Itching, Mane and Tail Rubbing, Insect Bite Hypersensitivity
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There are many, many reasons our horses itch. Below you will find several types of skin problems that cause itching in our horses.
Insect Induced Dermatitis - Insect Bite Hypersensitivity
The common “no-see-ums” also known as sand gnats, midges, or Culicoides are a common cause of skin problems in horses. These tiny insects feed on the horse in various locations. Most commonly on the ears, mane, tail, eyes, withers, rump, and the belly of the horse. On the belly or midline the lesions form a widespread pattern. Culicoides cause a hypersensitivity response in the horse’s skin and the condition is commonly known as sweet itch or Queensland itch.
Culicoides Hypersensitivity- also known as Sweet itch or Queensland itch
What is sweet itch?
Sweet Itch can be the bane of many horse’s lives throughout the spring and summer months. Basically it’s an allergic response to the saliva in the bite of a species of midge called Culicoides. This means that once a sensitive horse is bitten by a Culicoides fly, it will have an allergic reaction at the site of the bite. This will cause a localized irritation and extreme itching. Self- inflicted damage will occur as the horse itches himself. Culicoides are responsible for many ruined manes and tails
Flies
Due to the life cycle of the flies in question, this is a seasonal disease, occurring only in the warmer months. It is characterized by severe itchiness and welts that erupt causing crusting and soreness. The horse will suffer constant aggravation and will keep rubbing himself against trees, fences, stall walls and will keep swishing his tail in an effort to find relief and to keep the flies away.
There are many different species of Culicoides midge. Each one prefers to bite a different area on the horse. The horse will then itch the area around where the fly has bitten. Most common are the “dorsal feeders” who bite, and cause damage around the horses ears, poll, mane, withers, rump, and tail head. The “ventral feeders” are less common, and tend to cause the itching around the horse’s face, chest, and belly.
Signs of disease
Constant rubbing that causes hair loss over the affected area, often the mane and rump. In the early stages the skin will be bald, red, inflamed, crusty and sore. As the disease progresses, the skin becomes chronically thickened, blackened, and wrinkled. The hair becomes sparse and coarse, and the tail takes on a rat-tailed appearance. Over the winter, a horse will usually totally heal. In the spring the disease will come back at the first contact with flies, and the cycle starts all over again.
Treatment
If you have a horse or pony that suffers from sweet itch, there’s actually quite a lot you can do to help.
- First and most important you need to decrease your horse’s exposure to the Culicoides fly by reducing the population. I strongly recommend Arbico Organics Fly Predator Program.
- Keep the flies from biting your horse with Equiderma Outdoor Horse Spray.
- Control the itching and subsequent insult to the site with Equiderma Leave on Skin Lotion.
Fly control- Keeping the insects off your horse
- Lower the population of flies in your barn and stable area. In all cases the first, best, and least expensive line of defense is a natural predator. I recommend using Arbico Organics -www.arbicoorganics.com- They offer a biological fly control program that helps to significantly lower the overall population of biting insects. This is a great alternative method to control insect populations without the use of harmful pesticides… Better for you, your horse, and the environment. I have used them with great success.
- Use Equiderma Outdoor Horse Spray. This spray does an excellent job keeping biting insects off your horse. It can either be applied as a spray or as a wipe. We formulated it at the rescue and tested it in the Florida Everglades. It contains the most superb and beneficial mix of organic, natural ingredients to help keep flies off your horse: Neem Oil, Aloe, Cedar-wood, Eucalyptus, White Thyme, Lemongrass oil, Citronella, Lemon peel, Tea Tree, Bergamot, and Lavender. This spectacular combination of oils is safe for horse, rider, and the entire family.
- In the event your horse does get bitten, apply EQUIDERMA LEAVE-ON LOTION. This will completely halt the itching, thereby preventing subsequent insult to the site, and stop the welt from rupturing.
Here are some other steps you can take to help your horse.
- Insect-proof stables using fine-mesh screens.
- Use ceiling or wall mounted fans in stables to create a good breeze - flies will find it harder to land on your horse.
- Stable horses at sunrise and sunset, as this is when flies are most active.
- Try using sheets and hoods to cover the horse with when he is turned out. Make sure you purchase one that will cover the horses belly as this is a prime area of attack.
- Culicoides flies breed around ponds and marshes, but do not fly more than a few hundred meters from their breeding areas. If possible moving horses farther than half a mile from such areas should dramatically reduce fly exposure.
- Make sure there are no pools of standing water and that pasture drainage is good.
If your horse is not being bitten by insects there are several other reasons he may be itching. Especially in the case of tail rubbing…
1. FUNGUS - Often fungi attach themselves to the dock of the tail and base of the mane. This is a prime area for fungus to develop. It’s dark, and when wet this area takes longer to dry… This is a perfect environment for a fungus to thrive. Equiderma Leave-on Skin Lotion will kill the fungus in one treatment.
2. Dirty Rectum, Labia and Tail Dock - In many cases tail rubbing is simply a matter of a dirty bum. Imagine how itchy we would be if we had dirt and smegma down there. Equiderma’s Neem and Aloe Sheath Cleanser is the perfect way to melt dirt and stubborn smegma away. Unlike other popular sheath cleaning products it will NOT slide off your hand and onto the wash rack floor. It will actually make it to the smegma, and WILL melt it away like butter, and help keep your horses bottom clean! This will go a long way in stopping tail rubbing.
3. Worms - Be sure your horse is on a regular worming schedule appropriate to your area of the country. In Florida we worm every five to six weeks. In colder climates you may not have to do it as often.Consult your veterinarian as to the best schedule for your area.
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