Very Itchy Horse

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Horsewithsocks

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My young horse is REALLY itchy. He wants me to scratch him all the time he is being groomed and is always rubbing his tail. This seems to be worse in the spring/summer. He also rolls in his box which can result in him getting cast. He does not have sweet itch. I wash him with special shampoo but it does not seem to make a difference.

Anyone had this and have you resorted to injections/medication?
 
Have a good look at the diet if it is definitely not sweet itch.
Keep sugars low and restrict grazing to see if it helps.
Some horses get itchy when fed cereals...try a process of elimination.
Is he wormed up to date.
Try a fly rug...mine has an itchy face/ top of neck atm ( in a rug)having been fine all year and I'm wondering if it's pollen.
I feed my itchers low sugar diet of fast fibre, a good supplement Tens daily balancer or pro balance plus with some micronised linseed and salt us restrict their grazing.
 
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I had a horse a few years ago that came off the track, he became extremely itchy and we tried everything to find out what it was, vet did blood tests and he was tested for allergies and turned out he was allergic to carrots!! Apparently the carotene made him tickly, this astounded us and everyone on the yard but we tried it and banned carrots from his diet (as other people on the yard would give him them too) and it worked wonders - no more itchy horse! He's never suffered since and I'm still in touch with his new owner and no problems since. Might be a Far shot as we'd never come across this before but worked for us. :)
 
Princess Rosie said:
I had a horse a few years ago that came off the track, he became extremely itchy and we tried everything to find out what it was, vet did blood tests and he was tested for allergies and turned out he was allergic to carrots!! Apparently the carotene made him tickly, this astounded us and everyone on the yard but we tried it and banned carrots from his diet (as other people on the yard would give him them too) and it worked wonders - no more itchy horse! He's never suffered since and I'm still in touch with his new owner and no problems since. Might be a Far shot as we'd never come across this before but worked for us. :)
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Thanks for replies, he has a fly rug and mask. I will try the carrots and other ideas!
 
What leads you to believe he doesn't have sweet itch? The timing of the itching and the tail rubbing/rolling sound very much like SI.
 
Linseed, salt and a huge dose of brewers yeast along with a decent balancer has "cured" my boys sweetitch to the point he is out 24/7 unrugged and has no sypmtoms at all, whereas previously he was a chronic itcher and used to have lesions and was dangerous to handle as he used to chuck himself about itching
 
Interesting thread. I've just had four really busy mornings and as a time saving solution, I have left out their breakfast and put a carrot in their mangers instead.

Breakfast is a small amount of soaked Fast fibre carrying Pro Balance, cal mag, salt, cinnamon, marmite and a good slug of Tesco veg oil (rapeseed oil) and a small handful of Dengie mollass free chaff.

They are all itchy and have started wood chewing, too.
 
I would recommend you feed 2 tablespoons of salt per day in his feed. Providing a salt lick is not sufficient to address any potassium imbalance which can cause itching. This worked for a friend whose horse was on the point of being pts she feeds salt everyday now. It took 2 weeks and her horse stopped itching. This website explains the rationale, www.calmhealthyhorses.com Good luck.
 
my horse has been itchy for 3 years started mild then this year got worse i managed him as sweet itch it made no difference he will bite himself raw, hes been blood tested for allergies and is allergic to dust-mites but hes now turned out for past 3 months and still really itchy, i don't know what to try next :(
 
I have heard a theory that certain itching (paresthesia, in its worst form become headshaking) could relate to lack of calcium absorption, which in turn depends on vitamin D, which the animals skin makes in sunlight. Of course we rug itchy horses which inhibits vitamin D production, and dark coated animals are worse at producing it - my horse is almost black. I am trying cod liver oil with him, as a source of vitamin D, early days yet, but worth a try?
I also use neem oil liberally on rubbed areas as well as restricting his opportunities to rub, to break the itch scratch cycle. (I know mine isn't directly related to midges, he doesn't start until June and it seems to be grass related, probably a combination of triggers)
 
JillA said:
I have heard a theory that certain itching (paresthesia, in its worst form become headshaking) could relate to lack of calcium absorption, which in turn depends on vitamin D, which the animals skin makes in sunlight. Of course we rug itchy horses which inhibits vitamin D production, and dark coated animals are worse at producing it - my horse is almost black. I am trying cod liver oil with him, as a source of vitamin D, early days yet, but worth a try?
I also use neem oil liberally on rubbed areas as well as restricting his opportunities to rub, to break the itch scratch cycle. (I know mine isn't directly related to midges, he doesn't start until June and it seems to be grass related, probably a combination of triggers)
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My horse is the strangest I have ever owned - he is lovely so easy to do - but has been a problem with getting cast since day one and puts his neck/back out. He has injured himself and I am now on full vet investigation, I have him out 20/7 to prevent him getting cast and he has fly rug/mask/rug at night as needed. He does not rub himself raw like sweet itch, he just wants me to scratch him all over when grooming him.

I have cut out carrots and will try the salt and them hopefully onto full vet tests!
 
Have you had the vet out to blood test? my itchy horse haS BEEN VASTLY HELPED BY THE ADDITION OF SALT IN THE FEEDAND ALSO PIRITON TABLETS DOSAGE AS PER VETS ADVICE. PLEASE CALL OUT YOUR VET TO HELP YOUR HORSE.
 
Have you wormed him recently? Has he got fleas? As it is, well was summer it was probably the midges, but if its all year round then i suggest herbs called 'Itch-stop herbal' its got all sorts of things like nettles, chammomile and stuff like that! MY horse is a very picky eater and she loves this stuff! First time she tried she licked her bowl out completely!
 
hayinamanger said:
Interesting thread. I've just had four really busy mornings and as a time saving solution, I have left out their breakfast and put a carrot in their mangers instead.

Breakfast is a small amount of soaked Fast fibre carrying Pro Balance, cal mag, salt, cinnamon, marmite and a good slug of Tesco veg oil (rapeseed oil) and a small handful of Dengie mollass free chaff.

They are all itchy and have started wood chewing, too.
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Intolerance to rapeseed oil is not uncommon.
 
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