Sweet Itch is a term used for hypersensitivity to the saliva of biting insects. Horses can go to extreme measures to relieve themselves from the itchiness, and rub away patches of skin, leaving the skin beneath raw, tender and weeping. Although the insects most responsible for Sweet Itch is the Culicoides fly (also called a midge), black flies, deer flies and mosquitos can also pose a problem for horses. Although Sweet Itch reactions can occur anywhere on your horse’s body, they are most commonly seen on the underside of the belly, under the mane or the dock of the tail.
Why is Sweet Itch a concern? In severe cases, horses can become quite stressed and anxious over this, and spend more time scratching than grazing. This can lead to weight loss, and increase the risk of gastric ulcers in your horse. Furthermore, once the skin is open from severe scratching, it allows the opportunity for secondary skin infections due to the nature of the horse’s outdoor environment.
How do we treat Sweet Itch?
