Lice ? best to clip?

[PurplePickle]

Ive got a 10 month old with lice, her coat is exceptionally thick and long

Whats best , the bath and lice powder route or something like deosect? Im concerned about using anything too 'strong' on her as shes had a low immune system after having a respitory infection for most of winter also both times she had her flu vacc she reacted so whatever it is needs to be extra safe for youngsters.

Im not sure I want her first meeting with clippers to be at 10 months but shes pretty steady so might be ok, and is ok with rugs, will it just be fire fighting if I dont clip?

Any experiences, whats the best course of action?

 

[Zuzzie]

There was a post on here in January with an 8 month old foal who had lice - there were quite a few good tips. I dont know how to put the link but try a search for : Charliefox - Lice How do I get rid?

 

[fruity]

You could do a small area skin test with deosect,you could use it very very dilute to start and if she doesn't react then make it a little stronger,a little goes a long way,you'll need to repeat it 14 days later to kill the hatched eggs that you wouldn't of got the first time round.

 

[Izzwizz]

Have you spoken to your vet? Pony on our yard had them and he had an injection to kill them. Seems to have worked as hes not eating himself anymore.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Dectomax injection, 2 jabs given about 10 days apart zaps feather mites but not sure if it's as effective on lice. Ask your vets. It was safe for my ragwort poisoned rescue mare who was as close to death from liver damage as it's possible to be so it should be safe for your poorly youngster. Frontline spray (dog strength) is brill too and the beauty of that is that you can break up the zapping into chunks that your youngster can cope with and you can disguise the getting-down-to-skin-level in a glorious scratching session for her itches! Needs to be worked in right down to skin level but I wouldn't clip out a poorly 10 month old. Don't waste your money on powders, the most they will ever do (straight from my vets!) is act as a weak preventative in a louse-free horse. Don't forget, whatever method you use you have to repeat after 10 days the active adults are killed but the developing eggs aren't. Adults die. Eggs hatch after 10 days. Horse infested again!

 

[PurplePickle]

thanks all, rang vets htis morning and they are getting me some Dectomax for all the horses as they most likely have them too.

 

[varkie]

The injection will only work if you have a particular sort of lice. Horses get two different sorts - sucking & biting lice. The sucking ones can be got rid of by injection, as when they suck, they'll take in the chemical from the horse. The biting lice (which are usually the most itchy making ones) only chew at the skin, so dont' take in the chemical from the horse. So they have to be treated externally.

It isn't essential to clip to get rid of lice, but it certainly makes it easier to treat them. If doing a youngster, if they're a bit sensitive to clippers, it might make sense to give them a little light sedation to make it kinder & safer for everyone.

Definitely patch test before using Deosect. Personally I think Deosect is excellent, but it isn't something to be used lightly.

If treating a horse for lice, you will also need to treat any other horses they have contact with, and we usually treat 'soft furnishings' too - brushes, rugs, headcollars, and any wood they come into contact with.

 

[ilovemyhorsee]

i have been using lice powder for around 6 months on my youngster which didnt work so i have just used deosect and it was brilliant with no reaction, hes got a realy thick coat.

 

[K27]

I wouldn't want to clip a 10mth olds legs!- Deosect is fab stuff - i've used it on my little cob and it's always worked a treat.

 

[PurplePickle]

varkie they are getting me the external version to apply for all the horses rather than injection, so hoping it will work