Sweet itch in horses

Itch is one of the worst things there is. It is often said that extreme itch is even worse than pain. Horses with sweet itch suffer from extreme itch on the mane, tail, belly, and sometimes also on the rest of the body.
This itch is caused by an allergic reaction to Culicoides midges (gnats). The saliva injected by the midge triggers an allergic reaction in the horse. These allergic reactions cause small inflammations under the skin that result in extreme itch.

How do you recognize sweet itch?

A horse with sweet itch specifically reacts sensitively to mosquito bites. Many horses itch in the summer, but most do not have summer eczema. Overweight horses or horses that are insulin resistant often also have itchiness. It is important to recognize summer eczema and rule out other problems. But since there are many similarities with other issues, this can be challenging. Key points are:

• The horse rubs its tail, mane, and often also its head and belly

• The problems start early in spring and last until autumn

• It makes no difference whether the horse is on grass or a sand paddock

How to treat sweet itch?

There are several measures you can take to control sweet itch, as you cannot cure a horse:

• Start early: this is the most important step. As soon as the horse is bitten, the first itching reactions occur. Therefore, it is important to prevent your horse from being bitten, so you should start treatment early in the spring.

• Use an eczema rug: And put it on in time. Are the temperatures rising? Then put on the eczema rug in time. During rainy weather, you can choose to put a rain blanket over the eczema rug or use a rain blanket with neck cover. In hot periods, an eczema rug can be cooler than without a blanket due to its UV protective properties, acting as a parasol. To provide extra cooling, you can spray the blanket with water.

• Give your horse a detox in spring and autumn. Accumulated waste products make your horse more attractive to insects, making it more prone to being bitten. Waste products also hinder the absorption of nutrients. By giving a detox, you clear out old waste products and supplements to support summer eczema can be better utilized. Is your horse sensitive? Consult with AskHELTIE whether a detox is advisable.

• Apply a soothing and healing ointment to your horse to relieve itching and wounds: there is no miracle cure for summer eczema. Therefore, it may happen that your horse still itches and rubs itself raw. Apply a caring and soothing ointment on these spots immediately to prevent your horse from further rubbing.

• Support your horse internally. There are products that make your horse less attractive to insects. Insects will then stay away more, reducing the chances of your horse being bitten and experiencing fewer allergic reactions. Avoid using garlic for this purpose, as it has not been proven to help against insects and can cause anemia in horses.
  Another good addition for a horse with sweet itch is cannabinoids. These have anti-inflammatory properties and help the body regain balance.

• Adjust the diet: it is healthier for every horse to have a good weight. In addition, an excess of sugars has no positive effect on the horse. The gut flora becomes unbalanced, reducing the horse's resistance and causing more small inflammations in the body. A low-sugar diet can have a very positive effect on horses with sweet itch.

There is no miracle cure for sweet itch

Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for sweet itch. Many horses believed to have sweet itch actually do not have it. With sweet itch, it is important to take as many steps as possible to keep it under control. Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for sweet itch, it is a matter of consistently taking as many measures as possible.