Sweet Itch.

Pale Rider

Pale Rider

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Are sweet itch levels higher, lower or the same as last year?

I'm trying a new treatment and the horse is showing no signs so far, so I'm wondering if there are less midges about due to the weather, or perhaps, fingers crossed, the treatment is working.
 
I guess it depends where you are!

Mine has started itching a lot more in the last 2 weeks but then the constant cycle of rain/sun is great for the midges.

Good luck with the treatment :)
 
Yes I am hoping too that it is my management that is making the itch go away but in all honesty there have been less full on midgey days here :)
 
mine doesn`t seem so bad this year,think it is because it has been breezy.
my pony is covered up all the time in a fly sheet, but am waiting for the nasty black ear flies :( which seem to be repelled with a blob of sudocream.
 
I thought I was doing really well until night before last PR, when I found that mine had managed to rub his face. I've got the whole field bordered with electric tape, but he still manages. I've been giving Marmite daily, Piriton tablets, Linseed and using dilute Deosect, plus Phaser sprays! On rubs I use Aloe Vera gel and sometimes good old Sudocreme.
I'd be interested in what others are doing. This pony doesn't do great in a fly rug, it seems to make him uncomfortable (he has quite fine fur and skin) and then it's just another thing to add friction to his scratching pleasure!
 
I've tried a few combinations so far this year including marmite sudocream but the combination working best for my mare is once a day allergy relief from tesco, kill itch sparingly, and fly rug - this is my first summer with her and i was told her si was mild but sadly that wasn't the case - pier doing really well now and her tail is already growing back
 
One of mine has succumbed badly for the first time....despite sprays, pig oil, brewer's yeast.
Came in one evening badly bitten..'...rubbed himself raw across his chest and poll:(
He's been on steroids and is now happier under a layer of camrosa and bug rug.
He looks a right mess though:(
 
Over here I think its pretty much the same - maybe a bit less as its so hot (31-35 degrees) that the midgies don't come out till evening.
He's got a fly rug on all day, we've got a special veterinary shampoo and he's just started a 4-day course of steroids :)
 
This year I have been feeding brewers yeast (which I always do) and spraying on avon skin so soft mixed with water on mane, tail, belly and anywhere else he itches and he is 100% better this year. I think creating some sort of barrier rug/skin so soft etc for the midges is definately the way to go :-)
 
Touch wood our two are the best they've ever been at this time of year.
They are both in rugs and are on their 3rd year of Bioeos capsules. I tried Brewers yeast last year with my one (friend's wouldn't eat it) and didn't notice a difference with that. This year I've also been treating mine with z-itch.
I've seen plenty of midges about but I suppose we have to wait until later in the year to see how they are really going to be this summer.
 
I've never been 100% certain but the two of them that have been on them have improved each year since we started with them. Before we started they were both really bad and would bite themselves raw on the bits where the rug didn't cover. Mine was terrible for biting chunks out of his sheath :(
Since they've been on them neither of them has damaged themself as badly as before and although they still obviously have sweet itch it seems less severe.
Whether this is due to the tablets or something else I cannot say for certain but I'm convinced enough that they help to keep paying for them.
Yesterday I had mine tied up after I'd tacked him up while I was getting ready to ride and he was just standing there rather than taking the opportunity to rub which at one time he never would have done and I would have had to have someone hold him if I left him unattended for a second.
The first year we used them I wasn't sure but I do feel that each year they are both a bit better so we are going to carry on and hopefully they will improve even more next year.
 
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I can honestly say this year my lad don't look as if he has sweetitch. :) last year it was that bad I had to get steroid cream from the vets. That may of been down to the fact I didn't rug early enough maybe. This year he has a full mane and isn't itching at all. He's in by day un rugged, out by night in a Rambo hoody, soaked hay and fed fast fibre, linseed, brewers yeast and fennel. It's working wonders so will carry on but I have myself wondered if the midges aren't as bad? It has been quite breezy down south
 
I highly rate Neem oil, rather than sprays. My mare is very sensitive skinned, but is fine in her sweet itch hoody with Neem and benzyl benzoate mixed on the bits which show. I'm another who feeds linseed and brewer's yeast. Had a recent flirtation with Yeasacc, but chanced going back to the former, as the Yeasacc wasn't as good. Recent batch from charnwood has been top notch!
 
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