Tag: sweet itch

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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.

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The On-Going Curse Of Sweet Itch

Those who are charged with looking after horses that are prone to sweet itch find themselves as hostage to the weather.

Horse sweet itch is an annoying (in every sense of the word) allergic condition that is initiated by midge bites. It is neither welcomed by horse nor owner.

If there is a breeze, or when it is raining, midges cannot get airborne. Midges have to take to the wing when they want to seek out their next meal – which in many cases is a helping of blood sucked from your horse.

In contrast, weather that is calm and warm is exactly what midges like. In these conditions, midges will have little difficulty and easily find donkey’s and horses and thus be able to take advantage of any unprotected skin. Midge saliva seeps in at the site of the bite and a minority of horses are extremely hypersensitive to this saliva which, in turn, triggers the allergic reaction that is known as sweet itch.

Rugs and face hoods are a frequent selection made to help fight the scourge of equine sweet itch.

There is one major problem. A sweet itch rug will still leave your horse with vulnerable regions of skin. For instance, legs are prone to midge bites and cannot be protected by using a blanket. In addition, even the best fitting horse rug can rub against and cause chaffing to your horse’s skin – and rubbing should be avoided with sensitised skin. Equine blankets may also become heavy and burdensome for your horse or pony when they are used in rainy conditions or if your horse sweats profusely. Lastly, the protection of the blanket can be compromised if it has even the slightest of a tear or split.

Other equine owners resort to midge repellents to try and persuade the midges to go and look elsewhere for their next meal. Seen on the shop shelf in a variety of sprays, creams and ointments, insect repellents can help reduce the underlying sources of sweet itch. But, sprays tend to be hard to apply if there is a breeze and many ointment and cream products contain ingredients that can leave the owner’s skin feeling dry, chapped or just smelling, to say the least, unpleasant.

Many natural repellents have been tried by owners over the years with varying results. A few owners report that a particular wash mixture or certain foods can help in the fight against sweet itch. Before trying out such traditional methods yourself, it would be wise to seek out recommendations from those owners who have already tried out such methods. Keep your eyes open to any potential issues, though. For instance, garlic is hailed by some as a very effective midge deterrent. Alternative to this, many people hold the opinion that garlic may, on its own, create hyperactivity in your horse’s autoimmune system – and when the underlying issue is hypersensitivity, additional autoimmune stimulation is not exactly a desirable outcome.

Hence, always be careful when considering any new remedy.

Sweet itch is a hideous problem, but it can be overcome with persistence and fortitude.

Horse Shield (http://www.sweetitchtreatment.com) is a new treatment that takes an alternative approach to treating sweet itch. The silky smooth mousse and the nozzle applicator helps you apply it to the exact location of the sweet itch irritation even in adverse weather conditions. Being water resistant, Horse shield has the property that it remains active and beneficial in all weathers, even in heavy rain. Yet its unique formulation allows your horse’s skin to breathe and perspire naturally.