Sweet itch???

For my two, Lincoln Tea Tree cream has been a god send. I slather loads on the base of their manes and the tops of their tails. It makes a total mess, but neither go out competing so it doesn't matter.

That and good fly rugs :)
 
Will look at the names of the product we use tomorrow, but the main thing is that our boy is never left without a rug on and either a fly mask or fly hood (with special 'bug' eyes!). His rug is a special sweet itch type that has closer weave mesh than normal fly rugs that let the midges through. His fly repellent has Neem oil in it that has insect repellent properties and works very well. Sounds horrible to keep him rugged but it's either that or a rubbed and scarred face, tail and mane!!!!
 
1life said:
Will look at the names of the product we use tomorrow, but the main thing is that our boy is never left without a rug on and either a fly mask or fly hood (with special 'bug' eyes!). His rug is a special sweet itch type that has closer weave mesh than normal fly rugs that let the midges through. His fly repellent has Neem oil in it that has insect repellent properties and works very well. Sounds horrible to keep him rugged but it's either that or a rubbed and scarred face, tail and mane!!!!
Click to expand...
Thank you so so much!
 
A good quality sweet Itch rug...Fly rugs aren't robust enough generally. I use Rambo and Premier Equine sweet Itch hoodys. Both excellent but the Premier Equine one is cheaper.
Electric fencing to protect the rug and the horse ...so use it around anything that the rug can get snagged on or that the horse can damage himself on...things like barbed wire, tree branches, post and rail etc.
A good Repellent...I use Net Tex Itch Stop. It soothes, heals and repels.
I've also used Coopers Fly Repellent Plus which is good.
Biteback products are good too.
The most important factor is environment....a nice open, exposed field is best...with few trees, no water source nearby and far from the muckheaps/cattle and anything that will attract midges.
 
There really isn't a best or worst product, I don't think. The reason there are so many of them to choose from is because they will work for some horses, but not others. Sweet itch is all about management and it will differ from horse to horse.

The ideal situation would be to keep the horse where there are no midges: open treeless spaces, away from streams or ponds and where there's a good breeze (midges can't fly in wind).

This isn't always feasible, so the next best tactic is to create a barrier between the horse and the midges: a fly sheet or sweet itch hoody usually. I find a regular fly sheet works fine during the day, but use the hoody if he's out at night (midges typically swarm at dawn and dusk).

Rugging still leaves some bits exposed, so a good repellent is essential. Again, different ones seem to work differently on different horses. Usually a DEET- or neem-based repellant is best. Be careful using an oil-based repellent on a hot day as it will burn your horse. On the flip side, midges can't land on an oily surface, so overnight or on cooler days, this is ideal. Most repellents will wear off so if it's possible, reapply during the day.

Some people find diet can have an effect. Brewers' yeast, a marmite sandwich or garlic may help. In some horses, garlic can make the problem worse - it will boost their immune system and as sweet itch is an allergy, the horse's immune system will already be in overdrive, it doesn't need a boost! These work by changing the smell of the horse's skin, making it less palatable to the midge. Similarly, for some horses, a sugary diet makes them more attractive to midges.

Once the reaction is triggered, you need an effective product to calm the itch and break the itch-scratch cycle to allow the skin to heal. Anything with benzyl benzoate in it will calm an itch and you can buy BB by the bottle. I'm currently using Nu-Stock, which is a sulphur-based cream (no BB in it) and that, for us, also seems to stop the itch as soon as it goes on too. It's a bit kinder on my skin than the BB, which I also wouldn't use neat on sensitive areas like around the eyes.

One final thing - we find that clipping really helps (other people find it makes their horses even more exposed to midge bites). Horses with sweet itch are often very scurfy, which also contributes to the itch. A clipped coat doesn't hold as much 'dandruff' and is easy to flick a brush over daily.

That's all I can think so in essence: try cover up everything, read the ingredients on everything and be prepared to experiment!
 
Barrier rugs, electric fencing, benzyl benzoate, neem oil, ruhibos (Red Bush tea), Itch Stop, Avon Skin so Soft, Coopers fly spray, micronized linseed, Stop Itch, Power Phaser fly repellent, ............................you get the picture, there are as many remedies as sufferers, depending on their allergen. Mine isn't the saliva of the culicoides midge because he doesn't start until June whereas the midge is around from March. Blood allergen test has thrown up sorrel and black fly as borderline allergens, am about to get immunology based on black fly and see where we go from there.
It's a miserable condition - I can't stand my horse in his stable between June and October because he would demolish it rubbing, we will be in big trouble if he needs box rest for anything.
 
C1airey said:
There really isn't a best or worst product, I don't think. The reason there are so many of them to choose from is because they will work for some horses, but not others. Sweet itch is all about management and it will differ from horse to horse.

The ideal situation would be to keep the horse where there are no midges: open treeless spaces, away from streams or ponds and where there's a good breeze (midges can't fly in wind).

This isn't always feasible, so the next best tactic is to create a barrier between the horse and the midges: a fly sheet or sweet itch hoody usually. I find a regular fly sheet works fine during the day, but use the hoody if he's out at night (midges typically swarm at dawn and dusk).

