Horseyheaven
13th Jul 2004, 12:50 PM
i found this info from a thread on another horsey forum:::
Greendale Laboratories who manufacture a desensitisation vaccine for sweet itch:
Firstly the horse must have a blood sample taken to confirm that the sweet itch he/she has is truly due to a midge allergy.
From that sample a vaccine can be made.
The vaccine comes in several bottles, a primary course and a maintenance course. The lab suggest that the majority of horses should improve dramatically within 3-5 months, and many will have complete elimination, though the odd horse might need treatment for a long time.
It's not as expensive either as you might think, the blood test is in the region of £100, and the vaccine about £150-200, and that's for nearly a years worth of treatment.
The vaccines can be given by owners at the discretion of the vet (so providing the vet thinks you can manage).
The primary course of the vaccine is three vials. A very tiny amount is given on day 1, and the amount is gradually increased every 2 days up to day 15, then again on day 20.
On day 25 a stronger bottle is used, which again starts with a tiny dose, increaseing slowly after 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, then three injections ten days apart.
Finally a third bottle is used with increasing doses from day 97, increasing at day 112, 133, 163, 193, 223, 253, 283.
From there the horse can be assessed and if necessary a refill of the third vaccine can be used.
Certainly not good if your horse hates injections...like mine but IF it works then i'm all for it!!
Greendale Laboratories who manufacture a desensitisation vaccine for sweet itch:
Firstly the horse must have a blood sample taken to confirm that the sweet itch he/she has is truly due to a midge allergy.
From that sample a vaccine can be made.
The vaccine comes in several bottles, a primary course and a maintenance course. The lab suggest that the majority of horses should improve dramatically within 3-5 months, and many will have complete elimination, though the odd horse might need treatment for a long time.
It's not as expensive either as you might think, the blood test is in the region of £100, and the vaccine about £150-200, and that's for nearly a years worth of treatment.
The vaccines can be given by owners at the discretion of the vet (so providing the vet thinks you can manage).
The primary course of the vaccine is three vials. A very tiny amount is given on day 1, and the amount is gradually increased every 2 days up to day 15, then again on day 20.
On day 25 a stronger bottle is used, which again starts with a tiny dose, increaseing slowly after 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, then three injections ten days apart.
Finally a third bottle is used with increasing doses from day 97, increasing at day 112, 133, 163, 193, 223, 253, 283.
From there the horse can be assessed and if necessary a refill of the third vaccine can be used.
Certainly not good if your horse hates injections...like mine but IF it works then i'm all for it!!