Convinced it's not mites!

H

horsemadsarah!

New User
Joined
18 October 2015
Messages
3
Visit site
Hi All!

I'm after some advice really, I have a shire horse with itchy legs. I've had the vet out for an unrelated issue and they had a quick look and said its probably mites and said to treat with front line and get the dectomax injection.

I've owned my shire for 6 years and he had dectomax injection before and it had no effect.

He only itches his legs from June - October mainly on the cannons and just the front legs. I would be more inclined to think that its something summer related like a sweet itch type reaction to possibly fly bites or the legs overheating in the summer.

I would really like to try and avoid clipping the feathers off but something is just telling me that it isn't mites. Typically mites are in the hind legs and during the winter months, he's not stamping he's just chewing his front legs.

Any advice much welcomed :)
 
My full-feathered cob has a similar problem. I think it is caused by sweat under the feather, attracting flies. I spray/wipe her legs with tea-tree oil which seems to help.
 
A product with sulphur like Shapley’s MGT might help to repel the insects and soothe the skin. I have a horse with an itchy tail and I massage it in with those washing/grooming gloves with studded palms.
 
My YO used to breed shires but just has her last one now on the yard. Her recommendation for the feathered horses is to wash with anti bacterial shampoo (we make it the second wash - the first loosens the grease etc and I use head and shoulders for that), then she uses a mineral oil from one of the heavy horse companies. I've got oil2horse for my 2 feathery ones.

I have also washed with a flea shampoo in the past (one for dogs) when I wasn't sure if it was mites. There is supposed to be a new spot on ivermectin for feathered legs too which I'm about to track down.
 
The medicated shampoo from here is an effective regular wash for hairy shire legs. I think that they become itchy because they produce more grease which can build up and cause problems. Lots of products here that may help.

https://www.auchengreeclydesdales.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

https://www.auchengreeclydesdales.com/store/p104/MEDICATED_SHAMPOO_5_/_20_LITRES.html


Even if it's not mites, the mite shampoo from here is excellent. Lots of good advise about looking after hairy legs.

https://m.facebook.com/farriersequinecare/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top