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No one want to see their horse itchy and scratching on everything and everything they can access. These itchy horses can damage property, rip up rugs, and worst of all, self mutilate to the point of extreme tissue damage.
Itch control is about a long term management strategy
QLD itch, sweet itch, summer itch are all common names for Recurrent Seasonal Pruritus. A hypersensitivity to the saliva of the midge (Culicoides spp.), causing a systemic inflammatory allergic response.
Itchy horses can be miserable horses. They are constantly uncomfortable and irritated. This can affect their physical wellbeing, and also their mental wellbeing. They can even become irritable and reactive.
Managing the itch in horses is about addressing the cause of the itch and addressing it appropriately.
Sounds easy enough right?
Well not always.
Its often more about management rather than 'treatment'. There is no one miracle cure, Chemically or naturally.
I manage an itchy horse. I can certainly improve his itch, and make him more comfortable, and even reducing the trigger of the itch, but its always an underlying issue for him, and any lapse in management will trigger a relapse, and can take some time to get him feeling comfortable again.
It is hard to see a horse that is so itchy they will rip their own skin.
Understanding the nature of the itch, and some ways to manage the itch can make them much more comfortable in the summer seasons.
How do the midges cause such an intense itch for these itchy horses?
It can be difficult to see how such a little insect, barely visible to the naked eye, can cause such a debilitating condition to such a large animal.
When the midge bites, it inserts its mouth piece into the skin, and as its feeding, it injects saliva. The saliva contains proteins which trigger an immune reaction in sensitive horses.
This immune reaction is a systemic inflammatory response. This means the reaction occurs throughout the body, and not just in the local area of the bite.
This inflammatory response creates an intense pruritus (Itch), and skin sensitivity throughout the whole skin surface. The skin becomes hypersensitive to any touch or sensation. After the initial trigger of the bite, there is an inflammatory immune cascade, which will affect the horse for weeks after this exposure.
Here are my 5 top tips for managing Itch in itchy horses.
Prevention of midge bites
Stop the midge bites to stop the itch.
Prevention is key, and it is such a simple concept, but much harder to implement.
Midges live in warm humid climates. They love the swamps and creeks. muddy area and even moist grass and poo piles.
The need the warm moist conditions to breed, and this is why we see certain regions all over the world which have horses experiencing this itch. Once the environmental conditions are not suited to the midge survival, you have stopped the itch.
How many horse advertisements do you see for horses that need to move inland, or to a cooler climate?
Midges are more active in the dusk and dawn. However in ideal conditions may be around all day.
Moving your whole life to an itch free zone is not in everyones reality, so what are some ways we can prevent the midges biting?
Rugging
There are many rug options on the market, and there is something to suit any horse, or any size.
Rugs are improving all the time, and you can find all sorts of rugs, such as cotton rugs that are a solid material, or a mesh rug, or even a flag rug, which is more lightweight than others.
When first rugging a horse that is still incredibly itchy they will be very hard on the rug, and it will be a good idea to have a few on hand so they are not nude while getting the ripped rug fixed, or replaced.
The most crucial time to rug is at dusk and dawn. Make sure you are protecting them with an insect repellent if you are removing the rug through the day.
There are some rugs which will cover in under the belly, and some rugs that are also imbedded with a pyrethrin for continual protection.
Stalling
Putting the horse in a stall before dusk and let out after dawn can help reduce midge exposure. The drier environment of the stall will help, however even better if you can install tight flyscreens and a fan, which make it difficult for the midge to fly, or land on the horse. Locking them in a small area without these extra measures of the flyscreen and fan will only have a slight benefit.
Insect repellents/ insecticides
Midges are not deterred by the normal insect repellents that work on flies and mosquitos. Look for a repellent with menthol and camphor as the main smells. This can be in a cream, or as a spray. Always be careful with some of these repellents on the sensitive and damaged skin. Using a barrier cream, like Heel grease Can protect the skin, and support healing.
I use an essential oil fly spray repellent, and will sometimes add some permethrin if they need some extra support.
There are some recipes online that use Listerine, or Dettol for the menthol and camphor content, but I think we can do better with the essential oils that are widely available.
In some very sensitive skinned horses, the feeling of the spray on their skin can be very irritating. Opt for a cream option for these horses.
Soothe the itch
The itch comes from an inflammatory immune pathway which involves many different cells and chemical signals which activate the immune system, and sensitise the nerves.
Once started, there can be an itch- scratch cycle which continues to inflame the skin, damage the tissue and sensitise the immune system, which can be one vicious cycle of worsening itch, and tissue trauma.
To soothe the itch we can use herbs topically and internally, anti-allergic supplements.
Itchy Horse is a herbal mix to soothe and support the skin. This is an internal herb mix to add to their feed.
this contains herbs which are anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory.
Itchy Horse Cream is a herbal cream to help with the itch topically. Containing a nourishing and moisturising base cream with added herbals which have anti-allergic anti- itch and skin healing actions.
Reduce the Immune hypersensitivity
Reducing the sensitivity and the reactivity of the immune system can play a big role in reducing the hypersensitivity and intensity of the itch.
Itchy Horse will have an impact on this immune hypersensitivity with herbs like nettle, albizzia and euphorbia which can reduce the immune activation in the allergic response, and nettle which helps to reduce mast cells from releasing histamine into the tissues.
PEA
No, Not peas, but PEA (palmitoylethanolamine). This is another supplement I like to use in highly sensitive horses. This has been shown to have anti-allergic actions. Helping to modulation the immune system
Quercetin
Quercetin is a natural flavonoid which has anti-allergic benefits. It helps to modulate the immune system. It is an antioxidant and immunomodulator, helping to regulate and balance the immune response. Horses will need around 600-1000mg per day for this to be effective.
Reduce the Inflammation and irritation on the skin
With QLD itch, there is a huge amount of inflammation and irritation on the skin, which can continue to activate the immune system, increase the pain and sensitivity of the skin and cause nerve irritation.
PEA
PEA- (palmitoylethanolamine) also has amazing anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. This can help break the itch/ scratch / pain / nerve irritation cycle.
Linseed oil/ meal
Linseeds are high in anti-inflammatory essential fatty acids. These can help to reduce the inflammation within the skin, and more systemically whilst also supporting the health of the cells. Some supplements will use a fish oil for the omega 3 content.
Turmeric
Turmeric can be a great anti-inflammatory, which helps to reduce the inflammation throughout the body. This can be made into a Turmeric paste, or given as a powder within the meal, and add in a few grinds of pepper to improve absorption.
Be sure to also use the linseed oil within the same meal to add a fat, which aids absorption as well.
Prevent secondary infections of the skin
When the skin is broken, we allow the perfect environment for secondary infections to occur. This can be a bacterial infection, or a yeasty infection. Both of which increase the skin irritation, sensitivity and itch.
Using the topical barrier cream, like the Itchy Horse Cream or the Heel grease can help to protect the underlying skin while it is healing and reduce the incidence of skin infections.
Vitamin C
Adding Vitamin C to their diet can also help support the immune system, and increase the healing capacity of the skin as it is essential for the formation of healthy collagen. We can use the Vibrant C with Horses. This also contains rosehips and camu camu, which are high in natural vitamin C, and also antioxidant and have an anti-inflammatory action.
Spirulina
Spirulina has been shown to have anti-allergic actions. This can be fed in dosages between 20g 1-2 times per day
There are so many different actions to implement to help soothe the itch in these horses.
If you would like more individualised and targeted advice, that is suitable for your horse, book in for a consultation
What have you found to be effective, or ineffective for your itchy horse? Let me know in the comments below.
Give your horse a pat for me.
Kerrie x
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