summer again (The Sweet Itch Thread)

appellativo · summer again (The Sweet Itch Thread)

my mare seems to get worse each year with the itchiness.

I think its the sweet itch/culicoides midges that get her.

I use War Paint once a week for fly control, we have fish in our tanks to eat mosquitoes....

I feed cocosoya oil and vitamin E with her pellets and good quality coastal hay.

I tried that natural horse vet bug check or whatever that feed supplement is, with vitamins B and thaimine, etc. but my horse wouldn't eat it. She's very picky. If it smells funky or strong, she won't eat it. I read about Apple Cider Vinegar but haven't tried it yet. (I know I wouldn't eat feed with vinegar on it if I was a horse!)

also heard about www.thenaturalhorse.net's product 'Not So Sweet Itch' which is a herbal supplement.

What do you guys do to help with the itchiness? This year she actually has missing fur because of it. I called my vet and their best idea was to use steroids.

the problem areas seem to be the lower legs, sides of neck, and shoulders. loss of hair and mild swelling occur, with no open sores, scabbing, etc.

appellativo

http://www.sweet-itch.co.uk/index.html

this site is very informative. unfortunately, not extremely helpful as there is nothing I can do according to them that I haven't already done except purchase their products.

Gillies_mom

I've balanced my mares diet this year, had her forage tested, worked out exactly what minerals she was getting and compared the results to her recommended intake. Found out her diet was low in copper, zinc, magnesium and selenium. Since starting supplementing in early spring her sweet itch doesn't seem so much of a problem. My vet had previously told me that sweet itch can be linked to copper deficiency, but he tested her blood and found copper to be in the normal range. I still put a fly rug on her, but I've not had to put any lotions on her, and I haven't seen her itching, she usually rubs her main and tail.
My conclusion is that balancing her diet has helped the severity of her sweet itch. She has also gone from faded black to a darker black, hoof quality has improved too.

thelmanelle

I had a mare like this and loved her dearly, but her scratched till her bleed. I put her on dynamo -pro and nothing sweet or alfalfa. Then, I moved her to another farm away from the swamps. She , now, has mane and tail. Lives happy there. I miss her. but she is healthier.

Hope you fine a solution.

appellativo

is there a we bsite for dynamo pro (google didn't turn up anything)? We have no lakes, creeks or swamps around here. No rotting vegetation either. we do have normal piles of poo which would be the only thing I can think of to host the midges life cycle. If we pick thepiles of poo and put it into a heap, that won't help either as we don't have a method to get it off the premises regularly. It has rained recently which is probably not helping matters

she gets a 12% pelleted feed, coastal hay, and I do give her a few alfalfa cubes sometimes. What does the alfalfa do to make the allergy worse?

PasoBaby_CarolU

Erin, you might try spraying her with Listerine, see if it's a skin condition. If you think it's an allergy you can put benadryl in her feed. It's pretty easy, just get the store brand capsules at Wally world. I put Rosie on two a day for coughing (after trying cough medicine and 2 courses of antibiotics) it stopped immediately. That's a pretty low dosage.

appellativo

Wow I'm glad to hear that worked for you. One blurb I read said that Benadryl doesn't do that great in horses. I'm adding it to my bag of tricks. I cut and pasted my favorite information/remedies into a document which I will post below. What I decided to do first, for right now, is bathe using a gentle shampoo once weekly, use Glantzen 3 flax+extras supplement orally (it helped last summer I think when I had her on Omega Horseshine which is also a flax, plus the Glantzen has zinc and other skin nutrients horses diets are usually short on in this country), and the following recipie for a barrier repellent against the midges. I'll have one greasy horse!

1/4 tsp campo phenique
1/4 tsp calm coat
mix into small jar of vaseline
apply as a barrier repellent on problem areas

We'll see how it works! Below is my long list of other remedies/products that sounded good.

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Combine the following ingredients and apply the mixture to sweet itch sores twice daily.

* 8 oz. of Gold Bond Medicated Body Lotion (Extra Strength, in green bottle)
* 4 oz. Aveeno Anti-Itch Concentrated Lotion
* 4 oz. Benadryl Itch-Stopping Gel
* 4 oz. Avon Skin So Soft (increase up to 8 oz. if the gnats are bad).
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I make a rinse, pour over areas that are really making him itch. Making sure it gets down to his skin. Do not rinse out. Take an inch of fresh rosemary, inch of fresh mint, put it in 4 cups of boiling water, let it steep until lukewarm, take herbs out, add 1/4 cup good white vinegar. Do this about once a week.
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Ellen's Spray for Sweet itch & Mosquitoes

2 oz. Permethrins
1/2 cup skin so soft (avon)
1/4 cup of Nolvasan (Fort Dodge)
2 Tbsp. Nolvasan Scrub (surgical scrub by Fort Dodge)
Water

Mix all of this together in a gallon milk jug (clean one) and spray nightly of the horse. It helps fight bacteria and skin problems as well as working to defray the bugs. Since I have put this together my mare is doing great and looks great.

