Feather mites and Front Line?

starbar

starbar

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It's that time of year again and the hairy one is really starting to suffer with feather mites. I have been told that you can use Front Line on the feathers to get rid of them and give the poor boy some relief. I was wondering if anyone had experience of this?

I am assuming you just use a few drops of the normal cat/dog stuff that you get in pipettes? Or is there another version of the product that I don't know about? And is it just a couple of drops at the top of the feather on each leg that sorts it?

Would be keen to hear of people's experiences in trying this. Just for the record, I can't use Pig oil and sulphur as his field mate is allergic. I have tried the injection from the vet (the one licenced for cattle) but I've moved since then and the new vet won't do it (not really a horsey vet). Insecticial shampoo works for about a day, same with flea powder! Feel like I am running out of options and i'm NOT clipping them off! :p

Thanks!
 
Hi, I used the frontline spray which I ordered online.

Use it liberally, and then finish off the bottle 10 days later (as the eggs hatch).

I found it to be really effective and my horse hasn't itched since, this was a couple of years ago, although he is now living out, which probably makes a difference.

Hope that helps :)
 
Hi , once upon many moons ago , I had a hairy cob who suffered with mites , I had the vet out and he recommended frontline , you can get it in spray form , but maybe only from the vets as you tend to see the pipettes for cats and dogs , but not the bottles , give your vet a ring , they should be able to sell you a bottle without prescription.

You may be able to get it from a really good online place that i use quite a bit called animalMedic , google and you should find it.
 
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I've seen a few posts now about feather mites and i wonder if you could use diatomaceous earth (powder). I liberally dust this in my chicken coop and on my chooks to keep red mite away (and have never had any). It works because the 'diatom' is actually tiny particles of crushed fossils (i think) that pierce the skin of bugs and then dehydrate them. If you brushed the powder through the feathers everyday as a preventitive it might work? (sorry if you've already tried this)

http://www.diatomx.co.uk/

Good luck with it
Trina x
 
If I was in your situation, I would use Frontline on days 1 and 10 (for an immediate result), then as Trina1982 says above go for the diatomaceous earth and apply on a regular basis... I think these amazing particles need to be use more frequently instead of chemicals.
 
mine gets the mites in some fields and I was recommended Frontline dog type drop (glad its in a spray..didnt know that) but always heard it worked well.

I usually clip or trim feathers and use benzylbenzoate OR/and then perhaps after using (ie frontline). POST treatment plaster their lower legs feathers really work in some ie aqueous cream to sooth any bites and also to helps stop the mites clinging to the hair.

If they are really sore I will use diluted hibiscrub but still continue the above!

There is a jab apparently if you look at previous threads on here but i have not used that either. Usually have managed it myself without calling the vet. I do try to keep the feathers off the ground too(in fact just trimmed the feathers yesterday).

Let us know how you get on with the frontline as I havent tried that before pls you can pm me if u dont mind. Good luck
 
Flowers of sulphur and pig oil!

Mix the powder into a paste with the oil and gradually add more oil, rub that into the feathers and leave on for a couple of days then wash off with hot soapy water and reapply a week later.

You will find that the oil will also lift all the grease in the feathers and that they come up very white. It is what the Shire showing people use to get white feathers.
 
I wouldnt reccomend frontline at all. Deosect is the best thing for mites in my opinion my poor girl arrived covered in them and it was suggested to me from a local hunt lady I now use it as a fly spray once every 2 weeks and its way above using the usual expensive fly sprays.

Nb it is £30 but totally worth it.
 
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