My 8-year-old AQHA gelding has a bad case of sweet itch. When I bought him three years ago, I was told he liked to scratch his stomach, but I eventually figured out that he’s very allergic to the bite of midges. I’ve been buying fly blankets, neck covers, masks and the most powerful fly sprays available. He still itches. What else can I do? – via horsechannel.com
If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were my barn owner secretly asking about her Lipizzan! From personal experience, it can be beyond frustrating to watch these horses suffer and feel like you’re not doing enough to help them.
Not everyone may know what you mean by “sweet itch,” so here’s a description from my well-worn copy of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice April 1995 (Vol. 11, No. 1):
Culicoides spp are known as no-see-ums, biting midges, and punkies. The flies are extremely small (1-3mm) and inflict an extremely painful bite. The flies are active during warm weather when there is little or no breeze. Feeding occurs from twilight to dawn. The larvae of Culicoides develop in any body of standing water, decaying vegetation, and manure. Culicoides flies are the intermediate host for Onchocerca cervicalis. Culicoides induce a well-documented hypersensitivity [allergic] reaction in horses that seems to be familial [inherited], and is known by several colloquial names, including Queensland itch, Kasen, sweet itch, muck itch, summer eczema, and dhobie itch.
Since, as you’re aware, there can be a lot of effort and cost associated with protecting your horse from attack by these insects, it’s important to make sure you’re waging war against the right insects. Where in the environment larvae develop, what time of day adults feed, and which control measures are actually effective can vary between insect species such as Culicoides midges, horse flies, deer flies, horn flies, stable flies, black flies, house and face flies, and mosquitoes. So I strongly urge you to work closely with your local veterinarian if you aren’t already. He or she will have direct access to a board-certified veterinary dermatologist (probably at the nearest veterinary school) that can help make sure you’re directing your attention to the correct insect via the very latest diagnostic tools and treatment regimens.
It sounds like you’re already doing a lot of things right, such as using barrier techniques like fly sheets with neck covers. Unfortunately, while fly sprays may provide temporary relief (while riding, for instance), studies have shown them to be generally ineffective in repelling midges. Installing small mesh screens over doors and windows and the use of fans are both much more helpful in keeping these tiny-bodied, weak fliers away from your horse’s body. Also, experts advise keeping your horse stabled during peak midge-feeding times of the day, which usually begins as dusk and ends at dawn but can vary between species.
When the itching becomes unbearable and your horse is doing more damage to himself than the insects, it may be time to ask your veterinarian about prescription medications like corticosteroids, antihistamines, and even antibiotics to control secondary infections. There may be additional answers in the realm of alternative medicine, plus don’t forget about the benefits of feeding for health. A 2002 study by O’Neill and others concluded that “flaxseed was able to reduce the lesional area of the skin test response of atopic horses, alter the fatty acid profile of the hair, reduce inflammation, and did not elicit any negative side-effects in the experimental horses.” It’s the omega 3 fatty acids found in flaxseed as well as chia seed and fish oil that have been reported to provide relief from seasonal skin allergies.
Finally, consider immunotherapy. My barn owner just got back from a visit to our nearby veterinary school where the board-certified dermatologist evaluated her horse and performed a complete diagnostic work-up, including an intradermal skin test (IDST) and serum IgE (blood antibody) testing. The end result was that they identified a few allergens for him and, for those that can’t be completely eliminated like sheepskin can, she was custom-made an allergenic extract to place under his tongue, called Sublingual Immunotherapy or SLIT. Considered by some to be superior to Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) or “allergy shots,” two pumps are squirted in the oral cavity twice a day. It may take months or years before “Teddy” improves, but at least she has an accurate diagnosis, treatment plan, and is sure her environmental measures are sound. I hope you are able to eventually get to the same, safe harbor!
Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA SmartPak Staff Veterinarian and Medical Director Dr. Lydia Gray has earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), and a Master of Arts focusing on interpersonal and organizational communication. After “retiring” from private practice, she put her experience and education to work as the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s first-ever Director of Owner Education. Dr. Gray continues to provide health and nutrition information to horse owners through her position at SmartPak, through publication in more than a dozen general and trade publications, and through presentations around the country. She is the very proud owner of a Trakehner named Newman that she actively competes with in dressage and combined driving. In addition to memberships in the USDF and USEF, Dr. Gray is also a member of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association (IDCTA). She is a USDF “L” Program Graduate and is currently working on her Bronze Medal. Find Dr. Gray on Google+
As Dr Gray has mentioned, the key to sweet itch control is preventing the interaction of the midge and the susceptible horse. There is a new fly repellent/insecticide that has shown a lot of promise with this problem. Full disclosure — I am a practicing veterinarian associated with the company. Ecovet is novel way of repelling insects using food grade fatty acids. It was reviewed in Horse Journal this June. Ecovet is a spatial repellent that stops the bugs before they land. Our local board certified dermatologist uses it on his sweet itch horse and has been very impressed the results.
Is Ecovet available now?
Bag balm does the same thing just keep it thick on the sore for a week. I have found the best repellent is Equi-Spot. It works wonders for stable flies no seeums, and also mosquitos and ticks.
How does this work as well when it does not cover the belly region? Looking for a solution for my horse.
I found that spraying the lesions created by the midges with Alushield (aerosol bandage) would protect the area from midges. If you find a spot that the midges are concentrating on (they do cluster on irritated, weepy area) just spray that area of the belly or chest. The protection lasts for a week or more giving the lesion time to heal. Yes, you horse may look funny with gray colored spots but the itch and aggravation is gone from those sprayed spots.
I have tried everything possible for my 3 Friesians over the past 7 years, including allergy shots. The most effective are: Stabling at night,sweet itch blankets 24/7 during gnat season ( Boett, deMuelkamp, and SnuugyHoods are my recommendations) and a home made ointment found in Michael Plumb’s Horse Journal applied frequently and liberally to affected skin.
The ointment is 13 oz. petroleum jelly, 1/2 tsp tea tree oil, 1/2 tsp Campho-Phenique and 1 tsp Calm Coat; gently melt the petroleum jelly and add the other ingredients.
However, I finally gave the most affected horse to a well qualified person in an area free of these pests because she was miserable despite all my best efforts.
We used diaper cream on the lesions with my mare. There was a product called gnat a way that was great but they stopped making it. Diaper cream and swat are my go to now. Two summers ago my vet had us use an OTC allergy med.
My horse is affected on his tail and under his chin. It started happening a few years ago. I’ve battled with different things, but I had good luck this year by using a histamine blocker cream like Allegra or a generic version. It seemed to me if the reaction was in the histimne of the bite, that a blocker might help and it did. The packaging must say histamine blocker though, not all anti itch creams do.
I have a AQHA mare with the same problem. I put her on the SmartPak Bugs Off and she has not had one breakout in a year now. I tried everything on the market to no avail til I tried the the Bugs Off. Even 2 vets could not help me. What a blessing to find this product.I definetly recommend it.
I’ve also had success with the Smart Bug-Off supplement. For a while I was experimenting with supplements and stopped the Bug-Off, but quickly went back to it when my mare’s tail started looking like a rat’s!
Along with the supplement I also use Young Living Lavender, Melaleuca Alternifolia (aka Tea tree), & Purification essential oils in a base of Eqyss Mega-Tek Rebuilder. This has helped keep the midges off her tail and helped it regrow.
Dr. Gray points out that it is onchocerca/neck threadworm that is the problem. Why is there so little research into onchocerca ? Having long nematodes in the nuchal ligament that live up to 15 years can not be healthy for any horse. Given that Oncocerca causes moon blindness, along with extremely itchy horses, should the horse community demand that research be done to come up a test and treatment for this parasite? Humans are known to have the microfilae in their eyes occasionally. Since no one knows what to look for, perhaps it is more common than realized.
Using liquid ivermectin with DMSO on effected areas kills the microfilae (young worms). Having minute worms come through the skin is obviously extremely uncomfortable. Having them in the eye damages the eye. We need more research to be done.
My gelding suffered from sweet itch for years. We tried everything our vet and other horse folks suggested. I started feeding him Spirulina (approx 1oz daily) and it cleared up almost completely. He feels and looks amazing.
Melissa
Where did you get tis product in the US? How do you dose and what exactly is this product?
