Do You Struggle With Fly Mask Problems and Treating Sweet Itch?
A fly mask is often used as a solution to conditions such as sweet itch that are caused by flies.
The biting midge, culicoides, travels down the long hairs of the main or tail to get to the skin.
This can cause inflammation and itchy skin that drives horses to rub against rough surfaces, such as fences, to get relief.
The rubbing often causes loss of hair and skin, leaving nasty bald patches and self-inflicted wounds.
The first thing to do is to prevent the flies getting to the horse.
One way to do this is to cover the target areas.
A fly mask can can be quite effective in doing this on a horse's head and neck.
Unfortunately horses can be quite adept at removing their fly mask whilst in the field.
The first time the mask comes off you probably try to put it on a bit tighter.
This works partially because the next time you check he's managed to slip it over one ear but it stays in place because the other ear has stayed in the ear hole.
The problem is that the fly mask is not attached to the rug.
You could try sewing them together to see if that works.
However, a better trick is to leave a field safe headcollar on.
You can, of course, buy a mask that clips to the rug.
Follow up this preventive measure with treatments to clear up the sweet itch itself.
A good non-toxic natural remedy is to use aloe vera products to clear up the dermatitis.
First, wash off any pus or weeping from the wound.
If you can get hold of some diluted aloe vera based soap this would be the best product to use.
Don't over-wash and make sure you dry the area well.
You can get aloe vera in spray and gelly forms so apply these to the area.
The spray is ideal if the area is very sore or there is an open wound because you can deliver the aloe vera without physically touching the area.
Finally, if you can get hold of some of the aloe vera that you can drink then 250 ml of this in the horse's daily diet will help to boost the immune system.
The biting midge, culicoides, travels down the long hairs of the main or tail to get to the skin.
This can cause inflammation and itchy skin that drives horses to rub against rough surfaces, such as fences, to get relief.
The rubbing often causes loss of hair and skin, leaving nasty bald patches and self-inflicted wounds.
The first thing to do is to prevent the flies getting to the horse.
One way to do this is to cover the target areas.
A fly mask can can be quite effective in doing this on a horse's head and neck.
Unfortunately horses can be quite adept at removing their fly mask whilst in the field.
The first time the mask comes off you probably try to put it on a bit tighter.
This works partially because the next time you check he's managed to slip it over one ear but it stays in place because the other ear has stayed in the ear hole.
The problem is that the fly mask is not attached to the rug.
You could try sewing them together to see if that works.
However, a better trick is to leave a field safe headcollar on.
You can, of course, buy a mask that clips to the rug.
Follow up this preventive measure with treatments to clear up the sweet itch itself.
A good non-toxic natural remedy is to use aloe vera products to clear up the dermatitis.
First, wash off any pus or weeping from the wound.
If you can get hold of some diluted aloe vera based soap this would be the best product to use.
Don't over-wash and make sure you dry the area well.
You can get aloe vera in spray and gelly forms so apply these to the area.
The spray is ideal if the area is very sore or there is an open wound because you can deliver the aloe vera without physically touching the area.
Finally, if you can get hold of some of the aloe vera that you can drink then 250 ml of this in the horse's daily diet will help to boost the immune system.