O for him from a normal retailer rather than somewhere which specialises in small sizes.

Ours hates spray too, our daily torture atm is me hanging onto the end of the leadrope, spraying him as he trots round me

.

 

[measles]

We have just bought our Section A a 4'9" Riff Raff fly rug. Came with integral neck, elasticated leg straps, belly wrap and sep face mask all for under £40 at our local saddlery. Am surprised to be very impressed by the quality. Perhaps these can be got in a smaller size?

Good luck

 

[amzy]

I think marmite is excellent too. There was a vast improvement to my cob last summer since giving it in her food.

 

[Honeypots]

Just to point out if its sweet itch its quite likely a 'normal' fly rug won't do the job well enough. Boett is defo the best IMO but as you say pricey. Call them and ask if they have any secondhand ones or swaps..you never know or try ebay, I've seen a few go on there. Net Tex Sweet itch salve complete is also good stuff but again approx £20 a tub so quite expensive although should go further with a shettie. Barrier fly spray is good too:
This stuff:
http://www.hyperdrug.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BAR500

You could spray it onto a cloth and rub it on if he doesn't like the spray.
If poss stable/or turnout away from the muckheap or any stream or water source and if you get a rug then keep him away from any barbed wire or sharp object..electric fencing is the best for fly rug wearers..

 

[Frankstown]

My Shetland has sweet itch.
I give him 1 Piriton and 5 Brewers Yeast tablets am and pm.
So far so good!

 

[YorksG]

One of ours who had sweet itch stopped scratching and rubbing when se stopped feeding sugar for other reasons, this was including polo's etc. It might be worth a try.

 

[Tiggy1]

Is the piriton normal human piriton?

 

[ru-fi-do]

I posted a similar post recently that you might find interesting. Sweet itch and Boett
I took Bubbles on last year and he was suffering with servere sweet itch, that you can see from photo's on my other post, after 4 weeks of using Camrosa it cleared up a treat and then I just had to try and prvent it, that believe me wasn't easy with a normal fly rug, I couldn't afford a Boett.
He had been fine until last week, I went to check on them at 8pm and he looked like a piece of bubble wrap, could hardly move because the swelling were that big between his legs, we gave him 3 antihistamines and a sachet of danilon, rugged up and turned him out in the field, if we had left him in he would have rubbed himself raw and he was happier in himself out. The following morning, the swellings were better but he was very stressed and was having nosebleeds. I rang the vet, she said she thought it was more like a sting that he had had a reaction to, she could come and give him a steriod injection but along with him being stressed it could bring on Laminitis, so i clipped him ot and gave him a cold bath, which he loved

! She said anti histamines are a good thought but they need to be fed by a huge amount to have any affect, a rug is the best option. After I thought about it, rather then spend lots of money on lotion and potions and vets I may as well buy a rug (on credit card though

) This is the one I ordered, they have got a very good write up and are practically the same to a Boett but slightly cheaper. Solva Icelandics
We also keep him out and electric fence anywhere off where he might be able to rub, we do bring him in for a sleep when we are around to supervise him so that he doesn't rub, he hasn't broken any skin yet, once they do they get very sore. He seem so much happier. Sorry to go on but I have had a real rough ride with sweet itch this past week and can't recommend the rugs enough, Bubs has had a fly rug on, they help to a certain extent but do not protect the vulnerable areas. Has he got his winter coat? Maybe a clip would help keep him cool, definatley recommend brewers yeast too. Garlic doesn't help sweet itch sufferer's as it boosts the immune system, this is the problem the immune system is already over immune

I hope this helps, again very sorry if I have gone on and on!!!

 

[threeponies]

NAF Midge Off cream works really well on my Shetland, especially his face. I've heard loads of good reports for marmite, will be trying that this year.

 

[equibabe20]

Hi eberyone, thank you so much for the info, I'm going to try the marmite idea and put up some electric fencing too. If it doesnt work I'll have to buy the rug aswell. X

 

[Law]

You could try homeopathic drops too which are less expensive than a rug. I have two little plastic dropper bottles-1 is cullicoides (midge) and the other is 'grasses mixed'. It costs around £25 for both and i have enough left from last year to do this season as well. You give one bottle morning and night for a week, then the other bottle twice a day for a week, then once a week you give both at the same time. I swear by it along with Nettex Itch stop salve and marmite in a feed (watered down).

Good luck

 

[Law]

Sorry, should have said- The boett is the best thing on the market without a doubt. Then the route of drops, lotions, potions etc

(If it really is that bad!)