ebay buyer beware-lice infested rugs

[tomernieboo09]

Just a warning for ebay users, I recently purchased a used rug from an ebay seller and it wasnt until my horse developed an itching rash that I discovered to my horror that he was covered in lice!!! after spending £101 to get the vet out and trying to find the source, we discovered that the rug I had purchased was 'walking' with them. I have been advised to burn all rugs and buy new grooming kit! the outcome is that a cheap rug that I saved a tenner on has now cost me nearly £400 to replace everything, not to mention the distress this has caused my poor horse...beware!!

 

[Lady_Bug]

Oh no, that's awful! Was it advertised as cleaned and ready to go as well?

 

[Horseyscot]

Oh dear!

Although I must say, and maybe I'm totally wrong here, but to have to burn and replace all your rugs seemed a bit drastic! I just bought a new little Welsh Section A for my little girl, and soon found out he was infested with lice. I treated him, and my horse with stuff I got from the vet, and washed his rugs at 60 degrees (as advised by my vet) to kill any little blighters on them. The vet also told be they could only live for about 10 - 14 days off the horse, so I just used a couple of brushes on the pony and kept the rest separate. I also sprayed the brushes with the anti lice stuff, after a fortnight I had to treat the pony again in case any original eggs had hatched after the first treatment. Thankfully we are now lice free, at no cost except the treatment from the vet (didn't even call vet out as i knew it was lice).

 

[Maesfen]

But also, isn't it an idea to launder it anyway if it's been on somebody else's horse, just in case? I know it's shutting the stable door and all now that but it's common and hygiene sense surely?

 

[scotsmare]

If I buy second hand rugs on ebay they are ALWAYS washed before being put on a horse. I tend to buy my youngsters rugs this was as I don't mind if they're trashed but I wouldn't be keen to put them on if they're already dirty.

 

[rockinghorse]

A friend gave me a bit of advice some years back re buying second hand horse rugs etc, place rug inside clean plastic bag & put in freezer for a few days

sounds daft but works with kids furry toys as well..

 

[Donkeymad]

I can't believe it has cost you nearly £400 to treat a lice infestation

It is rather drastic and uneccessary to burn your rugs and grooming kit, just disinfect them thoroughly.

 

[henryhorn]

What a nuisance, lice are a pain, although I see you connecting the rug and the lice it may just be your horse has picked them up another method. This is the highest risk time as their breeding season starts and their eggs cling to trees, gateposts etc.
I wouldn't have put a used rug on a horse without first checking it carefully and spraying with hibiscrub dilution at the very least, there are various outbreaks of strangles around so best to be cautious.
There is no need whatsoever to burn rugs, whoever told you that is over reacting.
Give them a power wash inside and out then spray with frontline or animal flea spray, the cost of an aerosol or two is a damn sight less than a new rug, or as someone said try the freezer though not sure that would kill the actual eggs off, I doubt it, as they live on after every winter through freezing temps.
As for grooming kit just give it a thorough hand wash in as hot a water and disinfectant as you can bear, leave to soak in salt water and any insects should float to the top.
We get lice here most springs, and deal with them according to whether the horses are in or out. Those in get frontlined and their stuff washed/grooming kit cleaned, those out get Spot On the cattle/sheep flea/lice liquid poured over their manes to their tail . (that's an expensive method, a bottle just cost me eighty pounds last week!) Some years they don't appear, others they breed like fury according to the weather.
If the horse has lice, his rug will show evidence too, not necessarily because he caught it from the rug and sad though it is, it's a lesson learned, don't ever use S/H anything without checking it first and treating possible infections or infestations..
If your vet advised burning all rugs and equipment I would be changing vet's I'm afraid....

 

[tomernieboo09]

the rug came with a tag on it that said that it had been washed in a washing solution that contained anti lice treatment... thanks to everyone for their thoughts and hints on this.I wont be puchasing anymore 'cheap' rugs from ebay sellers. I was told that nothing can penetrate the eggs and thats why they re-appear and need to be re-treated, hence they can survive a wash cycle and rug treatment.