I spray this nightly on all the horse because I am afraid it might start in any of them, so I use this as a deterent. I have tried everything else on the market for sweet itch and nothing has worked as well as this concoction. If I miss using it for one night the mare shows signs that she is itching, so I don't miss a night. This is my own recipe so use at your own risk. But I have talked to vets and they said that everything I am using will not hurt the horse and if it works then use it. I also use the surgical scrub to wash the mare and the horses when bathing. Their coats are quite beautiful.
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Possible Benefits of Flax Seed:

The supplementing of flax seed oil will help with many conditions including:

* *clear up skin conditions
* *relieve arthritic and inflammatory pain
* *increase bone strength
* *improved skin and coat condition (decreased dandruff and a beautiful shine on their coats! Even some dappling)
* *When a pregnant mare was fed flax, her offspring were larger, and grew faster than when previous to being fed flax
* *within 9 months cracked hooves were completely healed
* *research indicates that horses fed flax and injected with the deadly organism Escherichia coli were better protected than those not fed flax, suggesting enhanced immunity in these animals
* *Valuable source of energy (great to feed during the cold months or during times of stress to prevent weight loss)
* *keeps less desirable saturated fats mobile in the blood stream
* *increases oxygen uptake to the cell
* *decreases recovery time from strenuous exercise
* *Numerous studies conducted on animals and humans show that flax has powerful anti-tumor properties and may reduce tumor size by 50%.
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Whoever it was that posted this recipe said it was very close to the same ingredients of a product called "The Missing Link". It is as follows:

1 pound of Kelp (Granulated)
1.5 cups Nutritional Yeast
1.5 cups Shave Grass or Horsetail
2 cups Cattle Minerals
3/4 cup Ground Flax Seed

Also mix in for added flavor and nutrients, Raspberry Leaves - Milk Thistle - Burdock Root. I believe it was the Flax Seed that is most important in helping the body with eczema. I'll let you know how we do this summer. I've got two that suffer slightly aroung the face and belly mostly. We are also going to use the Boet Blanket this summer. So far we are just using the Hood and Belly Band while in pasture.
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The following are notes and suggestions from the Icelandic Horse email list, and there are a couple of links for additional information below:

The best coal tar shampoos are the ones sold through the catalogs like Omaha Vaccine or Jeffers or one of the companies that supply dog grooming needs. Look for shampoos that talk about being anti-seborrheic(sp.). Some people believe that excess seborrhea (waxy substance secreted by the skin that blocks the pores) contributes to summer eczema type reactions. It seems to help horses that have various kinds of itchy reactions.
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Understanding sweet itch

Karen Coumbe MRCVS
26 March, 2002
The first signs of seasonal pruritus - or sweet itch - usually appear in spring - the itching settles down and virtually disappears during the winter.
For this reason, purchasers need to be aware of the potential risk of buying a horse with no symptoms during the winter which, by mid-summer, could turn into a continually itching sweet itch case.
If you plan to buy a horse in winter which has a less than perfect mane and tail, look carefully for signs of hair loss or scurf, which may suggest sweet itch in the summer. Ensure that your vet checks for sweet itch, too.
Symptoms
Mild to severe itching and rubbing, usually along the mane, back and tail
Loss of tail and mane hair
Bald patches, which can look ugly and grey due to permanent hair loss and skin damage
Areas of sore, open, broken skin, which tend to bleed
In some cases, itching along the legs and under the belly
Solutions
Many horses can be controlled by being moved to a hilltop field. Small midge breeding areas, such as water troughs, need to be cleaned often.

Stable your horse from about 4pm to 8am when midges are at their worst. Using insect-proof mesh on the windows and door of stables may help.

Use strong ceiling fans, as midges cannot fly against a strong air current.

Carry out medicated treatment on a daily basis, otherwise the midges would start to bite and trigger off the itch/scratch cycle.

Daily, or even treatment every few hours, with the most effective insect repellent for that particular horse and environment. Recommendations include Cooper's Fly Repellent Plus for horses, Equivite Fly Bands, Hydrophane fly repellent, Switch or citronella oils. All of these have fly repellent properties.

Many owners use midge and mosquito repellents designed for people.

Calamine lotion was also used successfully, but this soothes sore skin rather than stopping the flies from biting. Sometimes it is mixed with benzyl benzoate.
However, whatever product you try, it is sensible to test it on a small area of skin first, as some horses will be sensitive to the chemicals applied to their skin.

the military uses skin so soft to repel midges

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daily heaping tsp of aspirin powder for relief

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rub horse with Bounce dryer sheets and braid strips into mane
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feed garlic (two tbsp BID) powder daily, or ACV daily
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Calamine to itchy spots (does not repel though.)
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Boett Blanket, spray gold DEET, Puregold ointment (all on same website)
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coal tar/antisebhorreal shampoo
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Mosquito Halt got good reviews (for mosquito repellent.)
lucky braids shampoo, good reviews for mild skin irritations.
super anti fungal shampoo and ointment by Gateway www.buyGPdirect.com good for sweet itch
selsun blue or other dandruff shampoo good for skin that's flaky and has excess oil buildup

thelmanelle

No, the benedryl will make your horse forget to come to eat. Not good!

