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T O P I C R E V I E W
geegee
Posted - 09 Jun 2009 : 4:38:50 PM Just got back from the vets to be told that my gelding has sweet itch....
He gets hot patches (burning hot to touch) around his back end, either side of his tail. He has had a couple of outbreaks of these after he has been rubbing, but they are becoming more frequent. They are very sore, as he really doesn't like me to touch them. I have found that the best and quickest remedy has been to use Sudocream. This cools it down and once it starts healing, a scab forms, drops off and leaves a bald patch until the new hair grows.
The latest flare up has not only caused a hot patch but he has lumps, a bit like an oedema (sp?) Not soft and squidgy but hard where you can push your finger into it and it leaves a dent for quite a long time.
Vet puts this all down to hypersensitivity and said that as he has been rubbing and has a scurfy tail, he has Sweet itch. She did a skin scraping also, so await the result of that.
Anyone else experienced these hot patches with Sweet itch?
Thanks.
4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
geegee
Posted - 09 Jun 2009 : 10:14:15 PM He only rubs his tail, not badly just slightly....He is 21....
He may have mild sweet itch but I personally don't think that the hot patches and the lumps are anything to do with it.
katherineepea
Posted - 09 Jun 2009 : 10:02:12 PM is he not rubbing mane or tail at all? have REALLY good look as it can be difficult to spot in the beginning stages. as if he isnt id ask for a second opinion. most horses develop it before theyre 5- how old is your boy? I HATE sweet itch and have spent hundreds, possibly thousands trying to combat it and the best ive found is coopers fly repellant but he has only got it mildly, yet still enough to remove his mane if not treated!
geegee
Posted - 09 Jun 2009 : 6:56:35 PM I'm not convinced it is sweet itch, either. It sounds like Mishi has the same reaction to something as Dennis.
How long has Dennis had this? My gelding had a flare up last week and that is at the flaking point but yesterday I caught him rubbing on the stable and went out to him and the rub was completely wet and hot, then these lumps appeared over night. Very peculiar....
Like you say, it's not nice for them to be itchy but it is even worse when you can't find out what is causing it. I am just hoping that something comes back from the skin scraping.
Vera
Posted - 09 Jun 2009 : 5:53:27 PM Sorry Lisa, I am not a vet but I really can't see how they can say he has sweet itch from your description!!
Sweet itch doesn't just effect one area, they will be itchy all over but especially the base of the mane and top of the tail/rump area.
My gelding also has a very itchy bottom with the hot skin your describe, and also came out in lumps but after allergy testing we know for sure that he does not have sweet itch. He was tested for midge and fly reaction and the response was negative. His itch is localised to his bottom.
Sorry to hear about your boy's itch, you feel so helpless seeing them rubbing themselves raw and don't know why.
I still haven't got the the bottom of Dennis's itch. He will still rub himself raw given the opportunity.
There is loads you can do to help a horse with sweet itch - none of which work when they have a different kind of itch.
It is a reaction to something but what!! I know loads of things which isn't the cause of his itch but after almost 4K in vets bills I still don't know what is the cause.
I also used Sudocream and Aloe Vera Gell is very good too. We've even tried steriod creams, spray and tablets - also anti hystamine's - ALL of which did not stop the reaction.
