Sweet-itch

Goatgirl · Advanced

Sweet-itch

Roka · Well Schooled

My Icelandic mare had really bad sweet-itch - she rubbed herself raw and I used a boetts and salves etc. However, I started feeding her a herbal mix (organic, especially made for the condition) plus gave her energy healings (Reiki) regularly. It took about 2 years for the herbs to have full effect - the worse the condition, the longer the immune defense system takes to build back up - but now she is almost free of the itch and doesn't rub more than other horses. No sores etc anymore. I start feeding the herbs in February/March (before the season starts in May) and continue until September/October. It costs a bit (about £50 for herbs for the whole season) but it is well worth it.

I buy the herbs here in Denmark - I don't know if they ship to other countries or not. But if you send them a mail perhaps you can get the list of ingredients? It is among other things chamomile, stinging nettles and marigold but there are more than those. Their mail is info@askhim.dk - sorry but their webpage is not in English. :)

Goatgirl · Advanced

Thank you so much!!! If it can help, it is deffinitely worth a try. It is terrible to see the horses so unhappy and uncomfortable. My relatives live in Northern Germany, near the Danish border. I know they have friends in Denmark and often visit. If the company does not ship, perhaps my family will be able to get the treatments and send them to me here.

thank you again!!

Roka · Well Schooled

You are most welcome! Here is a link to the biopath/naturopath's website with the mixture - it is called Sommerblanding: http://www.askhim.dk/shop/sommerblanding-31c1.html

I usually buy the 4,2 kgs one that costs DKK 525,00 as it lasts a season. Her products and shop is approved by the Department of Agriculture/Herbs. Shopping is safe (look for the padlock in the corner)

If you would like me to, I will happily translate and email her any questions you might have, you can just PM me with what it is. :)

Marlene · Advanced

I don't know much about permanent solutions, but for immediate relief I put a gob of diaper cream on my horses sore. It was the thick zinc oxide type cream. It soothed the itchies, kept the flies off because it's thick, softened the scab, didn't come off immediately in rain, helped healing, and is non toxic. It does need to be reapplied every couple of days at first till the sore heals. I think the thick protective layer might also help prevent hatchlings in the wound from surviving, but I can't swear by that.

-- Edited by Marlene on Tuesday 21st of December 2010 03:36:35 PM

Barbara F · Grand Prix

What is sweet itch?

Roka · Well Schooled

Barbara F wrote:

What is sweet itch?

It is an allergy to the saliva from a little fly/mosquito that some horses get. Icelandic ponies on the continent is very high risk to it because the fly does not exist in Iceland so they don't have the immune defense system to it. But in later years the problem has popped up in other breeds as well. The horses itch like crazy and rub their skin raw, hence getting open sores especially in the neck along the mane, and the tail region.