Treatment Remedies for Sweet Itch in Horses

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.  There are many remedies and treatments on the market that are sold as repellents, but unfortunately not many of them are particularly effective.

Neem oil is a very effective repellent, midges just won't land on any area that has been treated with neem oil.  The first problem over!  Then neem oil will also help to alleviate the associated itch which in turn will give the skin chance to heal. Further treatment with neem oil will reduce the chances of being bitten and eventually the treatment can be reduced, depending on the weather and the midge population.

My horse has sweet itch, and I found the combination of a fly sheet and treatment with 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 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.  A perfect natural remedy that really does work!