Rugging still leaves some bits exposed, so a good repellent is essential. Again, different ones seem to work differently on different horses. Usually a DEET- or neem-based repellant is best. Be careful using an oil-based repellent on a hot day as it will burn your horse. On the flip side, midges can't land on an oily surface, so overnight or on cooler days, this is ideal. Most repellents will wear off so if it's possible, reapply during the day.

Some people find diet can have an effect. Brewers' yeast, a marmite sandwich or garlic may help. In some horses, garlic can make the problem worse - it will boost their immune system and as sweet itch is an allergy, the horse's immune system will already be in overdrive, it doesn't need a boost! These work by changing the smell of the horse's skin, making it less palatable to the midge. Similarly, for some horses, a sugary diet makes them more attractive to midges.

Once the reaction is triggered, you need an effective product to calm the itch and break the itch-scratch cycle to allow the skin to heal. Anything with benzyl benzoate in it will calm an itch and you can buy BB by the bottle. I'm currently using Nu-Stock, which is a sulphur-based cream (no BB in it) and that, for us, also seems to stop the itch as soon as it goes on too. It's a bit kinder on my skin than the BB, which I also wouldn't use neat on sensitive areas like around the eyes.

One final thing - we find that clipping really helps (other people find it makes their horses even more exposed to midge bites). Horses with sweet itch are often very scurfy, which also contributes to the itch. A clipped coat doesn't hold as much 'dandruff' and is easy to flick a brush over daily.

That's all I can think so in essence: try cover up everything, read the ingredients on everything and be prepared to experiment!
Click to expand...

Thanks so so so so so much! This is extremely helpful! XX
 
JillA said:
Barrier rugs, electric fencing, benzyl benzoate, neem oil, ruhibos (Red Bush tea), Itch Stop, Avon Skin so Soft, Coopers fly spray, micronized linseed, Stop Itch, Power Phaser fly repellent, ............................you get the picture, there are as many remedies as sufferers, depending on their allergen. Mine isn't the saliva of the culicoides midge because he doesn't start until June whereas the midge is around from March. Blood allergen test has thrown up sorrel and black fly as borderline allergens, am about to get immunology based on black fly and see where we go from there.
It's a miserable condition - I can't stand my horse in his stable between June and October because he would demolish it rubbing, we will be in big trouble if he needs box rest for anything.
Click to expand...
Thank you so so so much! Xx
 
_HP_ said:
A good quality sweet Itch rug...Fly rugs aren't robust enough generally. I use Rambo and Premier Equine sweet Itch hoodys. Both excellent but the Premier Equine one is cheaper.
Electric fencing to protect the rug and the horse ...so use it around anything that the rug can get snagged on or that the horse can damage himself on...things like barbed wire, tree branches, post and rail etc.
A good Repellent...I use Net Tex Itch Stop. It soothes, heals and repels.
I've also used Coopers Fly Repellent Plus which is good.
Biteback products are good too.
The most important factor is environment....a nice open, exposed field is best...with few trees, no water source nearby and far from the muckheaps/cattle and anything that will attract midges.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much! X
 
Had forgotten about the garlic - our boy has it twice a day, can actually smell it when he sweats and seems to work as a deterrent on him.
The products we use are by Bite Back (Sweet Relief). They have a lovely cool feel to them and really help with a quick healing process for any scabs he does get.
Good luck finding the best solution for your neddy :)
 
I've got two ponies that suffer from sweet itch in their tails, my old boy has always had it and my mare just come back from full loan with it.
I've tried so many different things with varied results over the years but the best thing I've found that has worked is antibacterial green gel with fly replant. the only draw back is it does make the tail oily and on my piebalds white tail turn's it a green shade but i'd rather put up with that then have them sore and itchy.
but it's working wonders in the three weeks of applying it to my mares tail that was very sore and my boy hasn't got sweet itch at all this year and the fly's are really bad.
So would recommend anyone to give it a go for small areas of sweet itch but I wouldn't recommend it for horses that suffer from it all over or you might have a very green oily horse!
 
1life said:
Had forgotten about the garlic - our boy has it twice a day, can actually smell it when he sweats and seems to work as a deterrent on him.
Click to expand...

Take care with garlic - apart from a known link with anaemia, it is a natural antibacterial and kills gut bacteria. If you really have to use it, feed a probiotic to replenish the bacteria which are essential for proper digestion.
 
JillA said:
Take care with garlic - apart from a known link with anaemia, it is a natural antibacterial and kills gut bacteria. If you really have to use it, feed a probiotic to replenish the bacteria which are essential for proper digestion.
Click to expand...


The major issue with garlic is that it heightens the allergic response, thus making the reaction even higher. It's also not good for horses full stop. With SI, we are all looking for that golden cure. Please patch test anything you use. Your horse already has one allergy, be careful you don't use another product they are allergic to. Look on the Sweet Itch Support Page on Fabcebook.
 
Camilla's Aunty Em said:
The major issue with garlic is that it heightens the allergic response, thus making the reaction even higher. It's also not good for horses full stop. With SI, we are all looking for that golden cure. Please patch test anything you use. Your horse already has one allergy, be careful you don't use another product they are allergic to. Look on the Sweet Itch Support Page on Fabcebook.
Click to expand...

Interesting - I didn't actually know this! Our boy came to us with garlic as part of his diet.....I will ask the reason and see if it's worth continuing with. Thanks :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top