Sweetitch
What is Sweetitch?
Sweetitch is caused by an allergy to the saliva of the Culicoides midge and affects about 5% of the UK horse population. These midges commonly bite at the base of the mane and tail, but can affect other areas of the horse. The horse will rub the bitten areas, where the saliva has irritated, often until the skin is red raw. Sweetitch is commonly seen seasonally when the midges are around (March – Nov.), but may be seen throughout mild, damp winters too. Ponies are most commonly affected by this allergy. Symptoms usually develop between the ages of one to five years old and there are thought to be due to both hereditary and environmental factors affecting an individual’s predisposition.
Signs of Sweetitch
Broken mane and tail hairs.
Hair loss.
Thickened skin.
Flaky dandruff.
These are most commonly seen around the tail head and the crest of the neck.
Sweetitch Prevention/ Treatment
1. Fly Rugs
Boett® Rugs provide good coverage of the horse and are very successful at preventing the midges biting your horse.
2. Insect Repellents
These need to be applied several times a day to provide effective protection. The active ingredient ‘Deet’ has proven to be highly effective and long lasting.
3. Stabling
Turnout between 10 am and 4 pm to avoid the times when the midges are most active (dawn and dusk)
4. Grazing
Avoid boggy, marshy fields where midges will thrive, also areas under woodland canopy. Chalk-based, breezy, hill grassland will have the least midges.
5. Barrier Products
Coat susceptible areas in oils/greases to prevent midges biting. (Can be quite messy!). Barrier creams, such as Sudocrem®, can be applied to protect raw areas of skin.
6. Medication
Steroids/Anti-histamines may be used in severe cases.
Immunotherapy - BioEos® Sweetitch Capsules from the National Sweetitch Centre help to modulate the horse’s immune response. Oral capsules are given fortnightly. See www.sweet-itch.co.uk for more information. Or through Immunotherapy injections (once diagnosis has been made by blood or skin allergy testing - Allervet®). Discuss with your vet.
Insecticides – Benzyl Benzoate is an insecticide which can be used to control sweetitch. Gloves should be worn when applying to the horse, as it is a skin irritant and it should not be applied to broken skin.