Ease the Itch with Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Do you struggle with your horse getting super itchy in the summertime? Are they constantly rubbing against buckets and the fence? Not only are they hard on the buckets and fences, but they are also uncomfortable and wreak havoc on their manes and tails that you work so hard to grow nice, and long. There a several factors that can cause horses to become itchier in the summer, including:

• Dry Skin
• Hives
• Scratches
• Rain Rot
• Photosensitization
• Dehydration
• High sugar content in grass
• Sweet Itch

The most common cause of excessive itching in horses during the summer is Sweet Itch. Sweet Itch is an allergic reaction caused from the saliva of Culicoides, a genus of biting midges. There are 1,000 species of Culicoides that can cause severe inflammation in horses with the hypersensitivity, which then leads to itching, hair loss, and sometimes even open sores. Symptoms of Sweet Itch include:

• Excessive tail swishing
• Head Shaking
• Excessive rolling
• Excessive grooming with pasture mates
• Leaning on the fence
• Backing up against buckets
• Scratching at mane with hind hooves
• Sometime you can see tiny bumps

Some horses have hypersensitivity to these Culicoides midges, which triggers an IgE-mediated reaction leading to the inflammation which causes the discomfort. While there is no cure for the hypersensitivity to these insect bites, it can help to reduce the irritation that they cause by management. Management Tools to Prevent Sweet Itch:

• Use mesh blankets to keep a physical barrier to keep bugs from biting
• Keep pens clean to reduce the breeding ground for midges
• Clean water troughs regularly
• Avoid turning horses out in marshy areas
• Use effective insect repellents, Culicoides aren’t affected by standard fly spray ingredients
• Using anti-itch shampoos and topicals can provide some relief
• Nutrition

Nutrition can play a key role in managing Sweet Itch. By supporting skin health and overall health, we can help to relieve symptoms from midge bites. First and foremost, feeding a vitamin-mineral supplement, such as Horse Guard, with a forage-based diet promotes a healthy immune system. At the most basic level, antioxidants such as copper, zinc, selenium, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids are indispensable building blocks for the body’s own antioxidant defenses to allow the body to function optimally.

Avoid diets high in grains that are pro-inflammatory which cause more swelling from Culicoides bites.

Instead, feed forage-first diets and add omega-3 fatty acids supplementation, such as Flow. Studies have shown that feeding omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil reduces the severity of allergic reactions from Sweet Itch. With results showing reductions in skin lesions and inflammation in horse with Culicoides hypersensitivity (O’Neill, 2002). By feeding your horse a forage-first diet with a vitamin-mineral supplement and omega-3 fatty acid supplement, your horse’s immune system will be able to better cope with these midge bites. While it won’t take them completely away supplementation with Flow will help to reduce the inflammation and therefore make your horse more comfortable and less apt to itch. This will allow you and your happy, healthy horse to enjoy the beautiful summer a little bit more.

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O’Neill, W. et al. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) supplementation associated with reduced skin test lesional area in horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity. Can J Vet Res. 2002.