Post by Admin on Aug 4, 2005 13:27:11 GMT 1
Subject : Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : sobagirl
Date : 21.07.05 12:58:00 AM
Reading through August Horse magazine this morning, I came across a Q & A article about sweetitch. I'm intrigued that the answer by Christine Smy says not to feed sugary things, as this gives 'a tasty meal for biting insects'.
Now.....my sisters pony has terrible sweetitch, sores all over him, no mane, hardly any tail. (she does use blankets as well).
She's always thought that the grass had something to do with it. I couldn't see the link myself.
Where she lives in Staffordshire, the grass is very rich (she has been on 3 different sites within a 5 mile area).
Her pony came to me (North Wales) for about 2 years. I live in the midge capitol, and really wasn't looking forward to it, as I didn't even have stabling.
He got a couple of small sores on his face, and that was about it! Again, he had his rugs on, Boett and Snuggyhoods). The grass around my way tends to be reedy, as it's boggy, but the grass doesn't seem as rich.
So, could there be a link into sugar levels and worsening of sweetitch?
What do you think?
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : Steve
Date : 21.07.05 1:25:00 PM
I was told Sweetitch was an allergic reaction to the saliva of the female midge.
What you eat can affect different allergic reactions so I guess there could be a link. Vets recommend you dont graze sweetitch prone ponies near boggy or marshy areas as the midges are more prominant in these types of areas.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : sobagirl
Date : 21.07.05 1:50:00 PM
I'm aware of all that Steve, and yes, that is what sweetitch itch is caused by, but what I am asking is....is the sugar content in the grass, or whatever you feed your sweetitch prone horse, is it to some degree responsible for the SEVERITY of the sweetitch?
Also, in my previous thread, I also said that when the pony came to me, in a boggy and damp area, with no lush grass, he didn't get sweetitch so bad.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : varkie
Date : 21.07.05 3:05:00 PM
The pony I have with sweet itch is worse if she has sugar, grain or garlic in her diet - other than what occurs naturally in the grazing.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 21.07.05 3:20:00 PM
It's also been suggested that copper deficiency is linked to sweetitch.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : sobagirl
Date : 21.07.05 3:22:00 PM
My sister and I are always on the lookout for things that might ease her pony. It's a really awful thing to see.
She electric fences all the paddock to stop him rubbibg, but he just gets on the floor, and rubs and rubs.
So if sugar does make it worse, then if she cuts out any it might make it a bit more bearable for him.
Has anyone else found this link?
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 21.07.05 4:31:00 PM
up
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : KAS
Date : 21.07.05 7:53:00 PM
Fin is on the same food and grass (or lack of grass at the moment!) as the other two. They have no signs of sweetitch. I have noticed that he seems to be more attractive to flies and midges, and also think it can be aggravated by stress. Tim Couzens the holistic vet visited him recently and agreed with this, but didn't say anything about sugars in the diet. He has made Fin a homeopathic remedy in tablets and so far he seems to be itching a bit less and the sweetitch looks drier, more scaley if you see what I mean - not so sticky.
His sweetitch is certainly a lot less severe than when he was in his previous home and very stressed. He isn't rugged, but sprayed with a cocktail of fly sprays and I've used the Vetrazine sheep stuff as well.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : Ruby
Date : 21.07.05 8:09:00 PM
Just came on to ask a question about sweet itch and look what was here. I was going to ask if anyone has noaticed if it is related to land type as well. A knowlegeable friend has suggested that acid type of soils make horses more prone and suggested trying to find a "salt" lick that is chalky - alkaline. Does anyone on here have a horse with sweetitch living on the downs? Very unscientific I know but as my horse has been slowly developing it over the last few years and we live on acidic land I thought it might be interesting and hopefully useful to ask. Also she is very bloated a lot of the time, not fat (not slim either he he). Don't know where that will take me but makes you think. Anyway back to reading this interesting thread.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : KAS
Date : 21.07.05 8:18:00 PM
I've not tested the soil, but I think we are on the downs. The ground is quite stony, and there's chalk in it. This isn't a lot of help - but my lot always have blocks of all colours up to lick, they like the white salt block and the red one best of all.
Fin lived in clay soil before - he had sweetitch where ever he lived :-(
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 21.07.05 8:18:00 PM
p.s. Do a search on the word Sweetitch - there is loads on here Rose - enjoy!
