What is summer eczema and how do you get rid of it? Try these 4 tips!

What is summer eczema?

Summer eczema, also called tail and mane eczema, is an itchy skin condition in ponies, horses and donkeys. It is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of Culicoides mosquitoes (midges). The eczema is usually visible at the mane crest and at the base of the tail. There are also horses that have itching on the head and belly. As the name suggests, summer eczema is primarily seen during the summer months, but the Culicoides mosquito is active from as early as February through the distant fall.

With the increase in mosquitoes in recent years, the number of animals with summer eczema is also increasing. That's why we are happy to share our tips to remedy the problem!

Tip 1:

Together with your veterinarian, determine if your pony or horse is really suffering from summer eczema (hypersensitivity to insect bites) or if there may be something else going on. That way you can be sure you're using the right product for the right ailment.

Tip 2:

Science shows that the diet of ponies and horses can affect the development of tail and mane eczema. That means we can improve the health of our animals with our feed choices. That's good news!

We recommend having your ration and feeding regime independently checked. Also, have an analysis of your forage performed. Grass is not just grass and hay is not just hay: there are differences in quality. With these insights, you can better feed your pony or horse as needed.

Tip 3:

Ideally, you want to prevent your pony or horse from being bitten by midges. Especially if he or she is sensitive to it! Make sure you start early enough in the season with Happy Skin Skin Spray. If you start early in the season you reduce the chance of itching. The spray also supports the healing ability of the affected skin.

Tip 4:

Couldn't avoid the mosquito bites? Even then, there's no harm done. As soon as you see small skin damages or wounds, you can use the Happy Skin Skin Gel.

In conclusion, there is no single cause for the development of summer eczema. For example, breed, diet, housing and environment are factors. Fortunately, we can influence a number of factors, as you have already read in the tips. Therefore, a condition like this usually requires a broader approach.

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