Hi all, as you probably know, DD's old lead rein pony went on loan in the spring to some friends and recently came back to me for the winter. He has developed sweet itch while away, I would imagine from the sheer numbers of midges this year - he didn't get it while with me. So he has rubbed most of his mane off (was a lovely, thick blond sheltie mane before ) and the top of his tail plus he has scabbing at the tops of his shoulders and on his rump. His loan family treated him with benzyl benzoate (which I thought was a banned substance, but they may have got it in Ireland) and regularly shampooed with dermoline. It didn't work so I haven't continued with this.
Now I have never had a pony/horse with sweet itch before and imagined that it would clear up now that the weather is colder and the midges have mostly gone. So I put him in a fly sheet and now he has a high-neck winter rug on (he has a belly clip so can't go unrugged).
Poor boy is still very itchy and I noticed yesterday that one of the scabs was raw underneath so he is still reacting. I have been advised to hog him so that treatment is easier (and tbh most of his mane has gone anyway) and wash him regularly in cheapo shampoo to keep the grease out of his coat.
I'm planning on hogging his mane this weekend and will wash his mane and shoulders but I think he may need something soothing as well. Also, I have got some NAF natural fly spray which I will use, but will happily use deet-based spray if any of you think it will work better.
So any advice/anecdotes/recommendations gratefully received, thanks.
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Pony has come back off loan with sweet itch - advice on management/treatment needed please.
14 replies
Callisto · 08/11/2012 08:22
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