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : oranges
Date : 21.07.05 8:30:00 PM
one of my mares has bad sweetich, i figured that midges and stress were the cause of it. but thiking about it she has had practily no grass in winter and poor grass this summer, and her sweetitch is no were near as bad as it has been other years, and the other years she has been on good grass. another thing i did different this year is not fafed on with her, usually she a repellent on a fly rugs and creams on her sores, this year she has had nothing, and is better.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : natalia
Date : 22.07.05 9:10:00 AM
Keeping any sweetitch prone horse ona hill helps no end. I had my pony on a clay soil and he got it quite badly, Ive now moved to mid sussex near ardingly and he s not half as bad as he was. he hasn't rubbed any of his tail this year, which is amazing. his forelock though is virtually non existant! I am feeding leasuire mix, happy hoof, and a scoop of naf d-itch, garlic and electrolites currently. he is wearing a rambo sweetitch hoody.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : GB
Date : 22.07.05 9:52:00 AM
My pony has sweetitch and we have moved to a place with very lush grazing, but I don't really see that he rubs any more than he did before. My main problem is keeping his weight down!
I have tried most of the proprietary ointments and also the Boett rug. All the ointments did was make his mane and tail a yukky sticky mess which you have to wash often just to reapply another lot. The Boett helped but he did still rub his forelock and where he was exposed; however he got so fat the Boett didn't fit him properly. I tried turning him out without it and of course he started scratching again, then I used good old Benzyl Benzoate on its own (no midge repellents) and he has totally stopped rubbing!
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 22.07.05 10:05:00 AM
i found beezle bug works for my mare which i tried for the first time this year and along with fly ,rugs from rubbed mane and tail no hair on face or leg with sores as she has a really bad reaction she is fine this year apart from her nose thanks to beezle bug as i have tried all sorts but this is the only thing that soothes the itching and stops the midges
it expensive 28 pound a bottle but is an oil in stays on the coat and skin so lasts for 2-3 day at a time and atchually works.
not only that it is natural and kills the midges
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 22.07.05 10:07:00 AM
the say giving the horse sugary thing makes the horses blood and sweat sweet so encourages the flys to bite so can make sweet itch worse but doesnt cause it.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : sobagirl
Date : 22.07.05 10:08:00 AM
could it be then that certain horses get more of a reaction with higher levels of sugar?
Maybe my sister can work out an experiment next year to see his reaction.
Please keep me up dated with any noticable increase/decrease in your ponies/horses sweetitch, and anything that may have changed diet wise.
I really do find this interesting!
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 22.07.05 3:31:00 PM
Our pony has sweetitch really bad and still occassionally rubs even with a full boett on. I cant say sugar levals have made her worse as this year she's been in a bare paddock with her boett on, only soaked hay and antilam and she's still as bad. I'm seriously considering trying the vaccine next year.
From : sobagirl
Date : 21.07.05 12:58:00 AM
Reading through August Horse magazine this morning, I came across a Q & A article about sweetitch. I'm intrigued that the answer by Christine Smy says not to feed sugary things, as this gives 'a tasty meal for biting insects'.
Now.....my sisters pony has terrible sweetitch, sores all over him, no mane, hardly any tail. (she does use blankets as well).
She's always thought that the grass had something to do with it. I couldn't see the link myself.
Where she lives in Staffordshire, the grass is very rich (she has been on 3 different sites within a 5 mile area).
Her pony came to me (North Wales) for about 2 years. I live in the midge capitol, and really wasn't looking forward to it, as I didn't even have stabling.
He got a couple of small sores on his face, and that was about it! Again, he had his rugs on, Boett and Snuggyhoods). The grass around my way tends to be reedy, as it's boggy, but the grass doesn't seem as rich.
So, could there be a link into sugar levels and worsening of sweetitch?
What do you think?
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : Steve
Date : 21.07.05 1:25:00 PM
I was told Sweetitch was an allergic reaction to the saliva of the female midge.
What you eat can affect different allergic reactions so I guess there could be a link. Vets recommend you dont graze sweetitch prone ponies near boggy or marshy areas as the midges are more prominant in these types of areas.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : sobagirl
Date : 21.07.05 1:50:00 PM
I'm aware of all that Steve, and yes, that is what sweetitch itch is caused by, but what I am asking is....is the sugar content in the grass, or whatever you feed your sweetitch prone horse, is it to some degree responsible for the SEVERITY of the sweetitch?
Also, in my previous thread, I also said that when the pony came to me, in a boggy and damp area, with no lush grass, he didn't get sweetitch so bad.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : varkie
Date : 21.07.05 3:05:00 PM
The pony I have with sweet itch is worse if she has sugar, grain or garlic in her diet - other than what occurs naturally in the grazing.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 21.07.05 3:20:00 PM
It's also been suggested that copper deficiency is linked to sweetitch.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : sobagirl
Date : 21.07.05 3:22:00 PM
My sister and I are always on the lookout for things that might ease her pony. It's a really awful thing to see.
She electric fences all the paddock to stop him rubbibg, but he just gets on the floor, and rubs and rubs.
So if sugar does make it worse, then if she cuts out any it might make it a bit more bearable for him.
Has anyone else found this link?
