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View Full Version : Sores around the ears caused by sweet itch.....


joey_olop
8th Apr 2008, 12:55 PM
My boy has sweet itch & it has started again:rolleyes:

He particulary gets it around his ears, just behind them where the headpiece would lie when Im riding him.

He rubs until they bleed & this usually goes on until October time. Ive had the vet out & all the stuff we have tried on him he has had an allergic reaction too. Vet is reluctant to try anything else as he doesnt want him reacting.

He is covered head-toe throughout the year(even in winter) & I use aloe-vera gel & E45 which he doesnt react to.

My problem is riding him. Obviously I cant just not ride him the whole summer & I was thinking of riding him with one of those ear viel things the show jumpers wear just so the headpiece doesnt rub, what do you think??

If the sores are weeping I dont ride him but if they are dry I do but I dont want to hurt him in anyway. When they are dry they are just bald patches behind the ears but if they are weeping there is pus & blood everywhere. Vet says its his sweet itch causing it. He has advised me this year not to put a fly mask on as he thinks he could be using that to help rub the sores. Before I knew he had sweet itch he used to rub his mane, tail & belly but now he only rubs his ears, bless him.

Has anyone got any ideas??

gordysgirl
8th Apr 2008, 01:04 PM
I suppose the trick is to try & get him covered before he gets bitten...that way he wouldn't itch to start with.
Does he have full body armour in the way of fly sheets before he goes out?
One of the connies on our yard only tends to rub his face & head, providing he has his full boet rug on, he doesn't get bitten & this doesn't itch. Last year there was barely a single bald moment.

joey_olop
8th Apr 2008, 01:14 PM
He is covered all year round 24/7-we put the sweet itch rug on underneath his turnouts, his sweet itch is that severe.

He only lives out as well, when we kept him in he rubbed even worse so decided he is better off living out.

He isnt bald anywhere else except behind his ears, which is the annoying thing!

joey_olop
9th Apr 2008, 02:27 PM
Bumpies :D