Preventing Sweet Itch: Advice from Net-Tex

Whilst most horse and pony owners are looking forward to the warmer months after a cold long hard winter, there are many who dread it, as the start of spring signals the start of Sweet Itch. In this feature we look at the disease itself and how you can help ease the distress and damage caused by this terrible condition.

Sweet Itch is the common name for ‘Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dermatitis, which is caused by a delayed hypersensitivity to insect bites resulting in an over-vigorous response by the horse’s immune system. In the process of repelling the insects saliva, the horse attacks some of its own skin cells by mistake and the resulting cell damage causes the sweet itch symptoms.

Sadly this condition is not exclusive to the summer months and tends to present itself in both the spring and autumn and in some severe cases the condition can even continue much later in the year, especially with the continuing weather pattern of mild wet winters that the UK has seen in the last few years. A severe frost is not enough to kill off the midge larvae however they do not survive prolonged drought conditions, so those hose pipe bans might not all be bad news after all!

Prevention

The key for Sweet Itch suffers is for owners to prevent the horse getting bitten in the first place, which we know is as difficult as it sounds! With animals that really suffer, we suggest that the owners start putting on their protective Sweet Itch Outfits as early as February, especially if we have a mild snap and we also suggest that owners keep a close eye on weather forecasts, to ensure that they are not caught out. Snuggy Hoods, Bucas and Boett Rugs are examples of companies, which have created rugs that specifically target this condition.

However if your horse does get bitten, its imperative that you tackle the bite before your horse really gets to work at scratching the bite to relieve the itchiness as they will rub themselves raw and if the yellow crust that forms is not treated can then trigger a secondary infection, leaving poor horse and owner with double trouble. The most common ‘snacking areas’ for the midges are the mane and tail and along the spine, but other areas that can also become affected are the ears, forehead, neck, withers, saddle area, belly area and even the legs, which is why you need to ensure that you cover as much of his body as possible, with topical products and/or rugs–enabling him to relax in the field and stable, without getting bitten to pieces.

If you do use a rug, we still recommend that you also use a good midge repellent – there are lots of topical products on the market that have been designed to help repel midges and soothe the irritations and it really is a matter of trial and error as to which one works best for your horse and what works for one sweet itch sufferer doesn’t always work for another.

One product that we do get positive reports back from sweet itch owners is Net Tex Fly Repellent, which seems to help soothe and repel, but there are also lots of other products on the market, including Midge Away Cream (Fly Away Range), and Barrier Enhanced Formula Fly Repellent and for those horses and ponies that have already developed symptoms Net Tex Stop Salve Complete, which soothes, repels and regenerates hair & skin re growth and it only needs to be applied once or twice a week.

Good Stable Management

Turning your horse out during the middle of the day, rather than at night or early morning when midges are more likely to be active, can help especially in fields that are marshy or near rivers or lakes, although the ideal turnout would be away from muck heaps, any water sources or wooded areas, as these tend to attract midges. Keeping your horse stabled when the midges are likely to be out in force is desirable, however not always possible, but if you do keep him indoors, make sure that you do still keep his rug on at all times as just one bite can trigger a larger attack. Some owners keep the stable doors and windows shut during this time, but if you are going to shut him in completely, make sure he has plenty of hay and stable toys to keep him occupied and this is can also aggravate respiratory problems. If stabling is not an option, then don’t despair, many of our customers horses live out during the summer months and wear their outfits quite happily, but check with your manufacturer to ensure that it has been designed for continuous wear and as with any horse garment; it is also advisable to check the rug daily. With the current trend for tropical temperatures, don’t take for granted that the rug will be fully breathable and therefore suitable for to be worn during a heat wave, our rugs have been extensively tested all over the world and with customers as far as New Zealand, Australia & Japan, we know ours are suitable for a heatwave, but again check with the rug manufacturer, if in doubt.

Finally, although there is not cure to date for this terrible condition, most cases can be managed successfully through the right care and attention and many of our customers enjoy competing and riding their horses and ponies throughout the midge filled months, however always seek veterinary advice, should the condition deteriorate or similar symptoms suddenly appear.

This article has been kindly provided by Net-Tex, manufacturers of Itch Stop Salve Complete and Itch Stop Twist & Repel. For further information or advice, please visit www.net-tex.co.uk, email helpline@net-tex.co.uk, telephone 01474 813999 or write to Net-Tex Industries Ltd, Head Office, Priestwood, Harvel, Meopham, Kent DA13 0DA United Kingdom
Photographs of sweet itch cases courtesy of the ILPH www.ilph.org