Impossible...?

S

Sophiecollins11

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 March 2015
Messages
160
Visit site
I don't know if I'm looking for the impossible.... My traditional cob has come down with mites again after having about one month clear after having the dectomax injections which don't seem to be working any more, has anyone found any other way of getting ride of mites without clipping of feathers?
 
Not sure if this will work but yellow sulphur powder works quite well on legs and feathers but takes a couple of applications for feather. Hope you get rid of the mites soon!
 
Are you certain it is mites? Our Draught mare came to us with "mites" and old scars from past episodes. We have discovered that it is actually a form of eczema, caused in her case by wheat in her diet. We removed all wheat (even making sure she has wheat free treats) and her legs are now scab and itch free :)
 
YorksG at the moment it'd only the yard owner suggesting he has it and it does look similar to when he did have them in the past, will look into anything to help stop the pony itching! I had heard about pig oil and sulfur but apparently you can't use it this time of year where it's an oil and it's (supposed to be) sunny ...?
 
I thoroughly wash legs with Selsun Shampoo (Selenium Sulphide) and then part the hair and apply Frontline Spray and get it on the skin. (Horse has also had the injections but they need to be a course two weeks apart).

Heavy cobs suffer from hard skin just below the back of their front knee joints which can cause the skin to blow so if blown use salt water to clean and then apply Vaseline to keep it soft.
An injection of Dectromax Ivermechin can be given two to three weeks apart. It is not licensed for horses just sheep and cattle. (One horse has died). It will kill the mites from inside.
Bath any blown skin with salt water in case there is any low level infection.
Apply Vaseline to hardened patches to rear of knees.
Clip feathers out (it just means you can see everything, and know treatment is really getting where needed).
Then wash each week for 4 weeks with Selsun shampoo (quite expensive, need about 100ml which is 2/3 of the bottle per wash – have since discovered that human shampoo Selsun contains the same active ingredient but even stronger and is cheaper!) You need to wet, lather and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse properly.
Towel dry legs until only damp.
Then put gloves on and rub into damp legs about 8 sprays of Frontline per leg. If horse doesn’t like being sprayed then spray onto gloves and rub into skin or just spray straight on to leg but make sure you rub it into the skin with your gloved hands. Important Get it down to the roots of the hair. Buy the big bottle (about £38.00) from your local cat/dog vets, they had to phone my equine vets to confirm it was o.k. for me to have it as it’s prescription only but much cheaper this way.
Then on the actual existing sores/scabs the vet gave me a steroid cream in an E45 base (as soothing as Sudocream but actually working to clear it up too), this cream is mostly used for mud fever, but works well here, cost about £35 for a huge tub. This can be applied daily as needed. Worth it – really clears up the sores.
Once all existing scabs/sores gone, only wash with the Seleen/Selsun shampoo every couple of months or even only a couple of times a year, if needed.
This treatment works in the following ways:
The Seleen/Selsun shampoo removes the habitat (the scurf) where the mites live and helps with the itchiness.
The Frontline actually kills the mites.
The vet Steroid cream clears up any long-standing sores.
End result = one very happy horse (no stamping, chewing or itching at all).
Clean and disinfect stables and fence they are rubbing on
Cavalesson liquid suppliment takes itchines away and then Diosect
Coopers Tritek 14, Coopers Fly Spray or Tritek 14 (Permetherin)
Barricade (For cattle)
Dectomax 14 days interval
Dermoline insecticidal shampoo and then cover with fat or vaseline
Diosect shampoo and Dermoline. Dry them then Front line. (Diosect is a fly repellent)
Frontline
Headrin head lice shampoo
Lice powder and back comb
Spot On (Pfizer)
Stamp Off
Sudocrem
Switch repeat 7 days later
Tea tree oil
Ivermectin horse wormer for sucking lice not biting ones Wash
Jason Tipper head of practice at RVC is a specialist on lice
 
We have never had a problem with using pig oil and sulphur at any times in the year. I apply it at nighttime and even turning out following day in bright sunshine never had an issue and this is on white legs. I've found it works well and you can buy it premixed off ebay etc.
 
Thank you every one for all the helpful replies :) we spoke to the vet Wednesday afternoon after he got worse... He was diagnosed with feather mites and is in the process of receiving the dectomax injections before using pig oil and sulfur to manage the prevention of the mites for the future and get rid of all those scabs :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top