Sweet itch and fly bite allergies

[4horses]

My older mare developed sweet itch this summer. No history of bug bite allergy before this. She is getting welts from fly bites in addition to the sweet itch. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if this isn’t actually sweet itch but a fly bite allergy?

The only thing that has changed in the environment is that our neighbors bought cows and we now have about 8 cows next door. The horn flies are quite voracious.

Any suggestions on managing this?

She is constantly itchy. Her ears are quite raw inside from rubbing, and she’s destroying her fly masks. I bought a fly sheet for her and plan to clip her tomorrow and try the sheet on her. It’s been too hot to have it on until this week.

I thought we had the itching under control but as of today she’s back to rubbing her ears raw.

I tried citronella shampoo and it didn’t seem to make any difference (the bugs still love her after her bath).

Yes I can keep a fly sheet on her, but what about her belly? I imagine the bugs will just move to her belly.

I could lock her in the barn but she’s always been happier out. The bugs are here year round so I’m not sure keeping her locked up is any sort of viable long term solution.

I tried zyrtec but didn’t see any difference in her itchiness levels.

[2DogsFarm]

Sorry, I’d typed out a lengthy reply before seeing you’d already tried zyrtec.
I hope you can find a solution for your mare.

[Horsecrazy3]

My gelding developed an allergy/sweet itch to noseeums (midges). Would rub his sheath and tummy raw. I tired many different products and nothing seem to work long term. I started using a neem containing fly spray, which kept the little buggers away and the sweet itch cleared up. I was told the neem also sterilizes the male flies so fewer little buggers around. I use Equiderma Horse Spray. I’ve used it for the last 4 yrs.

[IPEsq]

Zyrtec might help some with the welts, but it doesn’t seem to do much for itching. Had to do allergy shots for my one horse who is allergic to all the bugs…each year was getting worse.

Just retested my other horse who had been rubbing his neck and mane for months. Topicals, diet, and antihistamines have done nothing. He was itchy some last year but nothing like this. Last year his allergy results were unremarkable. But it can get worse over time, so we’ll see if the results are any different now.

[Huntin_Pony]

What type of testing did you use for your horses, please? I have miserable horses and have tried pretty much everything else.

[RemarkableOwl21]

My horse started itching out of the blue 1.5 years ago. I tried all kinds of topicals, fly sprays, allergy pills, and fly sheet. Finally paid for allergy testing and weekly allergy injections and his itching has improved quite a bit. He had several allergies, but not to midges/ culicoides. Mites were a big one for him. I’m still doing the weekly injections but I began to see improvements after about 3 months.

[Burnt-In]

Ask your vet about Apoquel. I have not had to use it personally but have heard of people having incredible results with their horses ( and dogs lol) on it.

[GraceLikeRain]

The trade off is that if it doesn’t work it is frustratingly expensive. I spent around $1k in 6 weeks for mine to be one of the ones it doesn’t help.

Im glad I tried so I could answer the what if but mentally brace yourself for the cost. I think it’s around $300/month but the initial onboarding month was about $700 if memory serves. I’m working hard to quickly forget the exact numbers!

Mine is on 40 Zyrtec and got a good summer out of steroid shots monthly but now those don’t work.

She did a full round of allergy shots based off of bloodwork but we are thinking about doing the skin test and another round of allergy shots next year.

Allergies are so frustrating. Best of luck.

[Critter]

Mine has allergies, tested to some flies (in addition to other stuff) and will get welts.

We’ve been doing generic zyrtec…it does help, though doesn’t eliminate all the itchiness. My vet then did the blood testing through Nextmune. I realize it’s not as accurate as skin testing…but I listened to a webinar with two vets on allergy management, and both suggested blood testing as a valid option. When we paid for the test, for an extra $50 difference, they would provide the initial serum for the allergy shots. That’s several months worth of doses…my mare is finally up to the 3rd vial and 1x month dosing. It has also significantly helped.

The webinar I listened to said Apoquel can be super effective, but if you don’t get a response in 1-2 weeks, you should give up on it as your horse will be a non responder (higher dose doesn’t help).

