Z-Itch for sweet itch sufferers?

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sonjafoers

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I've just seen this on the net and having a sweet itch pony but being very new to it all this caught my eye. It's a solution to be applied once a week and is veterinary approved.

Has anyone tried it and if so with what results?
 
One thing about sweet itch sufferers is that they are all different and something that works for one will have no effect on another. We have tried everything with our horse over the last 10 years (including the drugs trials). Nothing has really worked except very careful management. He wears a Boett all summer except when being ridden or competing. (He wears it in stable as well as when turned out). One thing that does seem to help is keeping his skin in good and clean condition. Weekly bath in deadsea magic shampoo, wash Boett every week, Aloe vera gel to cool any spot that does get itchy. We used Z-itch last summer, weekly, after his bath and it helped keep skin in very good condition condition. We will use it again this year but as I said in first sentence....
 
I also have a sweet itch sufferer and agree that they are all different, also what works one season may not work the next.
The best thing I have found is making sure they are fully covered.
I use Snuggy Hoods neck and body and am really impressed with it.
 
What I have had a great deal of success with is Neem Oil and feeding NAF D-tox.

Start with the D-tox now, it alters the immune system and strengthens it.

Neem oil needs to be stood in hot water if it is solid, when dilute mix 2 tablespoons Neem 2 tablespoons liquid soap to 1 L of hot water and sponge that all over the pony.

Works well but it does stink like nothing else!
 
Thank you for your replies.

I took the pony on at the end of last summer after his owner couldn't cope with his sweet itch & wasn't treating him with anything at all. I bought him a DeMeulenkampf rug initially because the head piece was smaller then the Boett (he's a mini) but to be honest I wasn't impressed at all. It pulled backwards all the time & the straps dug into him, poor boy I hated seeing him in it.

I've now invested in a Snuggy Hoods set so I'm hoping it's better for him & I can use the DeM when the Snuggy's being washed.

I've been feeding him FeedMark EquidermisPlus since I got him although I've no idea if it's going to help him, and I've just bought Sweet Relief spray after reading such good feedback. However I thought the Z-Itch might just help him so that I could leave his rug off for another few weeks before trussing him up until October :(

Being completely new to this I want to get it right but I am stabbing in the dark really, having no experience of anything that's on the market.

Oldjumper do you think it's helped yours at all?
 
Yes, it did help keep skin of mane and tail cooler and scurf free so probably reduces itchiness a bit but it isn't a 'cure' for sweet itch. Horse must still be kept covered up from first signs of itching.
 
i don't use any lotions or potions, just a good bug rug -the boet type ones all summer, and the sweet itch completely solved!
 
I also don't use lotions or potions. My Shettie has SI, I've had him 8 years, and manage him purely by keeping him covered from now until end of november. He has 2 rugs so he is always kept covered even when one is in the wash. It only takes one midge bite to start the whole terrible process off!!
My pony loves his Boetts, they make the summers enjoyable again, instead of something to be endured.
I've just replaced his 2 rugs for this year. £195 each. HOWEVER, his last two were 5+6 years old, respectively, so I think they are good value for money.
Masta do a very good copy, equestrian clearance had them on offer not long ago for £40, that may be worth buying as a second rug?
 
Thank you guys. The Boett heads don't fit him so I have a DeMeulenkampf which is almost exactly the same (I think they were the original Boett people) and just about the same extortionate price, as well as a full Snuggy set. I have trouble as he is so small so a lot of the rugs won't fit him.

I was hoping to delay rugging for a few weeks as I hate seeing him covered from head to toe and thought the Z-Itch might help, however I think from advice I've had on here I will just rug him sooner rather than later and then he's 100% safe.

What a horrible 'allergy' SI is, this is my first experience of it & it really upset me to see him suffering last year :(
 
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