The Effect

Signs are seen between ages 4-6 years usually and becomes worse as the animal gets older. Symptoms include serve itching, hair loss, skin thickening and flaky dandruff. Severe Sweet itch results with dermatitis (weeping sores with yellow crusts) and secondary infection. Areas most affected are mane, tail and rump but in some cases belly, legs, sheath, face are also damaged. For relief horses swish tail, roll frequently and scratch off everything. In electric fenced fields some horses resort to scratch out their manes with their hind feet and drag themselves along the belly to try get rid of itchiness along the belly. The neck will also thicken and ridging of the skin will develop. It can also affect temperment by the horse losing their sparkle, becoming lethargic, impatient and losing concentration easily.