Equine sweet itch is a seasonal skin disease of horses and ponies caused by an allergic reaction to Culicoides midge bites. Affected horses feel extremely itchy, restless and uncomfortable, intensely rubbing and chewing the areas where they were bitten. Over time this can lead to hair loss, crusting, scaling, skin thickening and damage to the skin, which then becomes an open door for secondary infections.

All breeds can be affected and there is evidence that susceptibility to the disease is inherited. The saliva of the midge causes an “over the top”type I hypersensitivity reaction in which sensitised mast cells release histamine, resulting in swelling and intense itching. The more often a horse is bitten by midges, the worse the reaction becomes. The most commonly affected areas are usually the tail head, under the mane and underneath the horses’ abdomen.

The midges are active from March to October but their numbers peak from May to September.

A few changes in your horse’s daily management routine can be very helpful to deal with this problem, as well as using sweet itch rugs in combination with insect repellents, insecticides, oils and greases.

Sweet itch rugs cover more of the horse’s body and it’s important to keep in mind that the mesh size needs to be extremely small because midges are tiny. The best way to protect your horse’s face is to use a horse mask. Midges will often congregate on the moist areas around the horse’s eyes and forehead, and a fine mesh face and ear cover, attached by velcro under the chin is very effective in keeping them away.

Due to their small size it is very hard for midges to bite through layers of oil which means that oils such as citronella oil, garlic oil and tea tree oils can be helpful to provide some protection. There are many types of products that combine repellents, insecticides and oils available. Find one that suits you and your horse best.

If possible increase airflow by using a fan in the stable and use a very fine fly screen over the stable door.

Since midges are most active at dawn and dusk, stable the horse from 4 pm until 8 am in the summer months. Consider moving your horse away from wooded and wet areas to avoid as many moist midge breeding grounds as possible.

If you notice your horse is itching more than usual consult your veterinary surgeon as it will be needed to rule out other possible causes of itching. Your vet can also prescribe medications that can help ease your horse’s symptoms and provide some relief to suffering horses, while additional precautions are taken. Ask your vet for advice.

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Mud fever is a common infection that usually affects the lower limbs of horses that are kept outside in wet weather.

Horses with mud fever show thick scabs with matted hair generally in the heel bulbs and at the back of their pastern. The skin beneath these scabs is usually pink, inflamed and there could be pus as well. If secondary infections manage to settle in the limb will gradually become swollen, painful and it is usually associated with low grade lameness.

This condition is caused by an organism called Dermatophilus congolensis, an actinomycete that is commonly found on the horse’s skin. Normally this organism doesn’t cause any damage but if the skin barrier is damaged for some reason the Dermatophilus will take the opportunity to infect the area.

Mud fever can have several causes such as trauma, mites, ringworm, sarcoids, UV damage and internal diseases such as liver disease but the most common cause for this condition is the prolonged contact of the hair and skin with moisture and mud. The skin becomes gradually softer making it susceptible to infection.

When the same organism causes damage higher up on limbs, the condition is known as ‘Rain Scald’, which can be seen on other areas of your horse including the head, back and rump.

Horses with steep sided heels, a deep groove between their heel bulbs and with thick coats and large feathers are more prone to mud fever. These characteristics contribute to keep the moisture close to the skin, providing a favourable environment for the Dermatophilus to thrive. It has also been suggested that white legs are more susceptible to this problem.

To treat this condition owners must thoroughly wash the affected limb with an antibacterial shampoo to remove the crusts. Some of these can be hard and painful to remove. For this reason the shampoo should be left on for 5 to 10 minutes to soften them up before rinsing it off with warm water. It is very important to thoroughly dry the hair with a clean towel or a cool hair drier afterwards. Then the hair must be clipped around the lesion and an antibiotic ointment should be applied.

The idea is to clean the affected areas, to keep them dry and exposed to the air to promote healing while keeping the organism away. Your horse’s legs should be washed daily until mud fever is gone and please do not pick off the dry scabs. This can lead to the appearance of open wounds and they will become an open gate for infection.

