What is Sweet Itch?

Sweet Itch is a distressing skin condition that affects thousands of horses across the world.  It is also known as Queensland Itch, Summer Itch and Summer Eczema.  It is thought to be caused by a hypersensitivity to the bites of the tiny flies Culicoides.  It occurs in varying degrees of severity in horses of various breeds.

The midges tend to feed on the horse at specific sites, usually around the tail head, withers, and base of the mane, and are most active at dawn and dusk.  The midges like to breed on wet land, and around rivers and lakes.

Symptoms

Affected animals are very itchy, often rub the tail intensely, and become restless.  
Prolonged rubbing results in crusting, scaling, skin thickening, hair loss and damage to the skin, and sometimes bleeding open sores.
It is not uncommon for horses to rub off their mane and upper tail hair.

Treatment

There is presently no known cure for Sweet Itch, although trials are in progress, so it is important to try and prevent the symptoms of sweet itch by protecting your horse from the flies, by:

• Stabling the horse from 4pm until 8am during summer months.

• Using regular fly repellents.

• Fitting a very fine fly screen on stable door to protect your horse while it is stabled.

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Aromesse Ltd, Croftbarn, Blyton Carr, Gainsborough, Lincs DN21 3EN   U.K.  
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