Sweet itch woes

Cazza525

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 July 2009
Messages
1,188
Location
south west devon
Visit site
Just a few ideas needed. I have a dear little Dartmoor pony that used to be my sons and is now a companion for my ridden. I’ve had him 9 years, he’s now 18. I totally adore him but his sweet itch is getting worse year after year. I’ve tried all manner of lotions, potions, antihistamines, rug, no rug you name it!!

Now the problem I have with management is, he actually is fine out in field (fully electrified so can’t itch on post and rail) , with a sweet itch rug on and cream once a day. But what do people do if the come into stable?? He literally runs on all the walls and especially reverses into the door to scratch tail, either shredding his rug , or if not on, his dock!

Is this normal?? What can I do, if anything??
 

MissTyc

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 June 2010
Messages
3,693
Location
South East
Visit site
I had an exmoor like this and the answer was to never have her in a stable or anywhere she could scratch. We built an outdoor corral with a little roof for emergencies and cross-tied for tacking up and grooming. The trick, as you know, is to keep them comfortable. The moment they manage to get a scratch those little lesions drive them mad. It's such a tough condition - my heart really goes out to every pony with it. Ours died of a field injury aged 12 so we didn't go through her older age, but I do understand some geriatric conditions can make it worse, including cushings and ems type conditions.
 

Peglo

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 June 2021
Messages
4,464
Visit site
Mine only came in in the winter and her sweetitch had calmed down at that time of year. She didn’t itch much
 

Dontforgetaboutme

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 November 2020
Messages
228
Visit site
Benzyl Benzoate diluted with carrier oil sprayed liberally into dock hair and mane seems to kill the itch and desperate need to itch. Biteback contains this but you can mix your own cheaply. Lots of horses seem to have started itching this week with warmer & damp weather.
 

Smogul

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 October 2009
Messages
384
Visit site
Just a few ideas needed. I have a dear little Dartmoor pony that used to be my sons and is now a companion for my ridden. I’ve had him 9 years, he’s now 18. I totally adore him but his sweet itch is getting worse year after year. I’ve tried all manner of lotions, potions, antihistamines, rug, no rug you name it!!

Now the problem I have with management is, he actually is fine out in field (fully electrified so can’t itch on post and rail) , with a sweet itch rug on and cream once a day. But what do people do if the come into stable?? He literally runs on all the walls and especially reverses into the door to scratch tail, either shredding his rug , or if not on, his dock!

Is this normal?? What can I do, if anything??
I don't want to sound negative but he isn't "fine out in the field". You have simply made it impossible for him to scratch. Can you imagine what it would be like if you were constantly itchy? I have been in this position with a Shetland and finally agreed with my vet that the kindest thing was PTS as things got worse and worse every year.
 

Smogul

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 October 2009
Messages
384
Visit site
Benzyl Benzoate diluted with carrier oil sprayed liberally into dock hair and mane seems to kill the itch and desperate need to itch. Biteback contains this but you can mix your own cheaply. Lots of horses seem to have started itching this week with warmer & damp weather.
Didn't work for my pony. Literally nothing did.
 

Jambarissa

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 December 2014
Messages
1,003
Visit site
Do agree that you need to get it to the point where he isn't itchy, you're just stopping him displaying the behaviour rather than stopping the problem atm.

He needs to not get bitten in the first place.

First thing is environment. Are you at a suitable place? Preferably up a hill with a good breeze without any standing water obvs this isn't always possible!

Do you have a proper boett blanket type rug? The dupes are pretty cheap these days if you can find one that fits, equitheme seem popular . You can buy leggings too. You need to get it in before the season so are buggered for this year unfortunately.

Have him in early morning and evening if possible.

Then barrier oils to stop them biting. Then creams and sprays to repel the buggers. Then medication to damp down his response and relieve itching.

It's a battle but once you've found what works it's pretty simple to get a routine and stick with it.

You also need protection when you're riding, can ride gently in most of the rugs.
 

PinkvSantaboots

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 August 2010
Messages
24,048
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
Feeding something with vitamin B3 Nicotinamide can help it acts as an antihistamine it works for my Arab, there is a supplement called oral solution by Herdleader I used it for a few years but I actually just buy B3 and make my own.

You need to break the itch cycle initially though really and calm everything down.

Test for cushings as well as that can affect skin.
 

