Lice & weight loss **please help**

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Cannon2571

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Hi All

I have a 24 year old mare, and she has always been a picutre of health.
About 5 weeks ago she caught lice from the neighbouring horse and since then has been dropping weight.
I first of all treated the lice with powder however this did nothing, I then treated with lice shampoo and hot water, this made a little difference but was still scratching. I then consulted my vet and he advised Creoscent. I used this 2 weeks ago and the itching has stopped, she is due her second dose on Saturday.

Does having lice cause weight loss? I am really worried about her she is on 2 hard feeds a day, hay and haylage and has plenty of grazing, she is rugged up and brought in of an evening.

Any advice or experience is welcome.

Thank you :)
 
Does having lice cause weight loss?
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Yes it can do - especially in the more vunerable. Depending on the severity of the attack you may want to ask your vet to do a blood test to ensure that she's not become anaemic. If she is she'll need a red cell boosting suppliment to help support her recovery.
 
And you'll need to launder all her rugs - or you will be reinfecting her.

It is that time of the year when older horses shed off the weight though - it is damp and cold, the grass is taking time to start....
 
Best cure for lice is invemectine, so worm her and that should she the end of your blood suckers. She may have dropped weight to being uncomfortable or it may be that you have noticed it more this year as you are shampooing,etc.
 
Lice = pain in the ****
Yes, older horses in particular can be severely pulled down by a bad case of lice. As AmyMay says, anemia can be a problem.
Rugs will need changing and cleaning with every treatment, and ideally continue to treat for a further three weeks after all signs are gone....one untreated little egg is all it will take to reinfect her.
 
Hi C2571. You might want to think this through from the other way round. Whilst lice can fairly easily be passed from horse to horse it might be that your veteran mare was more susceptible BECAUSE she's run down and her immunity is low, rather than the lice have MADE her run down. See what I mean? I've had 2 similar (and ghastly) experiences with small animals and fleas. My cocker spaniel was very ill with kidney failure. I had 2 cats at the time and suddenly a massive flea infestation happened. The cats were Spot On-ed and were fine except for the odd 1 or 2 fleas I combed out. But the dog would regularly have 200 scampering about on him EVERY DAY. I'd flea comb them off because he couldn't have Spot On. His immunity was so low he was a perfect host for the fleas. Then 2 years ago my elderly cat Spencer developed first urine retention and bladder problems then suspected bone cancer in his front leg. Again, a flea infestation suddenly exploded and despite flea combing him twice a day, I would regularly comb 50 or more out of his fur. Again, a perfect host because his immune system was already being hammered. It could very well be that your mare has an underlying health problem that hasn't come to light yet that has rendered her a perfect host to lice.
 
Hi All

Thank you so much for your replies.
I have been spraying the rugs in the Deosect and then leaving them off her and putting new ones on, then swapping over on treatments.

Box of frogs that is very interesting, the vet did listen to her heart and noticed a heart murmour but said it was nothing to worry about.
The vet also advised to complete a months worth of treatments and if she has not improved he would then take a blood test.

I am just really concerned as she has never dropped weight, her teeth are up to date, and she is eating all her feed and hay.
It is horrible not knowing what is going on inside there bodies :-(
 
classicalfan said:
Best cure for lice is invemectine, so worm her and that should she the end of your blood suckers. She may have dropped weight to being uncomfortable or it may be that you have noticed it more this year as you are shampooing,etc.
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She has just been wormed with Equest last month which I believe has ivermectin in it?
 
I have had a fair few oldies and generally found that lice especially recurrent infestations indicated failing health and a poor immune system. It is very difficult to treat these lice infestations in old horses they just seem to keep comming back. Sorry not to be encouraging.
 
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