I really do not know why I was to not offer the alfalfa, but all I can say is I did what was told and moved her. She is better.

Do I miss her, yes. She was the horse that you could leave in the pasture 2 years and then, ride and jump the jumps with no issues. But, she suffered too much.

She was knock out gorgeous Arabian/Saddlebred National Show Horse. Chestnut with flaxen mane and tail and all four white stockings to boot. She was my Belle. She caught every body eye when they drove onto the farm. To see her move was a dance in itself.

But, now she is healthy and happy where she is...thriving though I miss her.
I hope you get a solution to your problem. The dyna-pro did not help in my environment. But, it did in another environment.

Vidoma Holland · Derfen

Hello,
I'm from Holland and was looking for some pictures of Sweet Itch as I entered this forum. I don't think it's very well known here, but we use Derfenlotion for these problems. Natural based lotion which smells horrobly but will keep your horse itchfree and in good health. You use it every other day for about one or two weeks and then you make your interval larger.

In Holland loads of people talk about Derfen on forum but I'm afraid we do that in Dutch :-). Wish you could read how enthusiastic everyone is.

I was looking for a store in England you can buy to post in this topic, but found out this forum hosts in USA. www.derfen.com in France sells to USA, but if anyone wants you can e-mail me and I can arrange also for 30 ml samplebottles or 250 ml / 500 ml (or try the website www.vidoma.nl, it's not too harsh) if you're convinced enough.

Does anyone have a good picture of their horse with sweet itch-damage I might use on my website www.vidoma.nl?
Greeting from Holland
Martine

Niek

Derfen does smell horrible though..

As to sweet itch. While its an accumilation of different undifiable skin issues. I do not believe just treating the external issue of the skin is the solution. Generally its a sympton of underlaying issues.

But yes ive read about good results here in holland about Derfen, nothing on the long term pros and cons

Vidoma Holland

You're right Niek, but in the search for the internal problem, Derfen is a good product to keep the horse in good condition.

appellativo

Ive put Sasha on Glanzen 3 which is supposed to be one of the best reviewed products for skin issues (has flax, methionine, zinc, vitamin E, yeast, biotin, lysine, b vitamins, manganese, copper, calcium carbonate, etc). In any case, the problem has certainly lessened with the supplement, using itch relievers, and petrolium jelly/camphor as a barrier.

its not real clear but here's my horse before I started treating the problem. If it's useable, you can copy and use it.

Niek

unclear photo, but imo doesnt directly ring sweet itch to me..

thelmanelle

Listerine did not solve my mare's problem. Moving her did. I tried many things for years. I wish the best for you and your mare. It's hard when it is so miserable for them and you see it.

Belle would be a pasture horse for 2 years yet do anything I asked of her ...jump 2-3 feet...it was hard for me to let her go. But, she has mane and tail where she is now. And skin and coat. Whisperingpines knows about Dyna-Pro.

It takes times to work and the right environment ...in Belle's case.

appellativo

I'm hoping it was just the unusually moist weather here lately that caused the midge population explosion. It's usually pretty dry.

Here's today's picture. The hair is growing back and she seems less itchy. She still has her mane and tail, thank goodness! That spot on her neck is the only area that seems to have any hair loss.

appellativo

Niek, what do you think it might be?

My best guess based on discussions with the vet and my other research, based on the time of year that it comes (spring/summer, insect season), etc. is bug allergy. It's definitely not an allergy to any of the products I use because A) I don't use products that often on her and B) the ones I use do not get a negative reaction consistently.

I wondered about sun sensitivity, but that spot was partially under her mane, too...

If you have any other ideas, I'd love to hear them!

It seems like everything's immune systems are haywire, people and animals....I think we are all falling apart at the seams based on poor management of the planet, chemicals, overpopulation, etc!!!

Niek

It just doesnt look like sweet itch...

Altough its an extreme case generally it looks more like this :

Especially the "place" where it shows is somewhere i never have seen sweet itch *small side note : My previous horse had sweet itch)

Im leaning more to some form of pollen (Sp ?) allergy/reaction.

Generally how ever sweet itch is a sign of more internal issues. The body not beeing able to cope with toxicity (liver kidney etc) and thus detoxing via the skin eyes and feet... I wonder , does she have droopy eyes alot, or dried up stuff around it ?

But hey i'm no vet, just someone who previously owned a sweet itch horse

appellativo

No, she really doesn't have any other weirdnesses or symptoms that I'm aware of. Supposedly sweet itch/allergies get worse each year. If that's the case, (and I hope I'm wrong!) it could get uglier. But I hope not! I think this is the year, since we have just bought a years worth of hay, that I get a forage analysis done, though. Once balanced, hopefully that will take care of any diet/deficiency problems...