Sweet Itch!

[GillynMilly]

Just taken on a Shetland mare,who was a bit itchy but doesn't have sweet itch! Well they had obviously managed it well,I wish they had just told me,she has now been able to rub and so off we go searching remedies and help! My last experience of a sweet itch pony was my own when I was about 8 and I remember the biggest problem being that he would take me into the trees to try and scratch,while I was on board! All we did was stable and benzol benzoate. I know it's all different now,nearly 40 years on,but can you still get benzol and does it help and really just looking for ideas. Am trolling the Internet,finding it hard to find suitable rug,this seems the only way to go really?,and one that I can afford! Am going to have a go at making something myself. Tried her Brewers yeast,hates it,but she did have marmite on bread today so will do it that way! Have probably already tried most fly repellents,I stood today spraying horse flies directly with some! Am giving her a supermarket anti histamine,planning to get some piriton. Any one got any good results with anything? Thanx in advance

We have just had the same thing happen! I have tried to go the natural route and we seem to be winning the battle.

For a fly rug - have you tried tack and turnout? They specialise in dinky stuff! And remember a full fly mask as well!

Then I have found the NAF range really good, to help soothe the itch and get it under control we used the rinse, but hardly diluted it. I put this on every day for the first 3-4 days, and now just use it too rinse her off when she is sweaty after she has been ridden.
The creme I used on the patches she had rubbed raw.....and finally the supplement in her food.

I know this sound lame, but I haven't used coopers fly spray (though I bought some) because I was worried about toxicity , for her, but also for my kids who are all over her. I am using the Carr spray, plus a natural one (this is the one I use the most) I don't know what it is called, but aloe base, with essential oils added.

Big thing though is finding a fly rug small enough....what size do you need?

I just looked on tack and turn out and they have really small rugs, definitely get one with a neck.

There are a few sizes here at a reasonable price if that's any good.

A friend of mine got her horse allergy tested and he now has injections based on his allergies. He's gone from having no mane and a load of bald patches to having a full mane and being a much happier horse. He used to badger his field mates to scratch him the whole time but he's stopped doing that too.

The bad news is that it isn't cheap and you have to do it in the early spring. The good news is that it really works.

Great! I thought I had exhausted eBay,but was putting in sweet itch rugs! Loads there under fly rugs! She's just 4 ft but I can make something fit if needs be. ive tried itch stop, net tex I think,can't say that did anything for her. Got fucidin Creme from vet which I think helped but having washed her this a.m,all the hair has come off,but has cleared the gooey serum yuk that was there,think now the aim is to cover and heal and encourage good re growth. Finding so much info about it, but also that it all seems to be down to the individual,I guess the same as us,and different products work for different animals. We aren't riding her,might break her to drive,just got her as a companion for my mare as dd pony has moved on to next 'little' girl! 'Free to a good home' is turning into not quite so free! Bless,you just feel for them so much,must be hell for them. Vet said can't do the steroid injections as high lami risk. Will go have a look at tack and turnout,sounds good! Thanks all

TBH the NAF rinse helped her immediately - but it was a good week for us to get it under control - now the hair is growing back, but she is not completely cured in that she will have the odd little itch, but she is not beside herself as she was.

The Rambo Sweet Itch Hoody Fly Rug, Pony, is available from 4'3'' ... would that fit.

Or the Pagony ... brilliant cover, even stands up to the Scottish midges ... available from about 3'6''.

www.solva-icelandics.co.uk/pagony.htm

Thanks for continued ideas. Have now ordered her a rug! She isn't seeming as itchy,have carried on applying the itch stop and giving her anti histamine and marmite,love it or hate,luckily she likes it! I found a stretchy,large dress in the charity shop,she is wearing that,my neighbours already think I'm mad anyway! It actually works well,fits from behind ears all the way down to over wither cut leg holes in it so its round her chest too,she does look a bit odd but seems happier with it on as at least protecting some of her! A friend swears by benzol benzoate,so might move on to that to continue prevention? We discussed good old cornucrescine to encourage good hair growth but wander if just too messy! Have used it before on little grazes but not on large areas. Sometimes the old ideas are still the best I guess. The NAF rinse sounds good though