Lice the final frontier

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stangs

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So I’ve been racking my brains trying to figure out why the horse is so itchy, pouring over skin supplements etc, and it turns out that it was just good old-fashioned lice all along. Already a contender for worst owner of 2026 and it’s only April…

He’s been thoroughly sprayed over with Deosect, (as has his herd and grooming kit) and I’ll do that again in another two weeks, but the itching is still there a few days later, albeit not as bad. Those of you who’ve dealt with lice: how long did you find that it took for the itching to subside? And does anyone have any recommendations for a good anti-lice shampoo? I’m just concerned that that, him being a feathered beast on the fluffy side, I might have missed a spot that would enable lice resistance and being able to bathe him in something that’s not Deosect would bring a lot of peace of mind.
 
We had them this year too - and then little loan pony came home riddled with them!

Itching stops within 48 hours in my experience, usually sooner.

I wouldn’t mix insecticides. We have done Deosect x 2. Spot on will then take over 2-3 weeks after that. I find combing the Deosect in helps to get to the base of the coat - and I louse comb the high traffic areas first (using a metal human nit comb).
 
I had a couple of hairy oldies that seemed to get them every spring for a couple of years. I would bath with Dermoline insect shampoo (although I believe they changed the formula and it’s less potent now?) then follow up with louse powder which I would apply regularly over the next few weeks. Then I switched the powder for Deosect and would repeat the wash and reapply a couple of weeks later - always did the trick! Thankfully haven’t had to deal with them for a while now. I seem to remember them being less itchy within a couple of days of bath/treatment. Bath definitely seemed to help!
 
Deosect doesn't need to cover everywhere in order to work. I'd stick with that and do the second dose, then reassess after that. I used it on a pony that came riddled with lice and it took both doses to rid her fully, but it did work.
 
My Mini shetlands have been riddled this year, I think they came to me with them as babies last year as they are the only equines on the land, I couldn't spot any lice for ages but at their last Vet visit for Jabs I mentioned the itchiness to the Vet and turns out I just wasnt noticing them in the right spot and when I checked along the manes they were absolutely covered, poor babies, both treated with deosect which they absolutely hated at two week intervals and think we have finally got on top of them, no more rubbing.
they were super itchy for nearly a week after their first does but think that was where the lice were dying and biting, I did do a patch test first to make sure no adverse reactions.
I was advised just to pour from forelock to tail along the back and i made sure it rubbed in with gloves as they were super hairy.
 
I've used deosect in the past for lice but applied using a sponge and very thoroughly soaked through all over to ensure it's penetrated the fur and hair, and particularly any little nooks and crannies lice like to hide away in. Got 'em in one go!

Edit: Of course, make sure you dilute correctly and patch test first to anyone reading this who hasn't used deosect before!
 
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