Sweet itch

[kellyridgway]

My dutch warmblood mare has recently just started getting sweet itch on her tail. She is rubbing it so much the top of her tail is getting shorter and shorter. Is there anything to put on her tail to help, or get rid of it completly. We are meant to be showing her this summer, but with a tail like that i dont see the point,
Please help

 

[Llwyncwn]

If its just on her tail, get Benzyl Benzoate from your chemist and rub in.

 

[kellyridgway]

oh brill thanx for that, will try that then

 

[Porkie]

My boy had started doing the same thing and had a big bald patch at the top of his tail that was a red a weeping! I just blobbed a load of aloe vera gel on it every night b4 I went home and it seems to be clearing up now and the hair is beginning to grow back.........

If sweet itch gets to be a real problem hv heard of a home remedy of feeding a marmite sandwich to horse every day! Seems odd I know but apparently most horses love the taste and the midges etc don't like the way it makes their skin taste so they leave them alone!

Haven't tried it myself tho ......

 

[ticobay831]

Dont think you can buy Benzyl benzonate over the counter anymore

You may have to get it from your vet, or equine pharmacy sell it.
Ill let you have the number if you want it.
PM me ok

Try rubbing in sudocrem that has benzyl benzonate in it, i use it on my boy when hes scratched himself, its a bit messy but it does the trick

Debs x

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Benzyl Benzoate works really well but the Chemict may look at you strangely........it's normally used in humans for scabbies you see

Certainly used to be able to buy from local chemist, if you can't try here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ascabiol-emulsion-...VQQcmdZViewItem

 

[Honeypots]

www.sweetitch.com

Loads of facts and advise about sweet itch on here..
The only way to prevent sweet itch is to cover up I'm afraid.
Net Tex Sweet itch salve is very good too

 

[sikaran]

My boy is on the vaccine trial so we're not having too much of a problem this year, but last year I found tea tree oil and or lotion did sooth any area that he'd been rubbing. Also using unfeasable amounts of fly spray helps too!

 

[conniegirl]

My lad is also on the sweetitch vaccine trials and so far touch wood weve not had much of a problem at all, and he had very very serious sweet itch before that.

If it is only her tail (normaly sweetitch ponies attack thier manes and shoulders as well) have you wormed her against pin worm? Pinworm will make them scratch thier tail badly so may be worth trying that!