Feather mites

[Magic mummy]

Hi all can anybody please give me some advice on how to control and get rid of feather mites. My cob suffers badly he gets nasty cuts through chewing and scratching. He's had two injections from vets which did help with scratching and stomping but only for a couple of weeks. Vet then advised to clip as short as I could and use pig oil and sulphur which I did but that hasn't worked either. Somebody did say to use frontline spray for dogs on him, but I'm not sure? I'm getting his legs clipped again next week, although I feel awful clipping off his feathers but it's the only way I can really get to his sores to treat them. Any suggestions for some good old fashioned remedies please. Thanks in advance

 

[Redders]

Clip the feather to get to the sores, and give regular baths with hibi scrub (vet wash) can get it most places but if you can't find that, use something with chlorhexadine gluconate in it, it's really good for disinfecting and will also kill the mites and eggs. Do it every other day and then when the feather grows back you can monitor it and wash it when you need to. Also useful to use a nit comb from the chemist when you wash the feather as the small teeth will drag out the little blighters! Give that a go and see how you get on, the injections will only treat the effects of the mites (itching) and not get rid of them.

 

[Magic mummy]

Thank you for replying, that sounds easy great I will get some tomorrow

 

[Kikke]

frontline! works a treat. we have a very heavy feathered belgian draft and we use it on him a few times a year and there's nothing better!

 

[chilledoutpony]

Similar situation to my cob last winter. I just coated his feathers in pig oil And sulphed, I put front line on, make his legs really slippy. Obviously don't make your horse cold with water. Mites love warmth so if they manage to get on his main body as cruel as it sounds don't rug up!

I bought some cattle spray for mites (can't be bought from agriculture or tack shops) and it worked a dream. Only needed to be sprayed once a Week but I would use more.

Hope they go away (the mites!) And merry Xmas and a happy new year!

 

[chilledoutpony]

Sulphered to sulpher and can't be bought to can be bought

 

[Micky]

Frontline pipettes, one on each leg (for dogs)

 

[MissMistletoe]

Deosect spray works.