Sweet itch tips please

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hannah__

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My horse has developed sweet itch this summer and I was wondering what things I can do to help it. I read about giving piriton tablets and neem soap when bathing. Her mane is slowly disappearing and I'm desperate! 😩😩 x thanks
 
Stop itch really helps. You just apply it onto the mane and tail and it breaks the cycle by stopping them feeling the itch.
 
a good fly repellent cream eg nettex products. good rugs, mine has a boett and a SI hoodie. and Piriton prescribed by the vet. its cheap and it works.
 
applecart14 said:
Stop itch really helps. You just apply it onto the mane and tail and it breaks the cycle by stopping them feeling the itch.
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agreed with you
 
Stinky stuff is just neem oil, so I would suggest trying the much cheaper non-branded neem first. The only difference that I can gather from quizzing the suppliers is that SS is certified to have a certain amount of the active ingredient whereas the other stuff may not be, but the usual stuff works just fine for me. I get mine from ebay, Mother Nature's Goodies.
If you are on fb I would suggest joining the Sweet Itch Support group, full of really useful advice and ideas. Oh, and get yourself a rug - by far the best way to stop the midges, then use products to supplement and help heal the damage already done. Doesn't need to be an expensive one (Equitheme are not too bad, about £40) but does need to be a SI rug, not a fly rug.
 
We've found ponies to be very different for what works for them. We've tried pretty much everyone with our wee chap and Only thing that works for him is to keep rugged and phaser fly spray keeps him totally free of sweet itch (he suffers terribly without both).
 
dollyanna said:
Stinky stuff is just neem oil, so I would suggest trying the much cheaper non-branded neem first. The only difference that I can gather from quizzing the suppliers is that SS is certified to have a certain amount of the active ingredient whereas the other stuff may not be, but the usual stuff works just fine for me. I get mine from ebay, Mother Nature's Goodies.
If you are on fb I would suggest joining the Sweet Itch Support group, full of really useful advice and ideas. Oh, and get yourself a rug - by far the best way to stop the midges, then use products to supplement and help heal the damage already done. Doesn't need to be an expensive one (Equitheme are not too bad, about £40) but does need to be a SI rug, not a fly rug.
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^^^ This. Ditto re. going for pricey supplements. Mine has Brewers Yeast, Micronised Linseed, Cider Vinegar, and Dried Nettle. You can also feed Clivers (sticky stuff, grows in hedges) or as a supplement. Garlic isn't a good thing for SI's, and you'll need to check feeds & supplements as it sneaks in everywhere!

Avoid feed with molasses, again, you'll have to check rigorously!

But the best thing is a rug. The only solution really is to stop the midges biting in the first place and you'll best achieve that with a rug. I use Rambo SI hoody, or Premier Equine ones are good but sizing can be a bit haphazard with theirs.

You may have to stable the horse during the "dawn to dusk" period when midges are most active. The "sweet itch season" runs from about March/April through to end of October or thereabouts, but having said that I've been out at Christmas before now all dressed up and dancing around with a SI rug!!! The optimum temperature for midges to be able to survive in is about 11C, BUT if the air is still you might see them below this.

Also consider grazing: best places are windy fields as high up as possible and away from forests and heathlands. Worst places are in valleys where there's standing water or ponds, and forest/heathland. Even moving just a mile away can make all the difference to a SI horse.
 
I have found the nettex stop itch cream quite good ...

Have you changed your horses diet in anyway ?

I have put this on the site before but I used to have a really itchy horse which started suddenly one summer when he was about 12 (he is now 20) - I used to buy various rugs / sprays etc with little success.

A couple of years ago vet suggested dectomax jabs even tho no lice or similar friends could be found but his coat was very dull n really scurfy .. The dectomax did help.

I then found that he was less itchy without rugs, they made him too hot and the heat aggravated his itch so stopped rugging and even in winter he just had a lightweight on if v cold n wet.

After hours last year searching different ideas as it was still costing me £££ in different potions / supplements which worked a little but not enough I read that alfalfa can cause itching - I stopped immediately feeding him his top spec top chop lite and within 24 hrs his itching was 80% / 90% better - he still has 2x dectomax jabs at beginning of summer and he is currently on box rest and apart from the odd boredom itch (hence nettex cream) I have a horse with a gleaming coat, whole tail and hogged mane with no bald bits - dread to think what he would be like if he was on box rest this time 2 yrs ago !!

Sorry for the essay but itching is so frustrating and if any of the above can help then it's worth it xx
 
One of my ponies has sweet itch and I use a sweet itch rug, Phase Off ( a fly and mosquito repellent cream) on the top of her neck and ears and around the dock area. I also massage in bio-skin oil into the bald patches on her mane and under her forelock and this all seems to really help.
 
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