Cazza525

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 July 2009
Messages
1,188
Location
south west devon
Visit site
I don't want to sound negative but he isn't "fine out in the field". You have simply made it impossible for him to scratch. Can you imagine what it would be like if you were constantly itchy? I have been in this position with a Shetland and finally agreed with my vet that the kindest thing was PTS as things got worse and worse every year.
Sorry yes, I totally agree. I didn’t mean he was fine in field, just that he can’t scratch!

PTS has crossed my mind this morning admittedly
 

Cazza525

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 July 2009
Messages
1,188
Location
south west devon
Visit site
Do agree that you need to get it to the point where he isn't itchy, you're just stopping him displaying the behaviour rather than stopping the problem atm.

He needs to not get bitten in the first place.

First thing is environment. Are you at a suitable place? Preferably up a hill with a good breeze without any standing water obvs this isn't always possible!

Do you have a proper boett blanket type rug? The dupes are pretty cheap these days if you can find one that fits, equitheme seem popular . You can buy leggings too. You need to get it in before the season so are buggered for this year unfortunately.

Have him in early morning and evening if possible.

Then barrier oils to stop them biting. Then creams and sprays to repel the buggers. Then medication to damp down his response and relieve itching.

It's a battle but once you've found what works it's pretty simple to get a routine and stick with it.

You also need protection when you're riding, can ride gently in most of the rugs.
My environment isn’t great, i border Dartmoor so a little way from the sea but up high.

Yes he wears a sweet itch rug.
 

PinkvSantaboots

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 August 2010
Messages
24,048
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
Sorry yes, I totally agree. I didn’t mean he was fine in field, just that he can’t scratch!

PTS has crossed my mind this morning admittedly
If you are at a stage where it is a welfare issue definitely speak to your vet about it, cushings test is not expensive and they have lots of different treatments now.
 

Gloi

Too little time, too much to read.
Joined
8 May 2012
Messages
12,295
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
Just a few ideas needed. I have a dear little Dartmoor pony that used to be my sons and is now a companion for my ridden. I’ve had him 9 years, he’s now 18. I totally adore him but his sweet itch is getting worse year after year. I’ve tried all manner of lotions, potions, antihistamines, rug, no rug you name it!!

Now the problem I have with management is, he actually is fine out in field (fully electrified so can’t itch on post and rail) , with a sweet itch rug on and cream once a day. But what do people do if the come into stable?? He literally runs on all the walls and especially reverses into the door to scratch tail, either shredding his rug , or if not on, his dock!

Is this normal?? What can I do, if anything??
Make sure he has a proper hood with the sweet itch rug, not a mask.
I found if I coated every bit of the body and legs that wasn't covered with the rug with a good coating of neem or another sweet itch cream it helped a lot. The rugs like the boett are fine for most riding if you take the belly part off and cream the belly while riding.
I could never have left him in a stable though, but managed most years without too much damage.
Twice a day ceterizine antihistamines helped too. Mine 330kg had 10 twice a day.
Mine actually improved with Cushing's but it came back when the Cushing's was treated.
 

ElleSkywalkingintheair

As excited as Kitty about to be a bridesmaid
Joined
9 March 2011
Messages
12,507
Location
Tiny farm some where in UK
Visit site
Have you tried Switch, weekly sweet itch application available from vets? Absolute game changer for me, two sweet itchy horses are now rug free with full names and tails as I started using it before midges came out this year. Last year used it midway through season as hadn't heard if it before and it stopped the itching in its tracks and by the end of summer both were starting to grow manes etc back.

Doesn't work for every horse but if you haven't tried it yet give it a go
 

Cazza525

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 July 2009
Messages
1,188
Location
south west devon
Visit site
Have you tried Switch, weekly sweet itch application available from vets? Absolute game changer for me, two sweet itchy horses are now rug free with full names and tails as I started using it before midges came out this year. Last year used it midway through season as hadn't heard if it before and it stopped the itching in its tracks and by the end of summer both were starting to grow manes etc back.

Doesn't work for every horse but if you haven't tried it yet give it a go
Thankyou, I’ve just ordered some x
 

Surbie

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 July 2017
Messages
3,885
Visit site
I really feel for you, and your pony, it's a miserable condition.

My horse has it fairly mildly and so far responds well to Killitch on his mane, tail, midline and elbows. I keep him well groomed and clean, and rugged all the time he is out. I also rotate udder cream and filtabac on exposed itchy bits to act as a barrier to the midges.

I hope the Switch works for you - but ruling out EMS and Cushings are also really good suggestions.
 
Top