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Causes
Sweet Itch is
an allergy to midge bites. If bitten by many midges and the horses are
generally allergic, they often develop an allergy to the saliva of
culicoides midges. The result of this allergy is that their skin reacts more
than is normal to midge bites. In severe cases it means that horses scratch
and rub themselves so much that they get rid of hair and cause skin damage.
Treatment
The first
thing to do for Sweet Itch is to get the horse away from midges, possibly
keeping the horse stabled with midge screens in the morning and evening when
midges abound, or move your grazing away from damp, midge prone land.
Special midge turnout sheets are available to cover up the majority of the
body to keep midges away and can be very useful. Other treatments are fly
repellents, sprays or feed supplements. Steroids are used by vets in severe
cases to soothe itchy skin and a new vaccine is in the offing but has it's
own problems.
PEGASUS
HEALTH PRODUCTS THAT CAN HELP:
BANITCH:
is an Ayurvedic herbal feed formula from India containing herbs with a
naturual anti-inflammatory action which soothe the skin and other herbs that
cause a strong smell to be exuded through the skin which midges hate.
BANITCH
CREAM: an Ayurvedic formula which
supports the action of BanItch soothing and smelling when applied directly to
sore skin.
ANTIPEST:
is an Ayurvedic herbal skin wash which can be applied diluted as instructed
as a wash before the BanItch smell has had time to build up and periodically
to support BanItch throughout the midge season. It is also a powerful
parasite treatment.
All three
products are herbal and have Cedrus deodara as the main ingredient and if
the programme is started for known Sweet itch sufferers in April (most
years) and continued until the end of October the majority of horses can be
kept comfortable. BanItch is not very palatable and a Syrup is
available for fussy feeders otherwise try the Ada Cole Rescue Stables
'BanItch Sandwich' method of feeding.
MUD FEVER
the same 3 products are
recommened for use with mud fever see separate sheet. |