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Understanding sweet itch

Karen Coumbe MRCVS

4 June, 2003

Sweet itch is a seasonal problem caused by a hypersensitivity to fly bites, which can cause a horse to rub itself raw, but in most cases the condition is manage/p>

Recurrent seasonal pruritus - or sweet itch as it is more commonly know - is an allergic reaction to the saliva injected when midges, sand flies and other insects bite a horse.

It only occurs in animals which are hypersensitive to the saliva and the first signs usuallyappear in spring and virtually disappear during the winter.

Some horses rub so hard that they destroy the fences in their paddocks. Others can be unsafe to ride, as they can drop to the ground suddenly in order to roll and itch themselves.

Some will rub their bellies along the ground to itch the sore areas of their undercarriage, but generally most cases are less severe, causing just a thin tail and scurfy mane.

Signs of sweet itch

• Mild to severe itching and rubbing, usually along the mane, back and tail
• Loss of tail and mane hair
• Bald patches, which can look ugly and grey due to permanent hair loss and skin damage
• Areas of sore, open, broken skin, which tend to bleed
• In somecases, itching along the legs and under the belly

Treatment

The best therapy for any insect hypersensitivity is to avoid the offending creature but in Britain it is not that simple. Midges tend to breed in wet areas, such as lakes and streams, or even puddles and water troughs.

You can reduce the likelihood of your horse coming into contact with midges by doing the following:

• Remove horses from midge breeding areas and clean water troughs regularly
• Stable the horse from about 4pm to 8am when midges are at their worst
• Use insect-proof mesh on the windows and door of stables
• Hang insect-repellent strips in the stable
• Use strong ceiling fans, as midges cannot fly against a strong air current
• Apply a solution of benzyl benzoate diluted half-and-half with water, liquid paraffin or cod liver oil to the affected areas
• Use an effective insect repellent daily
• There are several rugs on the market designed to reduce the area available for flies to bite, which have proved both popular and successful

Consult your vet to confirm the diagnosis and get expert advice. In severe cases, where the skin is extremely sore and uncomfortable, your vet may considerusing steroids to control the skin irritation.

Whatever product you try, it is sensible to test it on a small area of skin first, as some horses will be sensitive to lotions applied to sore skin.

Buyers beware

Buyers considering purchasing a horse during the winter should look for signs that the horse may be a sweet itch sufferer. A less than perfect mane and tail or signs of hair loss and scurf may suggest the horse suffers from sweet itch in the summer.

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• Reduce your horse's vet bills this winter
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• Reduce your winter hay bill
• Winter skin problems in horses

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