When do you start rugging for sweet itch prevention?

[PSD]

I have a fell that I think may have sweet itch - either that or she is just super sensitive in the warmer weather.

she’s currently not rugged, she just gets too warm even in a fleece and gets agitated and starts to itch. When do you with sweet itch/itchy ponies start to rug for prevention? I know it’s too cold at the moment to be thinking of midges but I want to be prepared this year.

also if anyone has any recommendations for things to feed to help with the itching that would be great, tried brewers yeast last summer and I didn’t notice a huge difference, though it may (or may not) have helped. Trouble is, I was using a SI rug and bite back cream so it’s hard to say which was working and which wasn’t.

 

[Aperchristmas]

It depends on the weather but more often than not it'll be some point in February, maybe early March if we're very very lucky.

Ours gets daily antihistamine pills in summer too which makes the biggest difference. We buy the cheapest you can find (non-drowsy versions) so the cost isn't too bad, and tbh the value given how much more comfortable he is is actually amazing. He also gets a vitamin tablet that helps his skin - I want to say vitamin b3? I'll have to check in the morning, sorry!

 

[Gloi]

With mine with horrific sweet itch I kept a full neck no fill rug through the winter to protect against stray midges on warmer days and swapped to the Boett as soon as the weather started to warm. March or so depending on the weather. The only time he was naked was in the snow or sub zero days.
Used cetrizine antihistamines too at 15 per day once the midges were out.

 

[PSD]

I hadn’t thought of antihistamines so thank you! She isn’t as bad as some ponies I’ve seen with SI, so I’m not 100% sure it is that but prevention is better than cure and all that.

 

[MereChristmas]

I put the SI rugs etc on as soon as I took the turnout hood and rug off.

 

[Aperchristmas]

I hadn’t thought of antihistamines so thank you! She isn’t as bad as some ponies I’ve seen with SI, so I’m not 100% sure it is that but prevention is better than cure and all that.

You may find she gradually gets worse each year. Ours wasn't even diagnosed with SI for 2 years because at first he presented quite atypically and it wasn't horrendous. By year 3 it was bad enough for it to be obvious. Last year we managed really well and he had his best year for 10 years. The antihistamine really have been a gamechanger for us.

 

[PSD]

She’s okay at the moment as it’s minus temps most of the time, but she is itchy. I’m trying to plan ahead and grab a bargain SI rug as I don’t want to buy new with her only being young. She’s growing like a weed

 

[Gloi]

If she's itchy at the moment get to the bottom of anything else that might be making her itchy like feed sensitivity or any mites or lice so you know the summer itch is just from sweet itch.

 

[Equi]

My little mare has been progressively getting worse the older she gets. Last year was her worst and at a point i had to entirely clip/hog her to be able to get to the wounds and help relieve some of the itchy..which i absolutely hated doing. Rugs don't seem to help her at all so im on the hunt for an even better better one and i may even pre-clip in about feb with the whole caboodle. Trying to work out the dose for a mini for anti-histamines....she probably weighs about the same as a person so one a day might help lol

 

[Aperchristmas]

My little mare has been progressively getting worse the older she gets. Last year was her worst and at a point i had to entirely clip/hog her to be able to get to the wounds and help relieve some of the itchy..which i absolutely hated doing. Rugs don't seem to help her at all so im on the hunt for an even better better one and i may even pre-clip in about feb with the whole caboodle. Trying to work out the dose for a mini for anti-histamines....she probably weighs about the same as a person so one a day might help lol

Ours is a mini shetland and we adjust his dose according to how itchy he is, but in summer he gets around 3 a day. At his worst he might get 3 twice a day. I'd start at 1 before she gets itchy and then increase as you need. I'd love to get him on a weigh bridge, but ours definitely weighs more than the average man.

 

[Equi]

Ours is a mini shetland and we adjust his dose according to how itchy he is, but in summer he gets around 3 a day. At his worst he might get 3 twice a day. I'd start at 1 before she gets itchy and then increase as you need. I'd love to get him on a weigh bridge, but ours definitely weighs more than the average man.

Id love a weigh bridge too! Shes a fine american mini so is either vastly heavier than i expect or vastly lighter

 

[Nasicus]

She’s okay at the moment as it’s minus temps most of the time, but she is itchy. I’m trying to plan ahead and grab a bargain SI rug as I don’t want to buy new with her only being young. She’s growing like a weed

I feel your pain, sweetitch is such a nightmare. If she's itching now, I'd treat for lice now before the temps rise and the midges come out, so at least if it was lice, she should stop itching for now.
If she keeps itching, whilst it could be her starting to lose her coat, it could be midges, so I'd stick a SI rug on her, and a no-fill / 50g turnout on top to keep the rain off and stop the SI rug from getting soaked.
Usually, I would have to crack the SI rugs out end of Feb down here in Devon, but some years were so mild they went on in January, as you can never put the SI rugs on too soon.

