What Causes Summer Itch In Horses?

Sweet Itch is a skin disease (sometimes called summer itch or seasonal allergic dermatitis) and is caused by an allergy to the saliva of certain biting flies or midges (e.g., Culicoides spp.).

How do I stop my horse from itching in the summer?

Contact your vet and ask him or her about corticosteroid and antihistamine treatments. Coating the itchy area daily with an oily substance, like baby oil or Skin So Soft, is often beneficial. Midges don’t like the oily film and will avoid it. Be sure to reapply the oil often, as it tends to wear off as the day goes on.

What can I put on my horse to stop itching?

Treatment: Antihistamines or corticosteroids may help ease the itch and inflammation, providing relief to the itchy horse; antibiotics or antimicrobial shampoos can help prevent secondary infections. Pentoxifylline can be used to decrease skin reactivity, and in some cases allergy serum is worth trying.

How do you treat summer eczema in horses?

Keep the pasture clean and dry. If there is no other option, put your horse in the stable during peak times (make sure there is enough ventilation!). Or cover your animal with a special eczema blanket. You can also use mosquito repellents or specific care products, such as Cavalor Switch or Cavalor FlyLess.

What is causing my horse to itch?

The most common causes of itching are parasites, infections, and allergies. There are many skin diseases that do not initially cause itching; however, itching may develop because of secondary bacterial or yeast infections. It is possible that by the time itching develops the initial cause is long gone.

What is a natural antihistamine for horses?

Quercetin, a natural antihistamine, belongs to a group of beneficial plant antioxidants known as flavanoids. Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant and immune booster and has been said to be similar to, or more effective than, common NSAIDs in reducing inflammation.

What is the best treatment for summer sores in horses?

Treatment of summer sores is often difficult and can require a number of approaches. In small lesions, deworming the horse with either an ivermectin or moxidectin paste dewormer will kill the worm larvae and allow the sore to heal. Dewormers not containing either of these two active ingredients will not be effective.

Can I give my horse Benadryl for itching?

Over the counter diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or comparable antihistamines can be used in an emergency for horses with severe hypersensitivity or allergy. Prolonged use is not advised. There is no literature to support the use of diphenhydramine in horses. You are using this product at your own risk.

Does coconut oil help itchy horses?

Coconut oil contains vitamins C and E, as well as lauric acid. These ingredients help stop the itching of bites. This oil is a great helper, especially for horses with summer eczema, who immediately react allergically to bites and start to chafe at the spots until open wounds appear.

What is the best anti-inflammatory for horses?

Phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine, both non‐selective COX inhibitors, are the two most commonly prescribed NSAIDs in equine medicine in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. In cases of orthopaedic pain, phenylbutazone is reported to be the most commonly prescribed NSAID, followed by flunixin meglumine.

Can worms make horses itchy?

Large numbers of larvae can cause skin inflammation of the face, neck, chest, withers, forelegs, and abdomen. Signs often include areas of scaling, crusts, ulcers, hair loss, and color loss. There may also be itching. Larvae can also accumulate in the eyes of horses.

Can grass make horses itchy?

Grass Allergy – Equine is a natural remedy for horses that experience hay fever-like symptoms such as itchy welts, irritability, and lethargy when exposed to summer grasses. This popular homeopathic remedy can be used long term to support a normal immune response to grass allergens.

What time of year do horses get sweet itch?

This causes the immune system to attack its own cells and leads to an extreme reaction. In the UK, insects that cause sweet itch are the midge (Culicoides) and potentially the black fly (Simulium). Horses are mostly affected between March – November when the biting insects are most active.

What is the best thing to give a horse with allergies?

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to counteract the inflammatory process during an allergic reaction. Feeding around 75ml of Flax or Linseed Oil, which are high in these fatty acids, could be beneficial. Ensure that your horse receives enough vitamin E and selenium as these antioxidants can help to reduce

What is the best antihistamine for horses?

Antihistamines:
Antihistamines are often prescribed for the allergic horse as a safer alternative to steroids for longer term control of symptoms. The most common antihistamine we choose is hydroxyzine, but other options include doxepin, amitriptyline, chlorpheniramine, and diphenhydramine.

What can I give my horse for seasonal allergies?

Soaking of hay can be helpful for horses with dust allergies. If pollen is a cause, keeping the horse stalled during peak pollen season is helpful. For allergies related to insects, a good fly control strategy like that outlined in our Fly Control for Horse Barns is a good first step.

What is the best horse wormer for summer?

Summer (May-Aug): carry out FEC and worm if necessary with Fenbendazole, Ivermectin or Pyrantel.

• Panacur Equine (fenbendazole)
• Animec , Eraquell , Eqvalan, Nexmectin (ivermectin)
• Strongid P (pyrantel)

Are equine summer sores contagious?

While summer sores don’t spread directly from horse to horse, they are contagious. Understanding what they are, how they occur, and how they spread can help keep your horse safe.

What parasite causes summer sores in horses?

Cutaneous Habronemiasis or commonly known as “summer sores” or “Florida sores” is a common skin disease of horses primarily caused by three species of parasites: Habronema Muscae, Habronema Microstoma and Drashia Megastoma. The housefly and the stable fly are responsible for carrying the larvae of these parasites.

Is apple cider vinegar good for horses?

Apple Cider Vinegar works to acidify the horse’s stomach for better digestion, cleansing the digestic tract. It can also aid in the absorption of minerals and helps balance the acid/alkaline ratio which is essential for good health.

How do you moisturize a horse’s skin?

Herbal remedies like aloe, comfrey, calendula and lavender stimulate healing and have a low risk of irritation. Herbal remedies including mullein, yarrow and tea tree oil promote skin conditioning. Never use undiluted tea tree oil on your horse.