Looking for sweet itch products for protection and treatment to help your horse or pony this spring and summer? Then this product feature is for you.
Consistency is the key when treating sweet itch, and persistence in keeping the horse covered up will help prevent the condition. Whether it’s a new rug, supplement, lotion, or management routine, each horse owner should know it’s an all-in problem to resolve.
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Protection – Sweet Itch Rug
First things first, get your horse a rug that’s been purposely designed for sweet itch. A sweet itch rug will offer your horse all-around protection by covering the head, neck, and belly. Typically, the rug should have a belly bar (added material held in place by Velcro and surcingles), an extra-long tail flap, a long neck cover designed to fit close to the horse with plenty of straps to secure, and a fly mask with ears (often sold separately). Basically, the more coverage, the better.
A rug will need to be breathable, cover as much of the horse or pony as possible, and be made of suitable material to help prevent rubbing.
Highlander Plus Sweet-itch Combo Rug
Where to buy: Naylors
For all-over protection, the Shires Highlander Plus Sweet-itch rug covers all bases from your horse’s poll to hock. This highly breathable rug has a selection of features, making it ideal for horses that suffer from sweet itch.
Features:
- Belly Bar
- High shoulder gussets for ease of movement
- Full neck secured with three velcro fasteners.
- Anti-rub lining to the neck, shoulders and breast
- Stretch-fit ear panel for added protection and to prevent the neck panel from sliding down
- Large tail flap
- Adjustable fillet string
The Shires Sweet-Itch Combo helps protect against UV Rays, providing 30+ UPF, blocking out over 90% of harmful UVA/UVB, and helping to prevent bleaching of the horse’s coat. As the rug is light in colour, it should also help keep your horse cool during the warmer months. It is suitable for turnout or in the stable.
Available in sizes 4’9 – 7’3
Protection: Shires Fine Mesh Fly Mask with Ears
Where to buy: Amazon
A flexible and strong fly mask from Shires with a nose extension for complete coverage. A prominent seller each year, the mask is breathable and allows for full vision. It protects against flies, bugs, insects, and other unwanted flying pests. The fleece padding is ergonomically shaped and touch-close with large velcro straps. It is complete with air stream fabric ears.
Products to Treat and Heal
There’s a large variety of products available to horses and ponies that suffer from sweet-itch, and sometimes while others may work for some, they may not for others. However, we’ve found a combo of products that have had countless praise in terms of effectiveness for treatment and prevention, the
Botanica Anti-Itch Cream and Cleansing Wash
Where to buy: Equine Products UK
Botanica Anti-Itch treatment comes as a cleansing wash and soothing anti-itch cream, that when used together not only treats sweet itch but can prevent it too. Early application is recommended (mid-February) to build a barrier. The cleansing wash contains natural herbal ingredients to soothe the area, with antiseptic properties to clean the skin. The anti-itch cream, an essential part of the product application, helps soothe and moisturise the affected areas.
TurmerItch from The Golden Paste Company
Where to buy: The Golden Paste Company
A fantastic supplement for maintaining a healthy skin and coat, that is absorbed into the bloodstream rather than applied topically. It combines key specialist ingredients including Neem, Red Bush Tea and Chamomile, to help provide relief from itching and soothe the skin. Suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis, the unique pellets can be added to daily feed or simply fed by hand. The active ingredients in TurmerItch support biting insect repulsion and help maintain reduced sensitivity which was demonstrated during trials with the supplement over a 12-month period. Not only was the supplement extremely beneficial to horses suffering with sweet itch as it reduced itching, it also improved hair regrowth and coat shine.
2kg tub is a 40 day supply fora 500kg horse.
Other products you may like
Thomas Pettifer Sw’itch
Where to buy: VioVet
Containing tea tree and rosemary oils, the Thomas Pettifer Sw’itch emulsion acts to soothe existing bites and works to prevent new bites with the addition of neem oil. Contains hydroxybenzoate.
Killitch Sweet Itch lotion
Where to buy: VioVet
The Killitch Sweet Itch lotion from Carr and Day and Martin contains a highly effective ingredient used to prevent and treat Sweet Itch: Benzyl Benzoate, which has been blended with soothing botanicals.
Z-Itch for Horses
Where to buy: VioVet
A ready-made pour-on solution for horses that suffer from Sweet-Itch. Specifically designed to target Culicoides. An easy-to-use formula to rub onto affected areas.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
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