Is an internal supplement sufficient to control summer eczema?
Summer eczema is perhaps one of the most challenging conditions in horses. There are also many products on the market that claim to be the miracle cure. Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for summer eczema. Every horse is different, and each horse reacts differently to treatments; what works for your horse may not work for your neighbor's horse and vice versa. Therefore, it can really be a quest to find a suitable product. But is simply feeding a supplement enough to control summer eczema in horses?
Sweet itch
27 June '22 • 2 min reading time
Summer eczema is more than a skin problem
Summer eczema in horses is a very complex issue. It is caused by the saliva of the culicoid midge, which triggers an allergic reaction. This allergic reaction leads to inflammatory responses under the skin, resulting in itching. However, these inflammatory responses also occur elsewhere in the body. Inflammatory responses produce additional waste products in the body, putting the immune system under pressure. A reduced immune response can cause issues elsewhere in the body. Therefore, the itching and wounds on the skin are just a symptom/component of summer eczema, but there is much more happening in the body. This means that simply addressing the superficial itching does not fully help the horse.
Internal Support for Summer Eczema is Important
Summer eczema causes an internal imbalance that puts the immune system under pressure, but it can also lead to problems in digestion and the respiratory system. Therefore, it is important to address summer eczema from the inside out. The first step in this process may be the most crucial: critically examining your horse's diet. Often, significant improvements can be made by feeding grain-free and low-sugar diets. It is also preferable to feed loose hay, as packaged hay or silage always leads to acidification of the body, further putting the immune system under strain. Additionally, supplements can provide excellent support for summer eczema. For example, liquid nettle tincture is extremely blood-purifying and has antihistamine properties. Cannabinoids from cloves also have anti-inflammatory effects and help bring the body back into balance. A supplement based on the herbs fenugreek, sepiolite, echinacea, astragalus, uncaria, gentian, thyme, citronellal, and citronellol is also recommended. This encompasses all aspects that are important for supporting a horse with eczema, and it has a repellent effect due to the citronellol/citronellal, which helps keep mosquitoes at bay.
But don't forget external treatment!
Yes, internal treatment is extremely important for summer eczema. But often this is not enough, and you will also need to treat from the outside. Summer eczema requires multiple approaches and treatments because it is such a tricky problem. Externally, you can do the following: Apply an anti-itch/caring ointment/lotion, Spray with a silicon dioxide-based spray, which helps wounds heal faster, Use an eczema blanket to prevent the horse from getting bitten too much and/or rubbing itself raw, Keep the horse indoors during dusk when most mosquitoes and flies are active. As mentioned, there is no miracle cure that works for all horses. It can really be a search for the right remedy or combination. And don't forget about nutrition; there are horses that become itch-free just by adjusting their diet. Are you struggling with your horse? Feel free to contact us, and we will look into your horse's situation and how we can possibly support it.
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