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Researchers at Guelph University in Canada have shown that supplementing diets with flaxseed, a source of omega-3 fatty acids, reduced horses’ skin reactions to the bites of Culicoides midges.

More than 50 varieties of these tiny insects are found in North America and many other countries, and while not all species affect horses, some are known to spread arboviruses to animals and humans. In horses, the bites cause intensely itching lesions known as sweet itch. The lesions often occur on the midline of the belly but can also be found on a horse’s back and in the mane and tail areas. Treatment with steroids can help reduce itching, but dietary treatment may also offer relief.

In the Canadian study, horses were given 500 grams of flax meal daily for six weeks. At the beginning of the study and at the end of the third and sixth weeks, some of the horses were injected with Culicoidesextract while others received injections of saline as a control. Allergic skin reactions to the Culicoidesinjections were significantly reduced in horses that had been given flax meal.

Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids are known to boost the immune system and reduce inflammatory reactions. Fish oil, another potent omega-3 source, is found in EO-3, a product available from Kentucky Equine Research.

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