Lice! ARGH

SpotsandBays

SpotsandBays

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My old Cushings ponies seem to get it every winter, but it seems the whole yard apart from my riding horse has it this time! (All elderly horses and my yearling).
Been powdering, but I just don’t think it’s super effective. I swear I end up with most of it on me, and it’s hard to get the difficult areas!
Any other treatments to recommend? Seen coopers fly repellent plus is good but it’s out of stock EVERYWHERE. And deosect? (I begrudge at £40 for a 25l bottle but if it works?)
Help! Tia!
 
Give Deosect a go - sounds like you can split a bottle between a few of you. I'm having a nightmare this year with feather mites and the vets have said it's the warm weather.

Frontline flea spray also good
 
Dilute tea tree oil should knock them out. Cheap for 20ml essential oil diluted in 1 ltr veg oil, spray onto dry hair.
 
SEL said:
Patch test tea tree oil first. Some horses are allergic..... found out the hard way with my old horse. Big vet bill!
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Thanks! Will do. I believe I bathed him in the summer with a tea tree wash and was fine, but yes it’s better to be safe than sorry!
 
SEL said:
Patch test tea tree oil first. Some horses are allergic..... found out the hard way with my old horse. Big vet bill!
Click to expand...
Patch test everything first to see if horse has adverse symptoms. Theyre all different with reactions.

Never use essentials oils neat, always dilute. Theyre way too potent neat.

Deosect active ingredient is cypermethrin, a synthetic biocide, used in lots of fly killer sprays and rat killing poison.
It requires diluting before use.
Used this on my mare and gelding for midges a couple of yrs ago, as indicated, in the form of a equine fly spray and the mare had hives head to foot, sloppy poop, while gelding unaffected.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypermethrin

If you have a skin sensitive horse, the only non-toxic thing i can think to try is diatomaceous earth. Its a white, lightweight powder which dries up and cuts up eggs/mites/lice. If youre using this for fetlock feathers only id apply liberally, but if there’s any broken skin/sore exposed skin/mud fever going on too, i’d avoid diatomaceous earth (D.E)
 
PurBee said:
Patch test everything first to see if horse has adverse symptoms. Theyre all different with reactions.

Never use essentials oils neat, always dilute. Theyre way too potent neat.

Deosect active ingredient is cypermethrin, a synthetic biocide, used in lots of fly killer sprays and rat killing poison.
It requires diluting before use.
Used this on my mare and gelding for midges a couple of yrs ago, as indicated, in the form of a equine fly spray and the mare had hives head to foot, sloppy poop, while gelding unaffected.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypermethrin

If you have a skin sensitive horse, the only non-toxic thing i can think to try is diatomaceous earth. Its a white, lightweight powder which dries up and cuts up eggs/mites/lice. If youre using this for fetlock feathers only id apply liberally, but if there’s any broken skin/sore exposed skin/mud fever going on too, i’d avoid diatomaceous earth (D.E)
Click to expand...
Thank you! Yes I would patch test. I’ll have a look at DE!
 
Be careful with Deosect, I diluted and used as directed one year and the poor horse came out in huge welts. One side was welted whilst I was still applying the second side, I wondered why he did not stand still. Had to cold hose the lot of him. Happily, it was in summer for midges so he did not freeze, not sure what I could have done had it been winter.

It was only on him for a few minutes, but took days to come down with piriton. Horse was out of work because of it.
 
Deosect might cost a bit per bottle, but you only use a very small amount each time. I spray my Sweetitch, sensitive skinned mare with 10ml diluted in approx 500ml to 750ml of water once a week during the midge/fly season as per vet directions, so a 250ml bottle will last 25 weeks.
I also sponged it on her as a foal when she came to me with Lice, and it was really effective, one treatment and all gone.

As with anything, 48hr patch test first. I know a lot of people get a bit like 'oooh scary chemicals', but it really does work.
 
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