 

[LJWIOW]

It depends on the weather but more often than not it'll be some point in February, maybe early March if we're very very lucky.

Ours gets daily antihistamine pills in summer too which makes the biggest difference. We buy the cheapest you can find (non-drowsy versions) so the cost isn't too bad, and tbh the value given how much more comfortable he is is actually amazing. He also gets a vitamin tablet that helps his skin - I want to say vitamin b3? I'll have to check in the morning, sorry!

Sorry to jump on this post and re-open it but hope you don’t mind me asking: how do you determine how much antihistamine to use? And which brand?
Thanks

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Sorry to jump on this post and re-open it but hope you don’t mind me asking: how do you determine how much antihistamine to use? And which brand?
Thanks

As already said on your post asking about this, ask your vet, not random strangers on the internet. Your vet will be the one picking up the pieces if you overdose your horse on the recommendations of unknown, non qualified people......

 

[LJWIOW]

As already said on your post asking about this, ask your vet, not random strangers on the internet. Your vet will be the one picking up the pieces if you overdose your horse on the recommendations of unknown, non qualified people......

Yes, thank you. And I will do.
But if you hadn’t noticed it’s bank holiday weekend so I can’t get hold of them for something that isn’t an emergency.
There are plenty of people sharing advice, there’s nothing wrong with getting an idea of brands and dosage beforehand.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yes, thank you. And I will do.
But if you hadn’t noticed it’s bank holiday weekend so I can’t get hold of them for something that isn’t an emergency.
There are plenty of people sharing advice, there’s nothing wrong with getting an idea of brands and dosage beforehand.

I had indeed noticed it was bank holiday, perhaps you should have discussed with your vet 2 days ago?

 

[LJWIOW]

I had indeed noticed it was bank holiday, perhaps you should have discussed with your vet 2 days ago?

And perhaps I would have if his respiratory rate had been as high as it is now then.
Unfortunately, though, I’m not psychic.

If you don’t have anything helpful to add, kindly stop replying.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

And perhaps I would have if his respiratory rate had been as high as it is now then.
Unfortunately, though, I’m not psychic.

If you don’t have anything helpful to add, kindly stop replying.

Oh for goodness sake, wind your neck in. If horse was struggling with respiratory system then surely you should have had vet back!
Ridiculous! Poor horse ?

 

[LJWIOW]

Oh for goodness sake, wind your neck in. If horse was struggling with respiratory system then surely you should have had vet back!
Ridiculous! Poor horse ?

Seriously, go away. Do you pick on everyone asking for advice in the same way?
His breathing is elevated as the pollen has increased. I’m giving him the medication exactly as my vet has prescribed.
So, why, exactly, do you feel justified in criticising me so much?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Seriously, go away. Do you pick on everyone asking for advice in the same way?
His breathing is elevated as the pollen has increased. I’m giving him the medication exactly as my vet has prescribed.
So, why, exactly, do you feel justified in criticising me so much?

Most people don't ask the same question repeatedly and get snippy if they dont get the answer they want....
*plonk*

 

[LJWIOW]

Most people don't ask the same question repeatedly and get snippy if they dont get the answer they want....
*plonk*

I asked it twice so to say “repeatedly” is a bit of an exaggeration.
Not my fault you appear to be amusing yourself by following all that I post but if you’re really that bored you carry on.
I’m done now.

 

[AmyMay]

Seriously, go away. Do you pick on everyone asking for advice in the same way?
His breathing is elevated as the pollen has increased. I’m giving him the medication exactly as my vet has prescribed.
So, why, exactly, do you feel justified in criticising me so much?

Actually FF gave you a quite helpful reply on your thread.

However, and obviously really, if your horse is on medication and is experiencing breathing difficulties it really is a vet job.

 

[Gloi]

Sorry to jump on this post and re-open it but hope you don’t mind me asking: how do you determine how much antihistamine to use? And which brand?
Thanks

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17581764/

We fed 0.2 - 0.4mg/kg twice a day of cetirizine. That is 1 to 2 tablets per 50kg

 

[Fleece Navidad]

Seriously, go away. Do you pick on everyone asking for advice in the same way?
His breathing is elevated as the pollen has increased. I’m giving him the medication exactly as my vet has prescribed.
So, why, exactly, do you feel justified in criticising me so much?

Elevated breathing that's concerning enough to want to medicate is definitely something you should be calling the vet for, and quickly.

 

[Aperchristmas]

Sorry to jump on this post and re-open it but hope you don’t mind me asking: how do you determine how much antihistamine to use? And which brand?
Thanks

Sorry but I'm not comfortable recommending doses when I know nothing about your horse, their breed or weight etc. I know how to dose my own and that's it. Definitely a conversation for a vet.