Sweet-itch: products for treatment and protection

Sweet-itch: products for treatment and protection

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

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


Sweet Itch Products Feature Shires Fine Mesh Fly Mask With Ears and Nose Extension
Sweet Itch Products Feature – Shires Fine Mesh Fly Mask With Ears and Nose Extension

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

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
TurmerItch from The Golden Paste Company

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

Sweet Itch Products Feature - Thomas Pettifer Sw'itch

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.

Sweet Itch Products Feature - Carr & Day & Martin Killitch Sweet Itch Lotion

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.

Sweet Itch Products Feature - Z-itch Sweet Itch for Horses

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

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012). Qualifications include a Ba Hons in Marketing Management and Diploma in Equine Studies. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses since a young child and has over a decade of experience in news writing and magazine content publication in the equestrian industry.