ADVICEFROMTHE VET


YES, IT’S ALREADYTIME TO BE THINKING ABOUT SWEET ITCH!


WHATISSWEET ITCH?


By Sally Hodgson BSc(Hons), MA, VetMB, Cert AVP(EM), MRCVS WHICH HORSES GET


Sweet itch is caused by an allergic response to midge saliva–however other insectbites can also provoke an allergic response.Whenan allergic or hypersensitivehorse is bitten by a midge,the midge’smouthpartsleaveasmall amount of salivabehind. The proteins in the salivaare recognised by the horse’simmune systemas‘foreign’,and an immune response againstthe salivaproteins begins. In sweet itch horses, the immune response is excessive, causing severe itching and sometimes hives as well. Sweet itch canbeamajor welfareconcern –imagine being constantly so itchythatyou scratch until youbleed!


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SWEET ITCH? It is thought that between 3% and 12% of horses in the UK areaffectedbySweet Itch to some extent. Nativeponytypesand cobs aremost commonly affected, and thereisahereditary component to the disease.Mostcaseswill start to showsymptoms at between 2and 4years old.


WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS? An itchyhorse naturally wantstoscratch, and very quickly canrub themselves raw, leaving bald, oozing sores prone to secondary infection. Over time the irritated skin becomesthickened and scaly,leaving acorrugated appearance.


APRIL/MAY2021For thelatestnewsvisitwww.centralhorsenews.co.uk


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