About Sweet Itch
Sweet Itch is the common name for Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dermatitis, also known as summer eczema, and is an allergic reaction to bites from a species of midge called Culicoides causing severe itching to the horse resulting in it rubbing the irritated area and self inflicting damage and hair loss on itself. Due to the life cycle of flies the condition occurs between April and October.
Symptoms of Sweet Itch
The symptoms of sweet itch include restlessness, continual swishing of the tail to keep flies away, the horse rubbing itself against trees, fences, etc and hair loss (most often the mane and top of tail) with red, inflamed, crusted and sore skin that can become thickened, blackened, and wrinkled over time. During winter the skin may heal, only for the problem to re-appear in the spring.
Treatment of Sweet Itch
There is no cure for sweet itch and a horse that has the allergy will suffer from it for life. However, it is possible to manage sweet itch by preventing midge bites (see below).
Prevention of Sweet Itch
A protective sweet itch rug can be worn by the horse when out at grass and can also be worn when stabled to prevent midges from biting the horse.
Between April and October the horse should be stabled at dusk and dawn, when midges are most active, and stable doors and windows should be closed or have fine mesh screens installed to prevent midges entering the stable. Wall or ceiling mounted fans to create a breeze will also make it harder for midges to land on a horse when in the stable.
Midges breed around ponds and marshes so if possible avoid grazing horses in marshy, boggy fields and ensure pasture is well drained.
