Sweet Itch
Summer can be a fairly uncomfortable time for horses and ponies suffering from Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dermatitis or ‘sweet itch’, and a pretty frustrating time for their owners too. The most obvious sign of this condition is intense itching which can be so severe that the horse will rub off the mane and tail and cause raw areas on the skin. The most common cause is an allergy to the saliva of midges which leads to a release of histamine from cells known as mast cells.
It is not possible to cure sweet itch, although it can often be well controlled. The mainstay of control is avoidance of contact with the midges, usually with a combination of fly sheets, fly repellents and restriction to the stable during dawn and dusk when midges are most active. For some horses and ponies this may be enough, however others may need additional veterinary attention and treatment. A number of treatments are available such as corticosteroids, antihistamines, topical creams and more recently, Cavalesse.
Cavalesse works by reducing the amount of histamine released and improving the skin barrier. It is given orally once daily, ideally before the itching begins and continues throughout the season. Cavalesse is also available as a topical gel which can be applied to the skin as appropriate in conjunction with the oral solution.
Cavalesse can be bought without prescription from Oakhill and if you have any questions please feel free to contact any member of the veterinary team at the clinic.