Thank you,
Cindi
My Arabian mare was diagnosed 8 years ago (confirmed by skin patch testing by UC Davis veterinary dermatology department) with culicoides allergy. The itching was severe — bloody, raw skin on the lower third of her mane and over the dock of her tail. We tried everything — antihistamines, steroids and three years of desensitization injections. Also, she has been getting flax daily over the entire period. The ONLY thing that worked effectively was creating a physical barrier between her and the bugs during the season (spring here in CA) and time of day (dusk to dawn) when the bugs are active. I have used sweet itch “suits’ (rug and neck cover) from two companies: Snuggy Hoods in England and Boett USA (the US outlet of a Belgian company). Both products really work if used religiously during the sensitive period. They are worth the expense, the burden of blanket management and the aggravation of needing to make occasional repairs (try a shoe repair or upholstery shop which have large sewing machines). Sure hope this helps!
Has anybody tried Bye Bye Itch by Hilton Herbs for it? My Frisian is so miserable and takes his stall apart. The dermatologist recommended Frontline Spray which is used for dogs but approved hot equines as well. So far no luck. He rubs enough to destroy not just all protective gear but as well posts and whatever he can find to itch on. Mane and tail are severely damaged.
My Friesian was rubbing his mane out so much his previous owners in FL just shaved it off. I brought him to SC…still buggy, but not as bad as near the Wellington Everglades. His allergy test was pretty negative for biting bugs. I think the heat makes Friesians sweat more, and increases eczema symptoms. His new stall has a ceiling fan, so he stays cooler and dry during the day. After much trial and error, I found that Eucerin Body creme ECZEMA RELIEF was the answer. I rubbed it on his neck at the base of the mane on both sides, and worked it into the roots. Also on the top of the tail, and about 3 inches down, rubbing it under the tail hairs. Also, all over his sheath, which he would try to rub by straddling his ergonomic feed bucket, or trees, and he would scrape his sheath with his teeth. His mane is grown out now about 9 inches, not rubbing it at all, and his tail rubbing is almost non-existent. He no longer has teeth marks on his sheath. In hot weather, I also dust on Gold Bond powder on the base of his tail and under his mane to keep him dry…I think it helps. I get the Eucerin eczema creme 8oz from Amazon in bulk for a better price, and am using less as the weather cools off. I hope this helps your horse. If you can’t install ceiling fans, try at least 2 box fans to keep the air moving. I think it is KEY to keep them cool and dry.
I also switched from a permethrin spray to a Pyrethrin spray recommended to me by a barn manager…Pyranha. It immediately decreased his overall itchiness. He would walk right past his scrubbing spots. No chest or side rubbing. I make sure he is dry before I spray it on, and mist it all over…no visible wet spots.
I have a 20 year old Morgan mare that suffers from Sweet Itch and after all the research I’ve done and all the supplements I’ve tried, I discovered that along with the SmartPak BugOff Pellets, the #24 Immune Support from Silver Lining Herbs does WONDERS. My old lady will be on this combo for the rest of her life. I cannot rave enough about how awesome this stuff is. I took her off of the Silver Lining for a little while (because unfortunately, it is quite expensive and I was short on money) and the poor girl tore herself up. She rubbed her hindquarters so raw to the point of bleeding and was itching like crazy, non-stop. I quickly put her back on the #24 Immune Support and within a week she stopped itching and her hair started growing back. Seriously. Definitely worth a try for anyone who owns a horse with Sweet Itch!
I have found great success in using a double dose of Ivermectin (orally, doubled as directed for weight) at the very onset of bug season, then repeating monthly. This is the ONLY time I use dewormer without a fecal. Have found it to be extremely effective on black flies, and also it is probably effective on threadworms.
