How to ditch the itch!
Every year as the weather gets warmer, we start to see horses with sweet itch. This is an allergic reaction to the saliva of Culicoides spp; more commonly called “midges” - although it is worth noting that they can often be allergic to other biting insects such as mosquitos and horse flies as well.
It can be intensely itchy with affected horses continuously scratching, often causing hair loss and sometimes enough to cause open sores. The itch is most intense at the point of the bite, which is along the mane, top line and top of the tail. Some horses can also be affected along their belly and groin area.
So, what to do?! Here are some tips that might help as we edge closer to spring.
Avoid the insects
The best way to help these horses is by preventing them getting bitten by flies in the first place. Whilst easier said than done, there are things you can do to reduce the number of bites your horse gets:
· Invest in good quality fly rugs which prevent the flies landing to bite
· Keeping horses stabled when flies are at their most active during the day and at dusk
· Avoid fields with ponds or streams as these will attract midges and other insects
· Use a good fly repellent regularly - permethrin-based ones are most effective, such as Deosect.
· Use Barrier creams placed along the mane and tail
Reduce the Reaction
There are also treatments to help reduce the reaction of the horse when they get bitten by midges:
· Oatmeal based shampoos, which can be soothing on irritated skin
· Steroid based creams or sprays, which reduce the itchiness and inflammation in areas where they are causing self-trauma and can be effective
Check nothing else is going on
Often these itchy horses actually have a secondary problem on top of their sweet itch or fly allergy. We regularly see and treat horses with bacterial skin infections, leg-mites and lice; all of which can make an itchy horse even more itchy! All of these are treatable with medication or management. Because of this, it is important to make sure we find the root cause of the itchiness to provide the best treatment plan.
Allergy testing
Although Sweet itch is classically an allergy to biting insects, we also see horses who are allergic to other things. It is therefore important to find what they are allergic to. There are several tests available that help diagnose what they are sensitive to.
One of which is a blood test which measure a horse’s response to different allergens. The allergens used include pollens, animal skin cells, grasses and insects. Identifying exactly what a horse is allergic to can allow us to avoid them. This avoidance can make a dramatic difference. Importantly it also allows us to formulate tailor-made allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT) which can be used to desensitise horses to the substances they are allergic to. This takes the form of a series of injections over several months and can be very effective in reducing the reaction to the allergens dramatically.
Overall, there are many things which make our horses itch, but we have many options for treating them and can help stop them hurting themselves scratching. If you have any concerns about treating or managing your horse if they are itchy, please contact us for advice.
Please contact us if you need any help or advice regarding Sweet itch - there are many options available to you
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