Does anyone treat fly rugs with permethrin themselves?

[Fuzzypuff]

As per the title, I am considering buying a fly rug and putting permethrin on it myself rather than buying the ones already impregnated, mainly to give me more choice of styles. Am wondering how easy it is to do though, and how well it works? My concern is how to do it without getting the permethrin anywhere near my cats. Could I do it at the yard? We don't have cats there, only dogs.

 

[3OldPonies]

I wouldn't if I were you.

Apart from my thoughts on the other impregnated rug thread - those that are sold commercially do so with a measured amount of the chemical spread evenly, why would you want to risk all the potential problems of spreading a killer chemical yourself? (I'm thinking specifically about overdosing, spreading sporadically and your health whilst exposed when applying it.)

 

[rara007]

I use permethrin and rugs but separately!

 

[WelshD]

I don't use permethrin but I do dilute Deosect to the correct dilution and paint it on to seams, surcingles and tail flaps with a paintbrush which works surprisingly well

 

[Fuzzypuff]

I wouldn't if I were you.

Apart from my thoughts on the other impregnated rug thread - those that are sold commercially do so with a measured amount of the chemical spread evenly, why would you want to risk all the potential problems of spreading a killer chemical yourself? (I'm thinking specifically about overdosing, spreading sporadically and your health whilst exposed when applying it.)

Hmm, I presumed that doing it would be fairly safe, if the stuff is marketed for putting on mosquito nets then the process can't be that risky?

I am rethinking the idea of having it against my horse's skin though.

 

[Shay]

I wouldn't - although in fairness I won't use permethrin based spays either. Not only is it highly lethal in cats it is also dangerously toxic to aquatic life and classed as restricted as a pesticide so you would have to take care to dispose of it and any contaminated water safely. Although originally classed as not carcinogenic in humans due to lack of data the National Pesticide Information Centre now states that Permethrin is likely to be carcinogenic on absorption / ingestion; which is obviously more likely if you are spaying it yourself rather than buying it "pre-sprayed". Everything in life has risks of course and everything is a balance of those risks. It is just a matter of knowing the facts and determining for yourself what is worth it.