Sweet Itch?

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skewbaldpony

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Can I ask for opinions - we have a pony who definitely had sweet itch. Last year, where we were, he still had sweet itch. We moved. However, his field is still under trees etc, we only moved him a couple of miles if that.
Now, on this yard, we are able to take better care of him, keep him cleaner, turn him out late (they are out only at night due to fatness and laminitis potential out there!) and fetch him in early, keep him well groomed and generally cared for, oh and he does have a fair bit of garlic.
He also now doesn't have sweet itch?!
Can it be absolutely controlled by management, or have we just struck lucky in some way with our current environment?
Opinions on a postcard ......
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We moved the horses last week and already the one who spent last summer with sweetitch symptoms is bug rug free and seems so much happier in himself. We wondered if there was one breed of bug he was allergic to and that doesnt live at the new yard?
Fingers crossed that both boys remain itch free
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Bit of both - enviroment can have an effect but the fact that he is going out late and coming in early etc also helps.

Mine has improved with management, though he only gets it on his belly and tail and not too badly.
 
I would say both - my boy suffers from sweet itch badly (esp on his face) but since I've had him its got much better through stabling/management, but also moving away from yards near standing water. Oddly moving from Kent to Surrey his sweet itch got much worse (I think he preferred the Kent bugs!!)...

Fingers crossed it stays away for you it can make them so uncomfortable!!

x
 
Well done on helping your pony

Sweet itch is an allergic reaction to the Culloides midge saliva. Moving fields to a more windy one can make a difference as can grazing only at night.
 
Sweet-itch does not go away but the syptoms do. The better management will help alot, and moving areas might also. Was it very servere and are you SURE it is sweet-itch and not another skin problem/
 
I'd be surprised if it were true sweet itch if the pony is ok next to all that. Mine would be beside himself.

It can absolutely be controlled through management and environment but if it were sweet tich, he will still have it. One midge bite can be enough to set them off again.
 
I have started putting mine out late night (after dark so 11.30pm ish) and bringing in first thing. He has severe sweet itch and is not itching at all.

Granted he is rugged up too, but I'm still impressed as if left in after being out in the day time he would usually scratch.

So now I have a very high maintainance laminitic horse with sweet itch (caused by drugged for sweet itch!)
 
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drugged for sweetitch ??? that caused laminitus ??
please explain

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steroids can be administered for sweet itch but the side effect is the possibility of triggering laminitis..
 
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