my paint has it bad I tried lots of stuff anti itch shampoo helped (people shampoo) tee tree oil in a spray this helps with itch and bugs away and when it gets bad I get a cream from my vet I also feed flax seed
I have successfully used a small amount of paste wormer ( all types seem to work so just use the cheapest) topically applied to itchy raw itchy spots on the midline with 100% success. Only need to reapply every 10 to 14 days. I now have a different horse who itches all over. Or used to itch all over. I am lucky to have a NAET practitioner nearby who is willing to work on horses. And after 1 $25 treatment my horse is almost itch free. ( he still likes me to give him a good scratch now and then). NAET is an Eastern medicine non invasive, drug free treatment that normally requires only one treatment. If you can’t find anyone near you there used to be a vet in Santa Monica CA who would do it over the phone. Sounds whacky I know, but years ago he totally fixed a horse I had who was allergic to sagebrush ( unavoidable where I am) to the point he was an unridable head tossed
My horse ONCE suffered terribly with sweet itch. We did everything outlined by Dr. Gray (and found out in the process that he was allergic to certain fly sprays). What made all the difference in the world was feeding him a stabilized ground flax seed supplement (if brand names are allowed it was Glänzen 3). Now we do none of the other recommended treatments (no confinement during certain times of day, no fly sheets, etc. etc.) and at the height of gnat season, he gets just a few crusty areas and no itch.
I had an AQHA Gelding that had the problem. I started giving him baths with 2% Iodine Shampoos. That cleared up the problem.
I’ve had consistent quick healing results with rubbing on TZON by Healing Tree Products (1% cortisone with all natural ingredients, including jojoba oil to pull cortisone into skin to increase effectiveness), layering heavy duty 40% zinc oxide diaper ointment (cheaper Walmart version). This keeps the bugs away and allows healing, just goopy and messy. Works everytime!
I use the human Avon Skin So Soft’s Bath Oil full-strength and rub it in with my hands. I also use it on legs and around eyes (not too close to eyes) and it works better than any flysprays. LOVE this stuff and really inexpensive. Oh – it also works great for humans for gnats on the trails.
I have 2 Appendix (1 chestnut mare & 1 dark bay gelding) and 1 chestnut mare (rescue – unsure of breed but was told Q-horse). All 3 suffer from bites – mostly to their stomaches). I buy a “bug-off” homemade soap at our local farmer’s market (Liz crafted soaps), initially developed for dogs. I rub the soap on the affected areas to create the physical barrier many others suggested. But no goey creams. I use it once in the morning and evening and the sores heal w/no adverse reactions. I had used Avon Skin-so-soft, but my previous horses – tiny bay Q-Horse mare, her son, our thoroughbred, and my sister’s Appaloosa gelding all lost their hair. So I haven’t used it again. My Appendix mare is VERY sensitive to all bug bites – she even develops edema around tick bites. This soap works wonders, and cuts down on the amount of fly spray I use (a natural product that is very expensive). I know Judy (maker of the soap) has a website, and you can order on-line. Hope this helps
We feed ground flax and have had great success using Carr & Day & Martin Killitch . It has prevented one of our mares from rubbing out her mane and tail as well as reducing the use of a full barrier neck sheet. (Disclosures- none).
I wanted to know if you can leave the Davis Horse Boot on when it is a little frosty out? just a little below 20% Please let me know the weather is changing real quick here in Marysville Wa
thanks
My young friesen started to show signs of sweet itch in 2003, with symptoms worsening each year from April to November. I spent a fortune on all sorts of topical and oral supplements with little or no reliefs, and finally had to use prednisone injections as a last resort, His entire ventral line from chin to his privates had lesions despite fly sheets, sprays etc. and he was so crazy from itch, he was had to train. I even made and covered the barn and stall Doors with screens with slits to reduce midges from entering the barn. The lesions were esp bad around his privates, an area very hard to protect. I bought a Boett blanket which provided protection but was pretty warm for him on hot humid days. A friend slathered M-T-G ( which is basically powdered sulfur mixed with mineral oil) on his ventral line and base of mane and tail one day and the midges left him alone! I dont even use the Boett blanket now and he grazes without problem as long as I slather it on am and pm, especially around his genital area. I however I use one 32 oz bottle a week @ $16 (cheapest) for 7-8 months. Kathy
My Icelandic has the worst case our vets have ever seen. After three years of trying everything we’ve finally found a program that works. She has a boett blanket on 24/7 and SAS lotion applied twice a day when it’s bad or as needed when it’s fine. Then daily, when it’s bad, one a week when it’s good her belly and crest gets bathed with TropiClean Medicated Oatmeal shampoo, we get this from petco. When it’s really bad we move her to the coast for a month. Hope this helps.
I don’t agree
Best regards, Treena