I have been
caring for a mare for 5 years now that has allergic type itching &
scratching. This mare has pretty much mutilated herself terribly every
year, rubbing herself raw & bloody, using fence posts, trees, boulders,
having open sores & scabbing on her legs, belly, & especially
her face & jaws, always getting worse as summer & fall approach,
somewhat clearing up during the winter & then starting up in the spring
again. Her owner says the mare has always done this, she's 18 or 19 now. Lots of
skin conditioners & supplements were tried over the years, but the owner did
not want to give benedryl due to drowziness.
Well, this
year, beginning in the winter, the mare had to be separated from her pals due to
her "food aggression" issues, the mare got angry being alone & started
chewing wood. The owner put her on a supplement called Quitt for the wood
chewing, and, and unexpected result was that her crazy itchiness has calmed
down dramatically. She's still itchy, but she no longer mutilates herself over
it. Every once in a while, I find a small rubbed area that I can treat with some
skin conditioner, where before she was always bloody & scabby & needing
treatment every day.
I don't know
why this supplement works, but if you don't find another cure, you might want to
try this. Maybe a vet could explain why this supplement has made the horse quit
scratching. Maybe it stops the obsessive behavior?
