Lice

[Paint it Lucky]

(Also in new lounge)
One of my horses lives out 24/7 and as spring is on the way i am trying to be vigilant for any signs of lice as my friend (who I share the field with), informs me that the lady who keeps her horses next door does not treat them for lice, which they get each year and so obviously they could spread into our field. So I gave my horse a very thorough check today, he was abit dandruffy but I could find no lice or signs or rubbing/itching and have not seen him itch or appear uncomfortable at all. Could the dandruff be lice related or is it just that his coat is a bit poor?

Is it best to treat for lice now before he gets them as a preventative or should i wait until he (if) he does get them? And what are the best lice treatments to use?

Thankyou

 

[Donkeymad]

Posted an answer in NL

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

If it's lice, your ned will be dreadfully itchy and will try to scratch himself on anything and everything to relieve the misery of it. You would see sore rub marks, maybe crusty and bleeding. I know it's gruesome but if you lean against your ned's shoulders for a while then move back and immediately peer hard at his coat, you should be able to see lice as tiny things the size of a grain of rice creeping slowly in the hair, wondering where that nice bit of extra warmth has gone.

If you think he may already have them, Frontline rubbed deep into the skin at the danger areas works well. But whatever louse product you use (your vets can advise) you have to repeat it in 10 days as the eggs that the little bleeders will have laid in the hair will hatch then and you will have a new infestation! Don't forget to wash rugs, brushes, numnahs etc etc and disinfect doors and wood in the stable, coz the little buggers can lurk anywhere!

 

[celia]

My sisters pony had lice at the beginning of this year (caught from someone elses horse who's owner didn't notice until she was crawling with them - so annoying

) and he was really itchy - little clumps of fur were coming out from all his scratching, poor lad. We used coopers fly repellent which seemed to work well - they cleared up pretty quickly. It claims to continue working for approx 3 months so if you were worried it may be worth trying as a preventative. (I think I paid about £20 for a bottle and it has enough for 3 or 4 uses.)

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Thanks guys, I'm pretty sure he hasn't got them now, just worried he might in future. I have heard that Cooper's stuff is good so will invest in some of that just in case