A common skin condition known as 'sweet itch' is caused by the Culicoides midge, and certain donkeys are hypersensitive to the midge's saliva, causing this allergy.
The skin of the donkey is constantly itchy from midge bites, which can cause distress, and the donkey will rub excessively on areas that are most affected, especially the mane and tail. Bleeding in these areas then attracts more insects.
Preventing irritation by midges is especially important if your donkey is prone to sweet itch.
Helena wearing a sweet itch rug with companion Sassy.
Preventing and treating sweet itch
You should use a sweet itch rug as a barrier if you know or suspect that midges are causing your donkey to itch, lose hair, or self-injure. You can also provide a fly mask to protect the donkey's face and/or ears. We would also advise putting the rug on early in the year before the midges appear.
The areas that the rug does not cover, such as the legs and face, should be treated with creams such as summer freedom or botanica anti-itch. You can also use Z itch as a pour on at appropriate intervals to repel insects.
You should try to keep the donkeys away from trees/hedges and water at dusk and dawn when the midges are at their worst. You can also stable the donkeys overnight during the summer months to lessen the exposure to them.
If these measures are not sufficient, you may have to consider the environment that the donkey is living in. Sometimes, if by a river or bog, the environment might not be suitable for the affected donkey.
If further treatment is required, we would advise contacting your local equine vet or our welfare team.
Muffin wearing a fly mask to protect from midges.
Helping donkey owners
A vital part of our work in the community is providing care and advice to donkey owners. We often work with owners to help prevent and treat skin conditions such as sweet itch in the spring and summer.
Ian Colton, Donkey Welfare Adviser, describes his experience with an old white stallion whose skin was ‘broken and bleeding’ after the donkey had been rubbing the irritated area.
“The bleeding on the donkey’s face only increased the midges’ interest, and it was obvious a repellent cream would no longer be sufficient," Ian recalls.
"I always keep a few fly masks in my van for occasions like this one, and after cleaning the area and making sure that there were no infections, the stallion was happy to have a fly mask fitted."
The fly mask was kept on the stallion for the remainder of the summer, and this prevented any further irritation to the donkey’s skin.
Please contact our welfare team if you would like further support and advice about sweet itch.
