Why Is My Horse So Itchy In Summer?

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 you get rid of a horse’s summer itch?

Ensure pastures are well-drained to reduce stagnant water from collecting. Keep water tanks clean and filled with fresh water. Use insecticides and repellents to kill gnats and keep them off your horse. Use a fly sheet with tail flap and hood to cover vulnerable areas.

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 summer eczema in horses?

Summer eczema (Queensland itch, sweet itch) is a seasonally recurring allergic skin disease of the horse. It is the most common allergic skin disease and one of the commonest dermatologic diagnoses in the horse [1,2].

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.

How do you treat a summer sore horse?

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.

What can cause a horse to itch?

In the horse, the main factors inducing itchy skin are ectoparasites (such as biting insects), allergies and some infections. Biting insects including lice, midges, black flies and horse flies can trigger cases of pruritus, but milder cases can occur simply as a horse sheds its coat.

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.

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.

How often should you bathe your horse in the summer?

three times a week
It may be tempting, but try to avoid bathing your horse with soap and water on a daily basis. It’ll lead to dry skin and a coat depleted of its natural oils, which can actually make your horse more susceptible to sunburn, hives, and fungus. At the most, Max believes you should be bathing your horse three times a week.

What does horse dermatitis look like?

Horses with pastern dermatitis usually exhibit multiple lesions in the pastern area. Initially, patchy red skin (erythema), oozing, crusting, erosions, and ulcerations develop, followed by swelling (edema) of the affected limb(s). The skin can be itchy and sensitive.

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.

How do you know if your horse has mites?

Mite infestations cause general itchiness, often with areas of thickened, crusty skin. Mites are too small to see with the human eye, but can sometimes be identified under the microscope from scrapings taken from the horse’s skin. Mites can also be transmitted from horse to horse, and via solid objects.

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 antihistamine for horses?

Tripelennamine is used in horses to treat allergic problems such as hives and itchy skin reactions or more urgent allergic problems such as tongue or facial swelling due to bee sting, insect bites, or contact with an irritating plant.

What does Benadryl do for horses?

Diphenhydramine (brand name: Benadryl®, Vetadryl®, Banophen®, Genahist®, Diphenhist®, Unisom®, Sominex ®) is an antihistamine used in cats, dogs, ferrets and other small mammals, birds, horses, and cattle to treat allergic reactions, motion sickness, and vomiting.

What is a homemade antihistamine?

Natural antihistamines may help you control your seasonal allergies. Common ones are stinging nettle, vitamin C, quercetin, butterbur, bromelain, and probiotics. Some alternative practices—such as acupuncture, nasal irrigation, and exercise—may also help you manage symptoms.

What can you give a horse on a hot day?

By reducing the amount of forage and therefore the amount of fibre in a diet you will reduce the heat load placed on a horse. To maintain the horses required energy intake you can add oil (the best option as it produces the least heat) and/or cooked grains to the diet.

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)

Is it good to hose down horses in hot weather?

To lower body temperature, hose off your horse or pour a bucket of water over your horse. Evaporation produces cooling and continuous hosing is one of the most effective means of lowering body temperature. Use water that is cool or lukewarm, but never hot.