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Discussion on Sweet itching
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Member:
isabe
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 - 1:57 am:
Dear Dr. Oglesby,
I read with interest our article concerning sweet itch and the result of the research.
I have a 18 months warmblood who this summer developed sweet itch. Mother and father do not suffer from it. She started in August (so late in summer) to damage her mane and tail by violently scratching herself against trees. Since situation worsen quite a lot we are treating her with cortisone (dexamethasone) - 5CC for 2 days, 10 cc for 2 days. Pruritus did not decrease till now but inflammation under the mane skin decreased. Is this normal that she is still hitching notwithstanding cortisone? Do I have, according to the research, any possibility that she get over this problem when adult?
Thank you very much in advance for your reply.
Regards
Isabella
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Member:
isabe
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 - 2:05 am:
Another question?
Has the horse diet any influence if a horse suffer from this desease? I read some article claiming that too much protein, not enough minerals, or a zinc deficiency can lead to skin problems. Can a normal blood test provide this information?
Thank you in advance for your reply
Regards
Isabella
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 - 10:20 am:
Hello Isabella,
In large studies that have controls with culicoides hypersensitivity about 1/3 of the horses that are not treated seem to spontaneously go into remission from the allergy. For how long is not known however.
Diet has very little effect on the allergy in my opinion but some report improvements with essential fatty acid supplementation for more on this see EFA and Disease subtopic in the article Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Fats and Oils in the Diet of Horses.
DrO
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Member:
isabe
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 27, 2008 - 4:06 pm:
Thank you Dr. Oglesby,
Just another question. My foal improved quite a lot after dex injection (2 inj. of 5cc and 3 of 10cc) but as soon as we suspended she started again to scratch and worsen again. My vet suggests to continue with dex for a couple of weeks. Here is getting colder and we should get ride of midges quite soon. How dangerous is cortisone for a foal like mine or 18 months? (consider that she is already 1.60 m and therefore about 300 kilos weight). Thank you in advance for your reply.
Regards
Isabella
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 - 9:57 am:
Hello Isabella,
We do not know how dangerous a particular medicine would be for a particular horse as idiosyncratic reactions are always possible. You should also note that the concentration of the dex solution used and the frequency between administration are important in evaluating how appropriate the dosage is.
We do know in general that there are few complications reported with judicious doses of dexamethasone given over several weeks in young horses. For more on this see, Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Dexamethasone.
DrO
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