Prevention & Treatment

Careful management of sweet itch, as well as other seasonal skin allergies and dermatitis, is imperative to prevent a horse from harming himself by rubbing itchy, irritated skin. Preventing insect bites as much as possible may be the best course of action for defeating sweet itch.

• Use a fly spray liberally that combines repellent and pesticide ingredients.
• Try a barrier technique like a fly sheet with neck, belly and tail coverage and a fine-mesh fly mask.
• Minimize standing water, which is where midges live and breed. If possible, keep horses away from ponds and marshes, and clean water tanks often.
• Stable horses during times of the day when midge activity is high like the hours around dawn and dusk.
• Provide ceiling or stall box fans. Midges are weak flyers and circulating air can help prevent them from landing.
• Clean manure often and keep manure pile as far from horses as possible.
• Supplement with a Platinum Wellness formula, containing a plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat, in combination with Platinum Skin & Allergy to provide targeted support for seasonal allergies.
• Veterinarians may prescribe corticosteroids that can be successful in treating acute skin irritation and are often used with antihistamines.

Providing a Fan May Help

One way to help your horse that might be struggling with sweet itch is to provide ceiling or stall box fans. Midges are weak flyers and circulating air can help prevent them from landing.

Itchy Horses: Other Common Seasonal Skin Issues

Although skin problems can pester horses any time of the year, the warm and moist months of spring and summer seem to be when they most often occur. Dry skin, hives, scratches, rain rot and summer sores can result in seasonally itchy or uncomfortable horses. Providing a balanced diet based on forage that includes omega-3 fats and antioxidants can be a first line of defense to support proper immunity and skin and coat health.

Why does My Horse have Dry Skin in Wet Weather?

Dry, flaky skin and a dull hair coat in horses can be caused by several health issues including parasites, ulcers, or as a symptom of dermatitis, sweet itch or rain rot. It can be in response to insect bites and a sign of an allergic response. Dry skin may also have a dietary component and is sometimes seen in horses that need a boost of skin-supporting omega-3 fats or biotin, or are lacking certain minerals, like zinc or copper. During the summer, a common reason is likely due to the horse being in a constant wet-dry cycle from being in rainy conditions or overbathing. With the hot weather, many horses will be hosed off often and receive more baths than other times of the year. Bathing with shampoos can deplete the horse’s natural coat oils causing dry skin. Try to limit soap baths to when really necessary and no more than once a week.

My Horse is Covered in Hives! Help!

Hives are the common name for urticaria which manifest in response to an allergy as raised, fluid-filled swellings called “wheals.” They can range in size from small, 1/2 inch bumps to much larger widths and are usually seen on the horse’s neck, back and flank areas. Hives can be itchy and aggravating to horses. There are many causative factors for them, but, seasonally, hives are often seen in response to bug bites, pollens and other seasonal allergens. They may subside on their own, or bathing with cool water may get rid of a topical allergy. If they are caused by insects, fly gear such as fly sheets, boots and masks may help to prevent recurrence. For more severe cases, hives may be treated with steroids or antihistamines under a veterinarian’s supervision.

What are Scratches?

Scratches, also called “dew poisoning,” “mud fever” or equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) by veterinarians, is a common inflammatory skin disease that affects the back of the pastern, fetlock and heel of the lower legs. Although it can affect any horse at any time of the year, it is often seen seasonally during warm, wet and muddy weather particularly in horses with long feathers, such as draft horses. Horses with white socks also are more likely to be affected. The constant wetting and drying of skin breaks down the horse’s natural barrier and sets up an environment for it to become chapped and cracked. Small skin cracks allow bacteria and fungi to enter resulting in inflammation. The legs may become red, irritated and scabby with crusty bumps that weep or bleed. Depending on the severity, the legs may be hot to the touch and painful, potentially resulting in lameness. Your veterinarian should be consulted on the best course of action, but mild cases may be treated by washing the affected area with antibacterial soaps or antifungal solutions and topicals. Keep the legs clean, dry and exposed to air. More severe cases or recurrent issues will need medications and veterinary care.

Is there Anything I Can do to Get Rid of Rain Rot?

Rain rot (rain scald or dermatophilosis) is common during rainy seasons and in hot, humid locations. It is a bacterial skin infection caused by the microorganism Dermatophilus congolensis. With a consistently wet coat and a break in the skin, the bacteria enters the body. Symptoms of rain rot include dry skin and loose, flaky hair that may fall out in patches when grooming. Hard, painful crusts may be felt or seen, typically on the back and rump, in more severe cases. Rain rot can be uncomfortable, itchy and even painful. For infected horses, anti-microbial shampoos may be used to treat and clean the area. Soak, soften and remove scabs as much as possible to allow oxygen exposure to help heal. Do not share brushes or gear used by affected horses as rain rot is contagious. For severe cases, veterinary intervention may be needed for antibiotics. To prevent rain rot, try to keep coats clean, dry and exposed to air. Groom horses daily, especially ones that wear sheets regularly.

What Can I do to Help My Horse with Summer Sores?

Summer sores (properly known as cutaneous habronemiasis) are another seasonal nuisance caused by the larvae of the stomach worm Habronema or Draschia species. Flies deposit the larvae into irritated or broken skin tissue, as well as other moist areas of the body such as eyes, ears, lips, sheath and vulva. An abnormal life step for these stomach worms, the larvae will not grow into adult worms on the skin but will cause an inflammatory reaction characterized by redness, swelling and intense itching. Rubbing to relieve the itch and irritation can result in raw, weepy lesions filled with granulation tissue like proud flesh. Veterinarians will need to treat summer sores and will likely use a combination of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and larvicidal components. The dewormers—ivermectin or moxidectin—are often used to kill both adult worms in the stomach as well as larval forms in skin tissue. Prevention in the way of aggressive fly control and efficient manure removal can greatly reduce the incidence of summer sores.