Feather mites

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Walrus

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Those of you with hairy horses - what have you used for feather mites? Also what symptoms have you seen when your horses have feather mites?

Cheers

:)
 
Hi, the symptoms my lad showed were stamping his back feet, rubbing them on anything he could find and biting at his fetlocks. I got the vet out and he gave him two dectomax jabs, 3 weeks apart and he has been fine ever since. This was last october and he wintered out - I think straw has a lot to do with them catching them - so being out he didnt get reinfected.
Others have used frontline - and deosect wash, but I opted for the jabs.x
 
When my cob started stamping his back legs I clipped his feathers off and sprayed with frontline (ordered from abroad so no prescription needed) 10 days apart. Completely worked and have not had a problem since. Obviously more careful management needed if you want to keep them hairy.
 
Thanks guys, can the dectomax injection be given at the same time as the annual flu jabs do you know? (Vet is coming next week anyway)
 
Walrus said:
Those of you with hairy horses - what have you used for feather mites? Also what symptoms have you seen when your horses have feather mites?

Cheers

:)
Click to expand...

Scabby behind the knees (almost like they are cracked, very small bitty scabs)

Some horses bite and stamp their legs

I have tried everything: Frontline, insecticidal shampoos, the cow wormer that's injected.

the only thing that actually worked for me and the other two haries in the field is Pig Oil and Sulphur. You can buy it ready mixed or its cheaper to buy separately from a farm shop and mix yourself (A couple of "handfuls" of sulphur per litre of P/O)

Use gloves to apply it and rub it in well to get to the skin, the feathers will look greasy for a day or two but then its fine.

Repeat every month :)

You can also use pig oil to condition manes and tails - just don't put the sulphur in!

Honestly this is the best way - I got the tip off a lady I accosted at a heavy horse show and have never looked back.
 
I use pig oil and sulphur, and it's cured the stamping and itching, the scabby bits (mallenders) behind the knees, and his feathers have grown a treat. Cannot recommend it highly enough - you can get it off ebay. PM me if you need any info on it...sm x
 
Sulphurated Lime wash, which you can get from your vet. It stinks, but it does the job, particularly if you wash the legs with a medicated shampoo prior to applying the lime wash. Not keen on injecting too much Dectomax, my lad has had a couple of these jabs previously, but I don't like using too much stuff that isn't licensed for horses!!!
 
Start with frontline, then use P&S all winter and sulphur in summer. Neem oil is also good for preventing mites though more expensive that using P&S.

The secret is to start young before they get thickened skin and folds, and realise that this is a lifetime routine - you can't stop treating for them.

If you want the huge note I do on the subject, PM me an email address and I will send it to you.
 
Hiya Walrus, I sent you the PM, but in my sent folder it says nothing about it - could you let me know if you got it ?? Ta muchly, sm x
 
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