Question

What is the most effective nutritional strategy for minimizing sweet itch?

Answer

Sweet itch or insect bite hypersensitivity is the most common allergic skin condition in horses. The most effective treatment for this hypersensitivity is removal of the most prevalent cause: the minute flying insects known as Culicoides spp., also referred to as biting midges or no-see-ums.

Unfortunately, this is incredibly difficult for many horse owners, so most strategies rely on mitigating the inflammatory and immune response to the insects—or rather their saliva, which is the actual allergen. For some treatments, such as steroids, veterinarian involvement is necessary but are usually prescribed for only short periods of time.

Aside from prescription or over-the-counter medications, repellents, topical therapies, and physical barriers (fly sheets as well as screens on barn doors and fans, for example), the best nutritional intervention is omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Long-chain fatty acids EPA and DHA (as found in fish oil as a direct source) may be more effective than shorter-chain fatty acids such as ALA (as found in flax).

EO-3 is a palatable and potent marine-derived source of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA. These fatty acids have several anti-inflammatory health benefits for whole-body wellness. EO-3 positively affects numerous inflammatory conditions, supports skin and coat health, joint health, and exercise recovery. EPA and DHA have greater anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties compared to ALA, which is found in plant-based sources including fresh pasture grass and flax. Generally, omega-3 fatty acids also help strengthen the immune system, which can be hyperactive during allergic flare-ups. You may also consider vitamin E supplementation, which also supports strong immunity. When choosing a vitamin E supplement, select a natural-source product with superior bioavailability, such as Nano-E.

As anecdotal evidence, my horse suffered from insect hypersensitivity in the summers and would bite himself raw. Although it can take some time for the immune system to calm, EO-3 helped him tremendously. He improved the summer I started him on it, but the next summer he had no reaction to the insects and no longer needed excessive fly protection. He has not had any issues since.

Here are a few helpful articles:

Study: Still No Test to Predict Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in Horses

Skin Problems in Horses: Culicoides Hypersensitivity

Sweet Relief from Incessant Itching for Allergic Horses

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Reduce Sweet Itch in Horses

Itchy Horse? Five Potential Offenders