If you notice your horse’s limb is becoming swollen please contact your vet as a course of antibiotics may possibly be required.

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Spring is on the way and a rise in the number of atypical myopathy cases has sparked the conversation among vets and pet owners about sycamore poisoning.

Atypical myopathy is a potentially fatal disease that affects a horse’s muscles. The disease is caused by the ingestion of seeds and leaves of the European sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) andis seen in the UK and in Northern Europe.

This plant contains a toxin called hypoglycin A which interferes with the production of energy within a horse’s muscle cells, resulting in muscle damage. Although the toxin is present in both seeds and leaves, seeds seem to contain higher amounts of the dangerous toxin.

This disease is more common in the autumn as outbreaks occur when large numbers of seeds are falling. However, there have been small outbreaks during spring as well. Horses from all ages and sizes can be affected but young horses seem to be more susceptible to the effects of the toxin if they eat the seeds or the leaves of this plant.

Affected horses can become weak, lethargic and reluctant to move. Common signs also include pain, stiffness, muscle tremors, breathing difficulties and red or brown urine. They may be unable to lift their heads or even remain standing. Many horses die from this condition.

The chances of a positive outcome and of making a full recovery greatly increase if the horse is treated quickly. If you notice any of the previously mentioned signs on your horse, do not hesitate to contact the vet.

Horses that suffer from sycamore poisoning are usually kept on sparse pastures, near trees from the genus Acer. To prevent this from happening owners can be proactive and take a few precautions:

• Check the fields carefully for Sycamore leaves and seeds and fence off areas where the seeds have fallen. If possible remove any seeds that might have scattered from nearby trees.
• Turn out horses for short periods (ideally less than 6 hours) and manage the density of horses to make sure that there is enough for all of them.
• Provide extra forage (hay or haylage) in the field to reduce the risk of horses eating the seeds.

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The British winter can be very hard for animals that are kept outside. Horses and ponies that are native to Britain have evolved to withstand our cold and harsh weather, therefore if these animals are given the chance to adjust to their surroundings they will handle the cold better than what we would expect.

Despite these horse’s natural hardiness it is always a good idea to go through a few tips and reminders on how to help your horse cope with the cold season. It is also important to remember that breeds that are originally from warm countries are not naturally prepared to handle our winters and additional support becomes even more important for these horses.

All equines grow a winter coat, an extra layer of hair that helps them keep their body heat. This hair is coated with waterproof oils, which protects them from the rain and the snow. Excessive grooming can remove some of these oils from their haircoat, reducing its waterproof properties.

Diet

The balance between your horse’s energy intake and energy output is essential to deal with winter’s low temperatures. It’s very important to provide plenty of hay or haylage so your horse has lots of fibres to digest. This will compensate for the reduced amount of grass that is being ingested and will help them fight the cold. The fermentation process in their gut produces considerable amounts of heat that literally warms them up from the inside out.

If you decide to do any changes in the amount of hard feed being offered to your horse please remember to introduce them gradually, as sudden diet changes are more likely to cause colic.

It’s not uncommon for their water to freeze during winter’s cold nights which means that they will be left without a water source for several hours.  Please check their water in the morning and make sure they always have drinkable water throughout the day. Unlike what most people might think, a horse can easily drink more water during winter since it will be consuming a lot more dry food and less grass.

Winter rugs

Winter rugs are a great way to keep your horse warm and there is a wide variety of them to choose from. Please make sure you take their rugs at least once a day to check underneath it and to give your horse’s skin the chance to breath. If hair or humidity starts to build up under the rug, not only it will become itchy and uncomfortable for the horse but it can also lead to skin problems.

Shelter

Having a safe shelter to protect your horse from the wind is always recommended. A shelter, closed on three sides, with an area of clean bedding provides a safe and comfortable spot for the horse to lie down. It is also very useful during summer.

Providing an appropriate diet, a good quality winter rug and a field shelter can help your horse go through winter with a lot more comfort. Please remember to check on your horse at least twice a day and keep an eye on its body condition to make sure he or she is doing well.

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