For many horse owners, summer not only brings sunshine and long grazing periods but also an often underestimated challenge: sweet itch. What initially starts with occasional rubbing can quickly develop into a chronic and painful skin condition. Severe itching, sometimes even open wounds, and increasing restlessness affect your horse's well-being and significantly burden daily management. Is sweet itch in horses a challenge? Many factors have an influence, as you can read in this blog.
What is sweet itch?
Sweet itch is an allergic skin disease triggered by an overreaction of the immune system to the saliva of certain biting insects. Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are particularly common, but stable flies or horseflies can also play a role. The disease primarily occurs in the warmer months when insect activity increases.
Typically, sensitive body parts with thin skin or where insects prefer to bite are affected.
- Mane crest
- Tail root
- Belly seam
Symptoms of sweet itch in horses
- Severe, persistent itching
- Intensive rubbing of the mane crest, tail root, or belly seam
- Skin lesions up to self-mutilation
- Swelling and wheals
- Weeping or crusted skin areas
- Hair loss and bare patches
- Restlessness and nervousness, especially at dusk
Protecting horses from sweet itch with eczema blankets
Healthy horses regulate their temperature excellently and rarely need a blanket in summer. For horses with sweet itch, however, the blanket is a necessary protective layer. Special sweet itch blankets significantly relieve symptoms by:
- Physical barrier: Drastically reduce contact with biting insects.
- Anti-rubbing protection: Prevent excessive rubbing and further self-injury.
- Skin protection: Protect sensitive areas from UV radiation and dirt.
The blanket should be breathable, fine-meshed, and perfectly fitted. Please note that a blanket alone cannot completely solve the problem.
Treating and Preventing Sweet Itch in Horses: Eczema Blanket & RepairGel Horse Doderm
Sweet itch creates a vicious circle of bites, itching, rubbing, and inflammation. Sustainable recovery therefore requires a dual approach: external protection and targeted care.
|
Measure |
Purpose |
Operation |
|
Eczema blanket |
External protection |
Creates a barrier against insects and minimizes mechanical irritation. Essential for preventing new bites and wounds. |
|
RepairGel Horse Doderm |
Targeted regeneration |
Applied to already affected, weakened or irritated skin areas. |
Healing sweet itch with Doderm
Doderm supports the regeneration of the natural skin barrier. The microbiome-friendly formulation soothes the skin without drying it out or causing further irritation. This is crucial, especially under a blanket, where heat and humidity can make the skin particularly sensitive. Doderm restores the natural balance and does not just mask symptoms.
Together, a well-fitting eczema rug and the RepairGel ensure maximum effectiveness. While the rug keeps new external irritants away, the RepairGel creates optimal conditions for the skin's self-repair. This consistent management of protection and care is key to effectively counteracting and stabilizing sweet itch for a long time.
The rug stops external irritation – Doderm supports the skin in its own regeneration.
This blog was co-written with Atorka Reitsport.
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