Sweetitch - can I mix Benzyl Benzoate & neem oil?

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sonjafoers

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I've been using BB ( Killitch ) with some success but after reducing the daily application have had a few sore patches. For now I can't use the BB until the sores heal so I've just started using a neem gel from Pro Equine which is great.

I've now ordered some pure neem oil to rub into the sores but have read online that someone mixes this into their BB. I would be worried about some sort of reaction but does anyone else use both products together?

I think the BB is possibly more effective & certainly seems more 'sciencey' but I'll be a little reluctant to stop the neem once the sores heal as it also seems to be working a treat.

My pony does have a boett but still itches his mane & tail through it.
 
Havnt used neem oil with bb but I have used bb mixed with surgical spirit and this stopped my old pony from itching. This was a number if years ago now, probably not the done thing anymore!!
 
Mmmm........ I've used both, separately, but TBH its never occurred to me to use both together!

Dunno how they'd react chemically together??? Any chemists on here??

But thinking about it, I can't see why using both together shouldn't be possible.......... obviously you'd need to mix up a small amount, say a capful, first, and treat a small area, and see how that went?

I actually might try it on my boy.
 
Thanks everyone.

Mijods if you do try it can you let me know how it goes & what ratios you used. Not that I'm using you as a guinea pig of course!!!

I can't use the BB until mine is healed but I think I'll try it as soon as he is and like Twinkley Lights says I'll try it on myself first.

I am a bit worried about the neem oil burning mine on hot sunny days as I've not used it before, he'll be fine under his rug of course but I've stopped covering his ears as he rips off every mask I've tried by constantly itching his ears. He's been through 2 in the last 2 weeks, 1 boett & 1 cost cutting shires so during the day I've started to leave his face uncovered and apart from his ears he seems fine. I don't want to burn his ears by putting neem oil on them though he's suffering enough as it is!

I do mask him in the evenings so he's covered from dusk to dawn but as I'm stitching masks every day I've started leaving his face naked during the day.
 
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I've pondered this before too!!

Also have purchased some Avon SSS dry oil in light of another thread, so havebeen considering a big Sweetitch hating cconcoction to try- never thoughtof testing myself first tho! Will try that haha!

I wouldn't imagine it would react- I'm figuring Neem oil is natural, so wouldn't. .? (In my mind's eye, its natural, therefore must be less reactive- a blonde thought no doubt), but again don't know the chemistry of it.

Ax
 
I had the 'natural' thought too AimeeT but thought I might be so willing to try anything that I'm ignoring possible dangers!

I also use Killitch rather than straight benzyl benzoate so wonder if the other ingredients in Killitch might cause a reaction with the neem oil. I guess it's no good asking Carr, Day & Martin as they will say there's no need to add anything to their product.
 
I mix Benzyl and Avon SSS with no issues. Mine couldnt seem to cope with Benzyl on every day so I dilute it down. I'm probably just going to use pig oil next time though. I also make a fly spray with all sorts inc Benzyl and its ok. Mine has no sweet itch symptoms anymore now though and goes out unrugged etc with no itching, so not sure if the Benzyl is actually doing that much, or just making me feel better :P
 
I would be concerned about why your horse is still itching in his Boett...especially as it's enough to make him sore.
It may be that your horse has a seperate/ different allergy.
I have a pony that presents with sweet itch type symptoms that are aggravated by too much sugar in his diet especially through grass...and by keeping him on restricted grazing with a low sugar diet with minerals and micronised linseed, he has been almost itch free.
 
That sounds promising FrankieCob, I will definately try it and see how I get on. I've emailed Pro Equine who supply the neem oil so I will see what they think. I've also asked about the sunburn concerns.

_HP_ he is on a low sugar diet and despite having been on very restricted grazing recently is no different, he was on Feedmark Equidermis Plus which didn't seem to help and I've now bought him plain brewers yeast to see if that is any good. We are in a very midgey area so I just have to do whatever I can for him, we're in a valley with a river running through the fields and plenty of woods/trees. Sometimes he doesn't itch for days & days and then I come down one morning & he's itched a patch or two. I've been researching absolutely everything I can in the last few days, been on the net for hours & hours and had no sleep in the night again worrying about him and I've posted on here about using sheep products such as crovect but have had no responses.

I was having good results with daily Killitch but stupidly I reduced the application to every 3rd day as per the instructions and that's where the problem started. I will happily try anything for him but unfortunately one thing I can't do is change the environment he's kept in.
 
I bought NILITCH from Hyperdrug recently, this lotion contains neem oil and rosemary oil,
I am not sure what the main ingredient is.
 
sonjafoers said:
_HP_ he is on a low sugar diet and despite having been on very restricted grazing recently is no different, he was on Feedmark Equidermis Plus which didn't seem to help and I've now bought him plain brewers yeast to see if that is any good. We are in a very midgey area so I just have to do whatever I can for him, we're in a valley with a river running through the fields and plenty of woods/trees. Sometimes he doesn't itch for days & days and then I come down one morning & he's itched a patch or two. I've been researching absolutely everything I can in the last few days, been on the net for hours & hours and had no sleep in the night again worrying about him and I've posted on here about using sheep products such as crovect but have had no responses.

I was having good results with daily Killitch but stupidly I reduced the application to every 3rd day as per the instructions and that's where the problem started. I will happily try anything for him but unfortunately one thing I can't do is change the environment he's kept in.
Click to expand...

Ah I see....if there is no way that you can move him to a more suitable field then can you fence him off with electric so he can't scratch? In that environment you are really fighting a huge battle no matter what you use. My cob is a different hrse since moving him to a more suitable field.
My wonder cream recommendation is Stop Itch Salve by Net Tex....an absolute necessity for my two sweet itcher's.
Good luck regardless....it really is the most miserable of afflictions for a horse.
 
_HP_ said:
I would be concerned about why your horse is still itching in his Boett...especially as it's enough to make him sore.
It may be that your horse has a seperate/ different allergy.
I have a pony that presents with sweet itch type symptoms that are aggravated by too much sugar in his diet especially through grass...and by keeping him on restricted grazing with a low sugar diet with minerals and micronised linseed, he has been almost itch free.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure thats what my horse suffers with. He itched in his rugs as well. He used to reguarly trash rugs despite being out in an electric fenced paddock :( I bought him, moved him, changed his diet to 24 hour soaked hay, average grass during the day, balanced minerals, 75gms brewers yeast, linseed, salt etc and he doesnt itch anymore and doesnt even wear a rug anymore :D
 
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