Sweetitch Rugs/Supplements

[Stenners]

My little loaned Dartmoor suffers from sweetitch and I want to get prepared early. Her owners feed her on Turmeric and Brewers Yeast but with no real luck and she's always got a ruck on with a neck from Feb until Oct 24/7 but as soon as the enxk comes off to tack up or groom etc she itches like mad. I use things like the Biteback cream to put on any sore patches but just wondering if any better supplements I can give her or any rug recommendations.

 

[Nasicus]

What rug does she currently have?
I really rate the Rambo Sweetitch Hoodies myself, easy to wash and repair and not too heavy.

 

[Stenners]

What rug does she currently have?
I really rate the Rambo Sweetitch Hoodies myself, easy to wash and repair and not too heavy.

She currently has a Rambo full neck rug but I'm not sure it's the sweetitch one - looks more like a fly rug! She also the a skin tight full neck one (I don't think it's a Boett) that you have to put on the whole thing over her face - its a nightmare!

 

[Stenners]

She currently has a Rambo full neck rug but I'm not sure it's the sweetitch one - looks more like a fly rug! She also the a skin tight full neck one (I don't think it's a Boett) that you have to put on the whole thing over her face - its a nightmare!

I take that back - yes it is the sweetitch Rambo one!

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

Interested in the replies as my little shetland suffered this year. He has brewers yeast year round and he did have the nictotinamide tablets through summer but I didnt notice much of a difference when I ran out. Also use the biteback when he has rubbed...

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

The only thing I've found that helps my two itchy ones is Switch from the vets. First year I used it didn't need any fly rugs at all or other products. Last year started of Very successfully but I had a leg op that meant I couldn't apply it as regularly then we moved house so although successful and horses didn't need rugs, wasn't quite as successful as year before. Looking forward to this year as hoping now have moved and settled and can apply correctly that it will work wonders again.

Previous to this I have tried pretty much every supplement under the sun and same with topical lotions

 

[Britestar]

Shires sweet itch rug for ours.
Last year we used think fly supplement, which seemed to help. That and daily grooming with Phaser.

This year we're going to add in black salt, as have heard good things about that too.

 

[saddlesore]

Boett blanket all the way. Real game changer for my boy

 

[Chianti]

Premier Equine rugs are very good. Ruggles make a similar type but at a cheaper cost. You have to start rugging up very early - before the midges get going. Unfortunately with the vast range of supplements and treatments what works very well for one person's pony won't help another. Neem based creams and lotions will help to deter the midges. I mix neem into Wondergel which seems to help as much as anything and works out much cheaper than some of the commercial brands. I feed herbs which are meant to help - nettle, cleavers and burdock root and antihistamines- not sure if they actually do anything but it makes me feel better for trying. Sudacrem is good for sore patches but is greasy.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

We are going to try the sweet itch vaccination with ours this year. One has to be given middle of February and one middle of March.

 

[lauragreen85]

My little loaned Dartmoor suffers from sweetitch and I want to get prepared early. Her owners feed her on Turmeric and Brewers Yeast but with no real luck and she's always got a ruck on with a neck from Feb until Oct 24/7 but as soon as the enxk comes off to tack up or groom etc she itches like mad. I use things like the Biteback cream to put on any sore patches but just wondering if any better supplements I can give her or any rug recommendations.

Ruggles are very good rugs! We have one for our shetland and I defo think its the best we have tried. Horseware are also fantastic (I order a size bigger find its better) Horse ware rugs are light too. Supplement wise we use the ponease sweet itch powder. they havent any in stock at the moment as i was going to order early and be prepped for summer!!

 

[Stenners]

We are going to try the sweet itch vaccination with ours this year. One has to be given middle of February and one middle of March.

Is this Switch? I am considering this also. Anyone know the cost of it?

 

[Fransurrey]

Best strategy for mine has always been restricted grass. I make up my own benzyl benzoate (10 %) to apply by hand onto mane and tail, plus hip points, armpits and teats, during horsefly season, but otherwise I manage with Farrier's Shire Oil (supposed to be a conditioner for feathers and thick manes, but it's much better for sweet itch I think!). My mare gets coated in that and try to keep the rug off in Spring, as shedding makes it worse when the fur is trapped in the rug! I used to have great success with neem oil mixed with BB, but the original supply got stupidly expensive and for some reason the other suppliers were not tolerated by her (if she got an inkling of what I was up to before putting headcollar on, I had no chance!).

For washing, I was put onto Selsun by someone on here and that seems to soothe her a lot. I make a weak no-rinse solution with it and sponge it on, taking away excess with a scraper (she's water phobic, so I don't rinse unless I absolutely have to!).

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Is this Switch? I am considering this also. Anyone know the cost of it?

Switch is a topical solution, used once a week. I've used it for the last two years. As far as I'm aware it doesn't come in injection form. Are you thinking of Dectomax?

ETA I think switch is around 30/40 and not sure in the injection, I have had it for my cobs mallenders which it worked very well for, and dint remember it being overly expensive.

 

[Stenners]

Switch is a topical solution, used once a week. I've used it for the last two years. As far as I'm aware it doesn't come in injection form. Are you thinking of Dectomax?

I suddenly realised it was 2 different things! My farrier has recommended Switch to me. Is it easy to apply? She mainly only rubs her mane/face.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I suddenly realised it was 2 different things! My farrier has recommended Switch to me. Is it easy to apply? She mainly only rubs her mane/face.

Yes very, you tip it along the mane and rub it into the roots then same at top of tail. Apply wearing gloves. It does say don't apply to faces as I suspect it might upset mucus membranes although I have rubbed it on forelock as one of mine gets very nibbled under forelock.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Switch is a topical solution, used once a week. I've used it for the last two years. As far as I'm aware it doesn't come in injection form. Are you thinking of Dectomax?

ETA I think switch is around 30/40 and not sure in the injection, I have had it for my cobs mallenders which it worked very well for, and dint remember it being overly expensive.

No it’s called Insol Dermatophyton. It was invented quite a few years ago now and doesn’t work in all horses but has got to be worth a try.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I love my Shires sweetitch hoody type rugs. They fit so nicely and the belly flap is perfect. I did buy a Rambo but sold it because it didn’t seem to fit as nicely and if you have a fatty they don’t quite meet in he middle on the tummy. I also prefer the ear holes bit being soft and stetchy rather than ridged