I also do fly sheets, boots no matter how hot it is. It’s that or she can’t go outside. I would rather she sweat from the sheet than sweat from running from the bugs and rubbing herself raw.

[Needanothercupofcoffee]

I also keep my bug sensitive horse in Full fly gear (Rambo mask with ears, Rambo fly sheet with neck and belly band and shoo fly boots) from the time I see the first fly in the spring until it’s time for a sheet in the fall. I find once she starts the itching it is near impossible to stop the cycle. I put zinc oxide and swat on the area of her belly and udder where the sheet doesn’t cover and fly spray on top of the sheet and boots and thoroughly spray her tail. I keep her “fly suit” very clean by washing it every few wears and have several I rotate through so she always has a clean one to wear. I haven’t needed Zyrtec or steroids for several years with this program. She stays dressed even when it is very hot. She does sweat underneath when it it very hot and humid but better for her than being driven insane by itching. It is work intensive but worth it as she no longer itches, has a beautiful mane and tail (used to itch so badly she would lose hunks of hair)

[IPEsq]

We did the blood testing with Nextmune. He had some low positives last year but my vet said it was all basically negative except for a couple of things like ragweed (which I think is currently making him hardly able to work with all the sneezing). Compared to my other horse at least who was clearly allergic to anll the bugs and a few key trees and weeds that grow here—also mites were the worst for him.

If the blood testing is also not helpful this year for this guy, we might do skin testing, but the only person who does that is quite a haul and hard to get an appointment with. My vet might also just talk to the Nextmune folks about making up a serum based on what we think he reacts to. For gnats, it seems that both blood and skin tests are not that reliable for certain allergy types, so skin testing might not help a ton anyway with figuring it out.

[Showbizz]

After 4 years of unsuccessfully using an antihistamine for seasonal allergies on my gelding, I read about Equine Neck Threadworms on here. I decided to treat him this summer, and to my astonishment, that’s the root of his problem. It’s easy to do and I highly recommend it. Search for it on these forums.

[GraceLikeRain]

Does yours get big lumps in response to bites or is it holistic itching? Our allergy panel was diffuse and unremarkable so part of me has wondered if it could be bug sensitivity despite not really getting clear responses to any single bite.

[Needanothercupofcoffee]

My horse only gets visible welts from bomber or horsefly bites. The only visible signs of the little biting buggies is the irritation from her itching, she’ll rub her mane, tail and belly raw.

My mare has other sensitivities as well, has mild asthma and a very sensitive gut. I had allergy testing done several years ago and nothing much useful was found

[Phaedra1]

A couple of years ago, I had an old pony with really bad sweet itch. We tried a full-body fly sheet with a belly cover, but she still rubbed, and the mesh ended up tearing her skin. Being black, she would get quite hot in the summer. Eventually, we discovered that diaper cream helped; I used whatever brand I could find. I’d slather it on her belly every morning, and it would last all day.

For her ears, I used a strong fly spray, applying it to a cloth and rubbing it on her ears. We never trimmed the hair inside her ears, which helped keep the flies out. Once we got her belly under control, she didn’t rub her ears as much either, so we put a fly mask on her and continued using the fly spray on her ears. Even the cheapest tub of cream worked well for managing sweet itch, as well as any irritations, rubs, or scabs that the flies liked to bother.

We used diaper cream for about eight years. She had permanent scarring on her belly from before we bought her, so she did not grow much hair back.

[Silverbell]

I have tried many different things over the years without success and ended up using Ecovet, the only brand of repellent that works on gnats. Instead of spraying, I wipe it on it with an applicator (made for car wax) at least once a day, in the evening if possible. It’s a fairly effective solution. Also just invest in multiple fly masks with ears, as they really do help. Good luck!

[Needanothercupofcoffee]

The ecovet fly spray unfortunately irritates my mares respiratory system and causes her to cough and sneeze (me too actually) so I use ultrashield -the black bottle. It seems to work ok but need to apply frequently

But a big yes on the diaper rash/zinc oxide on the belly and udder!!! I get tubs at Walmart and mix it with some swat