Helping with sweet itch

Sweet itch is the common name for Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dermatitis and is an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting midges.

It is a problem that affects thousands of horses, ponies and donkeys throughout the world and is typically a condition that affects adults.  It is a seasonal complaint when midges are most active between the months of March and November, particularly on calm, humid days, biting mostly in the early morning and late afternoon.

Anyone with a horse with sweet itch knows all the preventative measures; moving the horse away from stagnant water, into a well drained pasture and away from trees, but sometimes this is just not possible.

Sweet itch rugs/fly sheets can be a great help to prevent the midges getting to the skin.  There is also the option of a corticosteroid, which can bring temporary relief, but there are side effects such as laminitis, and over time this treatment may become less effective requiring larger and more frequent doses.

My horse has sweet itch, and I found the combination of a fly sheet and neem oil to be a huge help.  Last year is the first year he has made it through summer with an entire mane and virtually no sore areas from constant rubbing of the itchy skin.

The neem horse wash concentrate can be made up as a spray or to sponge your horse. 

The neem salve is ideal for difficult areas around the eyes and ears where a horse will not tolerate sprays.