**Sweet Itch, Hints and Tips**

Ive bought two sets of snuggy hoods as they were on sale in Winter in smaller sizes :) so far so good - had to send back to change size and have alterations done, neither any bother and didnt cost much either - had both nosebands widened and the necks taken in on body rug :)

So we shall see how we go, but we now have no barbed wire :)
 
I highly recommend the cornerstone brow band sweet icth rugs too. I am now on my second. the first one has done 2 seasons, and would have done a third but my boy seems to have griwn an extra 3 inches.

The rugs are so well made and strong, and easy to use. She even made it a bit fuller round his chest for me.

And the price is great to!
 
Had posted the question elsewhere but it's as appropriate in this thread ;)
Anyone have any experience on the feedmark equidermis supplement (wrt scratchiness too) ? I've heard it's on special offer next month but not sure if it could replace marmite (they've hiked up the price here :( )
 
also have a sweetich rug and numerous masks from Cornerstone Browbands off ebay, they have really really been excellent, hardly any rips at all and fits better than the boett.

This year im gonna give a snuggy hoods set a go cos a friend can get one at cost, and then keep the Cornerstone Browbands one as a spare!
 
jwck, im really liking our snuggy hoods. Have to confess to really disliking it initially, but sent it back to have it altered to fit better and now getting udder covers added on too :) combined with the boots on back legs, she is shockingly unitchy, but i shant pin my hopes on it!

She wont touch the global herbs, wouldnt even come over to see what was in bucket after a couple of attempts at getting her to eat it.
 
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At last I have my camera back, it's been on holiday in New York, unfortunately, not with me. Here are the photos of Jess in her cornerstone sweetitch rug. The mesh on the mask gives plenty of clearance around her eyes. She happily gallops around our track with the others. Beautifully made and great value.
 
I use the Boett on Tikki, she also has an injection of Depo Medrone in April - this is supposed to minimse the effects, but to be honest right now she gets it as her previous owner gave it to her each year...not sure on the actual benefits, only that with that and her boett we don't seem to have issues...
also use Aloe Vera Gel for any sores and Tea tree shampoo...this works brilliantly on Tikki. -

Just a note of caution though, other pony has been diagnosed with sacroids reading up Aloe Vera and Tea tree Gel aggravate this.

also Dettol as fly spray follow the directions used for bites / cuts and stings on the bottle. - it works loads better than anything I've tried.
 
Seems that a double dose of Equimax repeated after 2 weeks is needed. There's nothing that deals with the adults, which live in ligaments, but the babies are killed by this regime. If you're gonna try it, check with your vet first.
 
In case anyone is still looking for rugs... We have the WB summer sheet - its white, with green check and full neck. Its AWESOME. Had to change - madam is so easily rubbed by EVERYTHING, that snuggy hoods had started to make her legs bald at the top LOL. This is like the Rambo SI hoody, 1/3 price (aprox £35), made of ripstop and silk lined shoulder and tail.

As fly spray we were using citronella oil, which sticks fab - and didnt aggrevate skin when sprayed on. Just used it neat, its about £7 for a litre or two form B&Q.

That said, our best results have been with bute - but she actually doesn't have sweet itch now... but theoretically should help SI too as it is an anti inlfam. Her itching just dropped off the map altogether!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
sweetitch thought already sorry...

Hello to all you hard core sweetitch suffers out there.. I know it's only January and there is not a fly in sight, but I am forward planning to be prepared this year....

I am searching for my new fly sheet already (want a really strong one for this summer - we were going through one a week before) and I am planning on feeding skratch from global herbs again this year and treating rubs with camarosa as that was magic last year...

Question about skratch as I only discovered it half way through the sweetitch season last year.. when is best to start feeding it to get it into his system? I was thinking early march or am I over reacting? :frown:

I really am launching the offensive this year and intend to re electric fence his paddock soon... I really would like a mane and tail this year on my shetland! :throwball:
 
Does anyone know if the diluted Dettol is ok to spray around a mares udders? She really gets bitten around there and on the thin skin inside her back legs. She is very sensitive around that area though a reaction will be very painful - for us both!!!
 
Rugs - Rambo si hoody is most damage proof, but mine still got beaten by barbed wire. I use the weatherbeeta summer sheet combo (much cheaper, better fit on madam, better coverage than rambo and it's stronger than the snuffy hoods etc). Also substantially cheaper! I sew any snags as soon as they appear (it's ripstop) and it keeps holes at bay.

Spray - yes dettol should be fine as we use it for first aid etc. I use citronella oil (£8 for 2l at diy store) and pour into spray bottle. I find it stays better as it's oil based just be careful with sun burn and sensitie skin (though madam is majorly sensitive and fine with it all over).

I started scratch two weeks ago. Also using immuplus to help balance the immune system. Better to start early and build up :) even if it is a tiny sprinkling and use dried mint (cheap!) to add to mask if necessary. Mine are on low sugar diet too as I find grass makes her worse (and she is a laminitic).

And don't bank on the no flies :cry: ... Go and have a look for my tumour/fatty deposit thread. I squashed a fly three weeks ago on madams hoof. Intact I stamped onthe bastard! She ha had a massive allergic reactionto something and is now on steroids.

Fun rimes ahead!!!
 
Naffoff fly gel is really good to put on udders

Do you use the pink jar one or the black one with DEET? I like the black one as a spray but think it might be too harsh on delicate skin.

I'm also looking at the Ruggles products. I like to try something different each year in the eternal hope of finding some wonderful product. Last year I used the Barrier Health Care range which was o.k. ish. She started objecting to the gel though.

Might also try Dettol and baby oil as a spray like the 50/50 Listerine mix (that's quite effective).

Have asked some helplines to look into the cavalesse in case I get rich. Just a bit worried about the suppression action and high Vit B3 content etc. as being laminitic I don't want anything unbalancing her diet:unsure:
 
We are starting the Cavalesse this year too - we tried it at the end of last summer, but it had no effect as things were too far gone for us by then.

We also have a trouser suit to protect her legs from bites.

Im putting my hopes on the Global Herbs stuff though :D She has nearly finished the skratch liquid so will now start to wean off that and onto the powder :) then will go up to skratch plus hopefully :)

You could always use udder cream/sudocream on the udders - the most effective barrier by far as a physical barrier (or a snuggy hood with udder part which is what we have)
 
Do you use the pink jar one or the black one with DEET? I like the black one as a spray but think it might be too harsh on delicate skin.

I just use the pink one, I don't use Deet at all as it looks quite harsh. Coopers is supposed to be very good although have to apply it with gloves so I wouldn't say it'd be any good for broken skin or udders.

Like pfball I use the snuggy hoods rug with udder cover :)
 
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