Why Does Horse Sweet Itch Accompany The Onset Of Spring?

Most horse owners will be well aware of Sweet Itch and the myriad of equine health issues that accompanies it.

This being of major concern to a lot of horse owners leads to the following question – exactly what is sweet itch in horses? A useful online resource is available from: http://www.sweetitchtreatment.com.

Sweet Itch is primarily caused by the Culicoides midge, of which there are numerous sub-species. These midges bite into the skin and leave saliva at the site of the wound that, in turn, may induce an allergic reaction in susceptible horses, ponies and donkeys. Indeed, because of its all-embracing nature, the condition is sometimes referred to as equine Sweet itch.

There are numerous blood feeding species of the Culicoides midge. For each species that seek out horses for their next meal usually concentrate their attack on a particular region of the horse’s anatomy. Horses are most vulnerable to bites at the tail head and under the mane. In and around the head, along the dorsal spinal area and the rump are also popular midge bite sites. Other areas of the body that are less susceptible but nevertheless may be inflicted with Sweet Itch are the animal’s underside and legs.

Other insects and flies may bite and induce, or exacerbate already present, symptoms of Sweet Itch.

The black fly of the genus Simulium is closely linked to outbreaks of Sweet Itch. An interesting episode of insect infestation occurred at Blandford in Dorset, United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. The Simulium posticatum species of midge caused rising health concerns. Since then, this species of midge has be known of by the name Blandford fly.

There are also a collection of other insects that are suspected of prompting the autoimmune system to overreact. The more prominent of this collection include horse flies, horn flies, stable flies and mosquitoes. Despite the presence of these other threats, it is acknowledged that the Culicoides midge is the main culprit.

The Culicoides midge multiplies during the Spring and Summer months and its degree of activity is highly dependent upon weather conditions. Identical to all insects, the midge is cold blooded and reaches peak activity with the hottest temperatures. The midge also needs stretches of calm water, boggy areas or, at the very least, moist conditions to complete its life-cycle.

The ideal time of the day for the midges is from dusk to dawn. The ideal conditions are warm with little wind.

There is some good news, though. Many horses never show any symptoms of Sweet Itch . The autoimmune response of each individual animal is different and some do not react to the bite saliva at all.

Many of the propitiatory Deet and Benzyl Benzoate based medications prescribed to keep Sweet Itch in check leave the carer’s hands rough, sore and cracked. Derma Shield – information at http://www.dermashield.co.uk – is a superior quality hand protection mousse lotion that helps prevent this.

We wish every equine owner a sweet itch free summer.

Horse Hoof Care Essentials

Learning about the fundamentals of horse hoof care is one of the most essential responsibilities of horse owners. A horse will not request you to clean and care for his feet, for that reason, you could not simply wait around for it to ask. You need to take the time to understand the best ways to keep your horse’s hooves in excellent condition.

Yet, unfortunately, there are a lot of cases that horses are actually put back in the stable despite the fact that their hooves aren’t checked at all. Many not skilled horse owners mistakenly believed that it is usually the farrier’s responsibility to clean up the hooves. But, contacting the farrier to shoe your own horse is never enough.
Proper horse hoof care usually starts by taking your time to clean up the hooves of your horse. Eliminate just about any dirt, muck, small stones or any other things that may have become lodged in the hoof.

It will probably only get you a couple of minutes each day to clean up your own horse’s hooves using a hoof pick. Your horse’s hoof wellness and convenience may be ensured if you are going to do it. By cleaning the horse’s hooves frequently, you will be able to check any possible damage.

Whenever you get rid of mud along with other caked on matter from your horse’s hoof, he is able to walk freely. In case you prefer your horse to be less sensitive to stone bruises, out of hand cuts and thrush infections, never fail to clean your horse’s hooves. The tiniest of the stones can even become caught in the grooves of the frog which could trigger great pain for the horse. This might lead to painful bruising when left uncontrolled which will make the horse to grow a limp.

Ensuring that the paddock area is drained properly and that also the stable floor will be held dry and clean are generally especially necessary. Standing in wet muck or even on damp ground for an long amount of time can easily harm your horse’s feet. Letting your horse stay in a constant moist environment can cause chips and cracks in your horse’s hooves. 

Get your individual equine insurance form

The customer is in need of a fitting equine insurance company? It is quite difficult for horse owners to find the right insurance vendor and agreement for their personal requirements. How are you able to find the best horse insurance at a good charge on the German marketplace? You will find the best horse liability assurance offer from a great number of assurance companies via online form: http://www.pferde-versicherung.org/Pferdehaftpflichtversicherung_im_Tarifvergleich.html

Who should contract equine assurance? Every responsible horse owner should have a liability insurance against the possible damage. Because every horse once might provoke injury. Here are a few important aspects which should be considered when looking for the right German horse liability assurance provider online:

Horse liability insurance gives the horse owner the convenient feeling of not standing alone in case of damage and covers a high cost risk for the customer. With a horse owner assurance the customer can also get help if unjustified demands are put on the owner. Not having horse liability insurance every horse owner carries a big risk of liability when their animal friend once generates harm. When the horse crosses the road and induces a traffic crash, one can be held liable for all harm to individuals and crash of automobiles. It is not recommendable to visit all the equine assurance companies in person when looking for a good solution. The client can obtain an online quote and even contract equine insurance via Internet. The following Internet site offers a free comparison of German equine assurances: www.pferde-versichern.com. The client can retrieve an individual equine assurance comparison in a few moments there.

If the horse generates an accident or other injury, the injured victim could charge clients personally if not having horse assurance. Then clients will have to cover with ones complete private assets for possible injury. The favorable annual premium payment for equine assurance protects you from a huge financial risk. By arranging a deductible horse owners can obtain mentionable savings concerning the contribution payment.
Your horse owner assurance also takes over the legal costs of the injured victim, which horse owners had to pay by themselves when not having such coverance. When having such assurance, the clerk of your assurance provider works for you on the claims made by the injured victim. So the client has a professional on hand to decide which claims are justified and which are not. Without having equine insurance, horse owners must deal by themselves with the demands of the injured individual or need to commission a solicitor to do so for them.