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 21.07.05 4:31:00 PM
up
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : KAS
Date : 21.07.05 7:53:00 PM
Fin is on the same food and grass (or lack of grass at the moment!) as the other two. They have no signs of sweetitch. I have noticed that he seems to be more attractive to flies and midges, and also think it can be aggravated by stress. Tim Couzens the holistic vet visited him recently and agreed with this, but didn't say anything about sugars in the diet. He has made Fin a homeopathic remedy in tablets and so far he seems to be itching a bit less and the sweetitch looks drier, more scaley if you see what I mean - not so sticky.
His sweetitch is certainly a lot less severe than when he was in his previous home and very stressed. He isn't rugged, but sprayed with a cocktail of fly sprays and I've used the Vetrazine sheep stuff as well.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : Ruby
Date : 21.07.05 8:09:00 PM
Just came on to ask a question about sweet itch and look what was here. I was going to ask if anyone has noaticed if it is related to land type as well. A knowlegeable friend has suggested that acid type of soils make horses more prone and suggested trying to find a "salt" lick that is chalky - alkaline. Does anyone on here have a horse with sweetitch living on the downs? Very unscientific I know but as my horse has been slowly developing it over the last few years and we live on acidic land I thought it might be interesting and hopefully useful to ask. Also she is very bloated a lot of the time, not fat (not slim either he he). Don't know where that will take me but makes you think. Anyway back to reading this interesting thread.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : KAS
Date : 21.07.05 8:18:00 PM
I've not tested the soil, but I think we are on the downs. The ground is quite stony, and there's chalk in it. This isn't a lot of help - but my lot always have blocks of all colours up to lick, they like the white salt block and the red one best of all.
Fin lived in clay soil before - he had sweetitch where ever he lived :-(
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 21.07.05 8:18:00 PM
p.s. Do a search on the word Sweetitch - there is loads on here Rose - enjoy!
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : oranges
Date : 21.07.05 8:30:00 PM
one of my mares has bad sweetich, i figured that midges and stress were the cause of it. but thiking about it she has had practily no grass in winter and poor grass this summer, and her sweetitch is no were near as bad as it has been other years, and the other years she has been on good grass. another thing i did different this year is not fafed on with her, usually she a repellent on a fly rugs and creams on her sores, this year she has had nothing, and is better.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : natalia
Date : 22.07.05 9:10:00 AM
Keeping any sweetitch prone horse ona hill helps no end. I had my pony on a clay soil and he got it quite badly, Ive now moved to mid sussex near ardingly and he s not half as bad as he was. he hasn't rubbed any of his tail this year, which is amazing. his forelock though is virtually non existant! I am feeding leasuire mix, happy hoof, and a scoop of naf d-itch, garlic and electrolites currently. he is wearing a rambo sweetitch hoody.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : GB
Date : 22.07.05 9:52:00 AM
My pony has sweetitch and we have moved to a place with very lush grazing, but I don't really see that he rubs any more than he did before. My main problem is keeping his weight down!
I have tried most of the proprietary ointments and also the Boett rug. All the ointments did was make his mane and tail a yukky sticky mess which you have to wash often just to reapply another lot. The Boett helped but he did still rub his forelock and where he was exposed; however he got so fat the Boett didn't fit him properly. I tried turning him out without it and of course he started scratching again, then I used good old Benzyl Benzoate on its own (no midge repellents) and he has totally stopped rubbing!
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 22.07.05 10:05:00 AM
i found beezle bug works for my mare which i tried for the first time this year and along with fly ,rugs from rubbed mane and tail no hair on face or leg with sores as she has a really bad reaction she is fine this year apart from her nose thanks to beezle bug as i have tried all sorts but this is the only thing that soothes the itching and stops the midges
it expensive 28 pound a bottle but is an oil in stays on the coat and skin so lasts for 2-3 day at a time and atchually works.
not only that it is natural and kills the midges
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 22.07.05 10:07:00 AM
the say giving the horse sugary thing makes the horses blood and sweat sweet so encourages the flys to bite so can make sweet itch worse but doesnt cause it.
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From : sobagirl
Date : 22.07.05 10:08:00 AM
could it be then that certain horses get more of a reaction with higher levels of sugar?
Maybe my sister can work out an experiment next year to see his reaction.
Please keep me up dated with any noticable increase/decrease in your ponies/horses sweetitch, and anything that may have changed diet wise.
I really do find this interesting!
Subject : re:- Sweetitch - is there more to it than just the midges?
From :
Date : 22.07.05 3:31:00 PM
Our pony has sweetitch really bad and still occassionally rubs even with a full boett on. I cant say sugar levals have made her worse as this year she's been in a bare paddock with her boett on, only soaked hay and antilam and she's still as bad. I'm seriously considering trying the vaccine next year.