Lice!

[Hexx]

It would appear that my little pony has lice! Ugh!

I have dusted him with Barrier powder but can't get to the shop to get any Deosect until Saturday morning (will be on the doorstep at bang on 8.30 am!). I've given him a clean bed and dusted that with Barrier powder and all around the stable as well.

Not having had a horse with lice before, I have some questions:

How fast does the Deosect work?
How long is he going to have to stay in - can't turn him out with others in case they catch it.
He's quite feathery - do you think I am going to have to clip his feathers off?

Any other tips/hints for dealing with the little blighters will be gratefully received.

Thanks

 

[supsup]

I've used a pour-on similar to deosect, and it was very quick. I could see dead lice the next day (pony was crawling with them when I got her). However, it doesn't get the eggs, which hatch about 10-14 days later. You need to repeat the treatment after about 10 days at least once, if not a second time (10 days later again) to catch the new lice hatching from the eggs. I kept mine separate until after the second round of treatment.
No idea about feathers, but as far as I'm aware, the lower legs are not a prime spot for lice. Might still be a good idea to put some deosect on the legs specifically.

Mine was out in her own electic-fenced small paddock, out of reach of the other horses. Can you not create a similar turnout area for your horse so he doesn't have to stay in? Lice don't live long off a living creature, so you'd probably stand a better chance to avoid re-infection if you put him somewhere outdoors so that he/other horses don't pick up any lice or eggs he sheds in the meantime.

I also washed all rugs, and disinfected the grooming kit.

 

[Horsekaren]

My boy had lice last year, barrier powder did nothing, i wasnt keen on Deosect after reading stories online. We actually used Barrier Pesky Pest Wash (you smother them and leave it on) repeat every week until clear and it worked a treat. Not bad for a £8.000 price tag! i called them and they advised it does kill lice, it did

 

[BeckyFlowers]

Have you used Deosect on this pony before? I ask because I used it on mine a few years ago as my gelding has sweet itch and it really irritated his skin, especially on the thinner-skinned parts like around the sheath. He was so uncomfortable I had to hose him off immediately. The other one (mare) didn't seem bothered by it though. Might be worth bearing in mind. I felt so guilty at the time, even though I made up the dilution properly and applied it in the continuous spray that is recommended. He was fine after it was washed off though. Sorry, I don't have anything to add re lice!

 

[Sophstar]

I've just done my clydie for lice. Test patch of deosect then doused him in it all over. The lice were all dead within a day or two and I'll redo him again next week to make sure we get rid of any new eggs. I also soaked all his brushes and sprayed down the areas of his stable where he had had a good scratch on with deosect.

 

[Red-1]

I would defo do a test patch with Deosect. I got some a few years back and it was diluted correctly, but by the time I had done the second side the horse was covered in wheals on the first side, he was beside himself.

I too had to hose off straight away.