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Post by gordo on Apr 23, 2009 21:11:52 GMT 1
My god breezy, it sounds a torturous time for you and your poor horse!!!!! Where the hell did this wicked afflication come from?? It has got me thinking about those who turn out in leccy fenced area so horse cannot itch on anything and what it must do mentally being unable to deal with it? Must be like having an itchy nose all day and having your hands tide behind your back! Too me that is just truly unbearable. I am not trying to condemn those struggling with this wicked thing but just seeing Robbie loosening wooden posts in order to itch has got me thinking how far I would go with this.
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Post by Dragonmaster on Apr 23, 2009 21:43:13 GMT 1
Hi folks... a couple of observations... 1. Manuka Honey / Manuka oil : the info I have is " Only in the last decade has the Manuka tree begun to be recognised and its natural healing power discovered. Harvested in New Zealand, Manuka Tree Oil is effective in fighting bacteria and fungal infections including acne, pimples, skin problems, chafing, itching, bed sores, athlete's foot, abraisions, insect bites, stings, sunburn, muscle ache, aching joints, cuts, scrapes, inflamation, strains, burns, wounds, reduce swelling, bruises, pain and rashes. Manuka is the new 'buz' in natural remedies" This is a direct quote from a catalogue where a manuka product is one of the items on sale. The picture shows large white flowers so I guess Manuka honey is made by bees feeding on these and will have some of the properties of the oil plus the beneficial nature that honey has anyway. 2. I have been using Feedmark's Equidermis for several years and I am convinced it has made a difference to Rosie. 3. I sometimes wonder if a rug causes as many problems as it stops. Rosie has not had a rug for 2 summers now and seems none the worse. I think the rug made her hot and made the itching worse and as we have holly, hawthorn & blackthorn in our hedges she just shredded them. 4. Although I have not done it, I think a weekly bath in hot weather, using a hypo-allergenic shampoo, or one with lavender, would help a lot. Rosie had several bahs last summer but not weekly. She seemed a lot better after a bath.
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greyhorses
Grand Prix Poster
My two grey boys
Posts: 1,204
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Post by greyhorses on Apr 23, 2009 21:57:31 GMT 1
Hi Jill. I am a great lover of Manuka honey - I tried Blue with local honey for his headshaking to no avail. It takes about a week to kick in.
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Post by horseblackjack on Apr 23, 2009 23:13:00 GMT 1
I had Avons skin so soft recomended to me ( the green one) , and it worked for my pony!!! it had very good results.
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anniearab
Intermediate Poster
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 128
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Post by anniearab on Apr 24, 2009 11:19:14 GMT 1
One of my Mini Shetlands started with this 2 years ago (as a 2 year old), 1st year tried all vet remedies & repellants, mane & tail rubbed out but body o.k. last year these were not working, tried several varying strengths of neem oil in different potions, worked for a few weeks but then got worse, injection of steroids from vet to calm it all down, good bath & Boett & repellant, trashed that after 2 weeks, then Snuggy, then heavier lightweight outdoor with neck and new Snuggy underneath, all trashed by end of summer, mane & tail gone, hips badly rubbed & front of face. This year slightly itchy end of March so started new regime I saw on EE, we are feeding 4 Piriton - 2 morning & night and have used 10ml of Flypor (cattle). Chemists can order you Piriton in 500's for about £8.50 so will continue with this to see if it continues to help. He is not rugged at the moment as not sure if this agravates him more as is still very woolly
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breezy
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,065
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Post by breezy on Apr 24, 2009 17:18:48 GMT 1
Yes very tortuous - I seriously considered having him pts as a 5yo until the new vet turned up with the dectomax.
I tend to try something new each year - hence the linseed and no grass this year. I don't stop him itching on things, as I agree with the above sentiment. He hated the Boetts and ripped them off himself, but is fine with the Rambo. Keeping him cool is an issue, he comes in on very hot days - though the field has a lot of wood shelter. In the winter he does better clipped fully and rugged, despite not needing it for work. His legs are better for being clipped and this is the second year he's hogged. He;s a nightmare to potion, but I believe as SI is largely a systemic problem, any treatment/cure would be systemic as well, though chewed bits do need to be soothed.
Bx
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rosie
Grand Prix Poster
stroppy mare
Posts: 1,153
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Post by rosie on Apr 24, 2009 22:16:33 GMT 1
Does anyone else use dectomax as a sort of routine treatment? My mare had the inj last summer as she had feather mites, but did not deal with being itchy very well - she was biting at herself, rubbing on anything possible. She also has sweet itch, but had not had any major problems for the previous 2 summers. Just in the last couple of days she is having a littlr rub here and there. I use stopitall and am also trying the feedmark equidermis, shes been on this a few weeks now.
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ellyl
Novice Poster
Posts: 46
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Post by ellyl on Apr 25, 2009 12:52:15 GMT 1
we use this fantastic stuff called ridex or ridout or something, every six weeks you pour a small amount along the length of his spine, from poll to dock, rub it in and voila! we have a little guy who suffered hugely from sweet itch - he lives by a stream, no electric fencing to stop him itching and he doesn't even think about it. he has a fantastic thick mane and tail now! it's quite expensive but a bottle lasts over a year.
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ellyl
Novice Poster
Posts: 46
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Post by ellyl on Apr 25, 2009 12:58:27 GMT 1
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jol
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,216
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Post by jol on Apr 25, 2009 15:22:50 GMT 1
I know very little about sweet itch, thankfully mine don't suffer! Is it particular midges that cause the problem? If so are they here at same time as other midges? Friend has a 3 year old who suffered badly, but so far this year he's been covered in midges and had no itching! Normally wears a rug but just hasn't needed it yet.
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Post by jill on Apr 25, 2009 15:34:41 GMT 1
I only managed a flying visit to the supermarket yesterday (don't ask!) so will look again later. The prevention of rubbing I think is kinder - don't get the nerve endings active, if you never rub or scratch the itching improves IME. A vet told a friend of mine to wash their pony with a really good effective shampoo to get rid of any residues on the skin which themselves can cause itching, and I do wonder about the rugs, especially Maggie's boett, it must be hot and it certanly gets heavy when it gets wet. More and more people are using piriton, I am wondering whether to gve it a go if I can get it cheaply enough
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Post by feemac on Apr 25, 2009 22:35:44 GMT 1
Have you tried the Homeopathic remedys available from ainsworths chemist there is a preventative tablets (mar-octo) and treatment used with success with my shetland. Stabled at night and Snuggy hoods sweet itch hood and body and he was able to be shown last year as he has a mane and tail also trying feeding sulphur and garlic soaked in his speedi beet.
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Post by gordo on Apr 25, 2009 22:54:37 GMT 1
Thanks feemac. It is so very apparant that no one ointment/lotion/feed works for every horse and I guess its just trail and error. I do believe that the enviroment is a vital on this one. If I had Robbie on a high and windy hill where the 8uggers couldn't get him, he would be better. I couldn't have picked a worse field for him now! I was telling milo that he is itching even when there is nothing (bug wise) on him which makes me feel the anti-histamine (Piriton) route may be better for him so will look into that. Its a truly soul destroying affliction at a time of year when horse should be naked and letting the vitamin D flood their bodies not being covered up in a virtual second skin. Very sad.
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