Equine Grooming Tips: Combatting Summer Eczema

Equine Grooming Tips: Combatting Summer Eczema

As the summer season continues, bringing the warmth and beauty of blooming nature, it also heralds a less welcome guest for many horse owners – summer eczema. Also known as Sweet Itch, this condition is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting midges (Culicoides), leading to intense itching, hair loss, and sometimes secondary skin infections. Combatting summer eczema in horses involves a comprehensive approach, but one of the frontline defenses is proper grooming. In this post, we'll explore essential grooming tips to help you keep your horse comfortable and reduce the risk of summer eczema.

Understanding the Enemy
Before diving into the grooming tips, it's vital to understand the enemy we're dealing with. Summer eczema is primarily a problem during the warmer months when midges are active. These tiny insects are most active during dawn and dusk, thriving in and around bodies of stagnant water. The allergic reaction they induce can cause severe discomfort, making prevention and management through grooming and care critical.

Essential Grooming Tips

Regular Bathing

Keep your horses clean by bathing them regularly with a mild, hypoallergenic shampoo. This can help remove allergens, dirt, and sweat that may attract insects or aggravate the skin. After bathing, ensure your horse is thoroughly dried, as dampness can attract more midges. Consider using a horse dryer in cooler climates to ensure the skin and coat are completely dry. 

Our Map Skin Shampoo is designed to remove crusts and bacterial debris, aiding healing in active summer eczema cases.

Incorporate the use of insect repellents specifically designed for horses. These products can significantly reduce the number of midge bites, thus lowering the chances of your horse developing summer eczema. Apply repellents according to the product instructions, and consider using fly-repellent shampoos and conditioners as part of your grooming routine.

We recommend only using Tritec 14 or Endure sprays twice daily, once in the morning and once at dusk. Apply one pump down the tail, one up the groin, one on the belly, and five on either side to cover the body and neck. Then, use one pump on a Bounty towel to wipe the face and inside and outside of the ears.

A daily brushing regime not only keeps your horse's coat clean but also helps distribute natural skin oils, which can improve the skin's barrier against irritants. Use a soft-bristled brush to gently remove dirt, debris, and loose hair. Pay special attention to areas more susceptible to midge bites, such as the mane, tail, and belly.

Mane and Tail Care

The mane and tail are particularly affected areas in horses suffering from summer eczema. Keeping these areas well-groomed can help minimize irritation. Consider applying a conditioner to these areas to keep the hair smooth and less enticing for midges to bite. Additionally, braiding the mane and tail can help, but ensure braids are not too tight as this might cause further irritation or discomfort.

 Using a hypoallergenic moisturizer or a specially formulated equine skin lotion can help soothe irritated skin and promote healing. Moisturized skin is also less likely to crack and bleed, reducing the risk of secondary infections. However, always perform a small patch test with any new product to ensure your horse does not have an adverse reaction.

Summer eczema can cause horses to scratch and bite at their skin, leading to wounds or sores. It's essential to address these immediately to prevent infection. Clean wounds gently and apply suitable antiseptic creams or dressings as recommended by your vet.

Our Quadrabiotic Enzyme Ointment is designed to treat infected, raw, or swollen skin and combat secondary bacterial infections from active summer eczema cases.

Aside from direct grooming, consider using physical barriers such as insect screens in stables or specially designed anti-itch blankets when your horse is out in the field. These tools can provide an additional layer of protection against biting midges.

A Holistic Approach

While grooming plays a pivotal role in combatting summer eczema, it's part of a broader management strategy. Ensuring your horse's environment is less attractive to midges by eliminating standing water, using fans to create air movement in stables, and avoiding turnout during peak midge activity hours can further reduce the risk.

Moreover, diet and nutrition should not be overlooked. A well-balanced diet rich in essential fatty acids can help improve skin health and resilience. In severe cases, consulting with your veterinarian for additional treatments, including antihistamines or corticosteroids, might be necessary.

Our Summer Eczema Oral Supplement is a top-rated herbal blend for all breeds of horses. It is designed to improve your horse's immune system and stop the itch naturally. 

Preventing and managing summer eczema in horses requires vigilance, commitment, and a keen understanding of your horse's needs. Integrating these grooming tips into your routine can significantly improve your horse's comfort and well-being during the challenging summer months. Remember, each horse is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Observing your horse closely and adapting your approach as needed will help you successfully navigate through the itch-inducing summer season.