Sweet itch Rescue S S

ummer is very much upon us and as horse owners, we might be relishing the better weather. However, for horses who suffer with sweet itch and other allergies or are particularly affected by flies, it’s not always so good. Horses with sweet itch are mostly affected between March and November when the biting insects are most active. This is because sweet itch is an allergic reaction to the protein in the saliva of female midges. During the summer months, horses can also encounter other allergens in addition to insect saliva, such as pollens (grass, tree and weed). Horses can be allergic to just one allergen, or more commonly a few different ones at the same time.

A horse’s reaction to biting insects causes the immune system to attack its own cells and leads to an extreme reaction. Horses predominantly show signs of sweet itch at the base of the mane and tail, and on the face. The withers, back, belly and rump can also be affected. Symptoms range from mild to severe itchiness, often accompanied by hair loss and broken skin from constant scratching, which can then lead to an infection. Over time the skin can thicken, folds develop, and the hair becomes sparse and coarse with flaky skin. Several behavioural changes can also occur including excessive rolling and mutual grooming, head shaking and an agitated/restless demeanour.

There are several essential management tools you can use to help manage your horse or pony’s symptoms such as a fly rug, stabling during times of high midge activity (dawn and dusk) and using various creams and sprays that are available. Alongside this, have you thought about helping soothe from the inside out? Using The Golden Paste Company’s TurmerItch, you can help to ‘Prep, Prime and Prevent’ your horse’s sweet itch and reaction to allergens. TurmerItch is a skin and coat supplement that is absorbed into the blood stream rather than applied topically. It combines key specialist ingredients including neem, red bush tea and chamomile, to help provide relief from itching and soothe the skin by promoting a healthy skin and coat. Suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis, the unique pellets can be added to daily feed or simply fed by hand. The active ingredients in TurmerItch support biting insect repulsion and help maintain reduced sensitivity.

Including TurmerItch as part of your sweet itch management regime is a new approach which proved to be very effective in trials with the supplement over a 12-month period. This supplement can help optimise digestive health, the microbiome and gut integrity. As a result, the horse’s ability to deal with allergens improves, consequently increasing the itch threshold. Subsequent challenges from biting insects may then fall below the threshold, therefore reducing scratching and damage to the coat and skin.

Not convinced?

Sophie, whose 13.2hh Tom trialled TurmerItch said, “After just a few weeks of feeding TurmerItch the transformation was unbelievable! Tom’s itching had reduced significantly and his skin, mane and tail improved. He now has a long mane and hardly ever itches! His tail looks great too.”

Make sure you are helping to manage your horse’s reactions to allergens with a tub of TurmerItch. A 1.5kg tub can be purchased for £44.99, which for a 500kg horse will provide a 30-day supply.

We understand how costly it can be finding a Sweet Itch Supplement that works, we are giving all new customers £5 off their first tub. Enter TICHN5 at checkout. Order at www.goldenpastecompany.co.uk/products/turmeritch-1-5kg