Sweet Itch

 

At last summer seems to have finally arrived. Unfortunately for some horses the onset of the warmer weather leads to an increase in itchy skin diseases, particularly allergies. There are numerous potential allergens to which horses can react and if your horse becomes itchy then a thorough examination of your horse's skin is recommended in order to identify the cause. In some cases we may need to take samples from the skin or blood samples in order to make a diagnosis.

 

Perhaps the most common cause of itchy skin in horses at this time of year is Sweet Itch.This is a hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to the saliva of the culicoides family of midge. All horses are irritated by midge bites but sweet itch occurs in only in particular susceptible horses which produce an allergic reaction. This is often seen as intensely itchy raised knobbly patches of skin which are often covered by a crust of dry serum. This can occur anywhere but is usually mainly centred around the mane and tail head. Self trauma from repeated rubbing can lead to hair loss and secondary infections.

 

As with any allergy, thebest means of controlling sweet itch is to remove your horse from the source of the problem wherever possible. There are several management factors that can help in keeping midge bites to a minimum.

 

 

• Avoid keeping horses close to wet land or water courses as this is where midges breed,
• Midges are most active at dawn and dusk, so keep your horse stabled at these times,
• Fitting a fly screen to the stable door to prevent flies and midges entering.
• Putting a fan in the stable will create air movement which midges dislike.
• Use of specially designed fly rugs is very effective and recommended to protect animalsfrom fly bites (although your horse may end up looking like Darth Vader!)

 

Many products are available for midge control in horses. Some of these products are fly repellants, and are generally herbal based and some of these products contain chemicals that actually kill flies and midges. It is therefore recommended to read the label on all products before use, and to find a product that suits your horse's needs. Please contact the surgery for advice.

 

 

A new product which was launched last year and of which we have had heard some promising results is Fidavet Cavalesse which helps to prevent itchy skin. This product will be useful both for horses that suffer from sweet itch but also those who are generally itchy. Cavalesse contains only natural products, including nicotinamide which is a water soluble form of vitamin B3. Nicotinamide helps to balance the horse's natural immune response, and is a useful aid to help maintain healthy skin in horses and ponies prone to allergies in the spring and summer. Cavalesse is a natural food supplement which acts in two ways. Firstly it reduces the release of histamine which is the chemical released into the blood stream during an allergic reaction that causes itching. Secondly, it improves the skin's barrier by increasing the amount of natural fats in the skin's surface. It is easy to administer, by adding a very small quantity of liquid to a feed or treat each day. In order for the best effect to be achieved, Cavalesse needs to be startedbeforeyour horse starts to itch. A gel form of this product is also available to help soothe itchy sores.

 

Ticks

 

Ticks are very common in this area and so far this year we have seen an increasing number of tick cases. Ticks are small insects which live on rough ground and which attach themselves to the skin, usually where it is thinnest around the inside of the legs. Here they feed on blood and swell to around the size of raisins before falling off to reproduce. Once attached, ticks are irritating and can leave a stubborn inflammatory reaction at the attachment site. Once discovered prompt removal is advised, taking care not to leave any of the mouth-parts embedded in the skin. This is easiest using a tick-removing tool such as an O'Tom tick hook. There are no products specifically licensed for tick control in horses in the UK, however, where large numbers of tick are found then it is advised that you speak to your veterinary surgeon regarding medicines available to help control heavy tick infestations.

 

Strangles

Spotlight on stable management to help prevent strangles. 
In light of the current unavailability of a strangles vaccine, it is advisable to ensure that good stable management and hygiene procedures are in place on your yard to reduce the chances of horses going down with this debilitating disease. The vaccine manufacturer is still unable to advise when the product will become available, so remaining vigilant for symptoms of strangles is extremely important.With this in mind, follow our top five tips to help prevent strangles taking hold.

 

1. Ensure good stable management and hygiene procedures are followed - such as washing hands between handling each horse and disinfecting shared areas and equipment after each use.Horses often contract the disease from shared water sources where the bacterium that causes strangles,Streptococcus equi, lives for longer periods so don't share equipment, such as buckets, with other horses on the premises,
2. The incubation period of strangles is approximately three weeks, however new cases may occur weeks after an initial outbreak.It is advisable to quarantine new arrivals to a yard for at least three weeks before they are allowed to mix with others. During quarantine they should be swabbed to check for carriers.
3. Strangles can affect all ages and types, but horses most at risk are those kept on yards in large numbers and those that mix with others at competitions and riding club events.To help avoid your horse contracting the disease, avoid overcrowding and keep contact with unknown horses to a minimum.
4. Remain vigilant for signs of the disease which include: fever, nasal discharge, cough, depression, anorexia and enlarged glands on the head and neck, which can develop into abscesses.
5. Don't take chances - horses suspected of having strangles should be isolated and the area, along with all equipment, tack etc, that the horse has been in contact with, should be thoroughly disinfected.If you suspect that your horse has strangles, call the practice immediately.

 

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