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Showing posts from May, 2013

Sweet Itch

Sweet Itch is an allergic response to the saliva in the bite of Culicoides Midge(gnats), affected horses will suffer severe itching as a result of such a bite.  The intense itching is followed by an autoimmune over reaction which causes a thickening of the skin and lesions. Sweet Itch is a terrible condition which makes the life of afflicted horses a misery, particularly throughout the summer months. Sweet Itch is characterised by constant itching and rubbing of the top of the tail and also the mane.  Depending on the severity other areas may well be affected such as the face, neck and sometimes other parts of the body. The constant feeling of itching causes a great deal of distress and many sweet itch sufferers will spend most of their time trying to rub or scratch on anything available such as stable doors, fence posts and even rolling on the ground.  This will result in loss of hair and further soreness and damage to the skin. Horses with untreated and unmanaged swe