Longer term fly protection (melanoma) - Spotinor or similar?

[HollyWoozle]

My mare has some melanomas under her tail, which don't bother her, and one essentially on her bum cheek to the side of her tail. This one gets the skin scraped off the top when she has her summer coat, I believe from when she gets up from a roll or a snooze.

It never seems sore and has never been infected but I feel it is essential to keep the flies off of it (she is 22, retired and a nervy sort so I am not interested in having any sort of invasive treatment for melanomas). I am there every weekday to apply Equi-salve or similar to protect it but my mother cares for the family herd at the weekends. My mare has never kicked but is a little unpredictable and flighty and I think applying something to her back end makes my mum nervous. I was thinking of applying something longer term to avoid the need... I have used Deosect before but wondered if something like Spotinor would do the trick? But perhaps it is not strong enough to repel flies from something which is essentially almost an open wound?

 

[meleeka]

My go to is Battles Summer Fly Cream. It dries so would last a couple of days I think. I used Spotinor and it did appear to work, but not as well as Deosect.

 

[ycbm]

I've found Spotinor actually works really well on any bit of the body that weeps a bit, because it allows it to come out into the open in the fluid instead of waiting for a fly to bite. I used it as a full dose then topped up a quarter dose every week, to keep the levels steady. It can raise a lump where it's put, which disappears after a day.
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[HollyWoozle]

My go to is Battles Summer Fly Cream. It dries so would last a couple of days I think. I used Spotinor and it did appear to work, but not as well as Deosect.

I love this fly cream too but unfortunately it just rubs off if she lies down. Helpful to know you’ve tried Spotinor too, thanks!

I've found Spotinor actually works really well on any bit of the body that weeps a bit, because it allows it to come out into the open in the fluid instead of waiting for a fly to bite. I used it as a full dose then topped up a quarter dose every week, to keep the levels steady. It can raise a lump where it's put, which disappears after a day.
.

Thanks @ycbm, that sounds promising.

 

[HollyWoozle]

How are you getting Spotinor?

 

[little_critter]

My YO has a horse with a similar flat sarcoid. She sometimes puts a cross of physio tape over it to keep the flies off. Could you put the tape on on Friday and hope it stays stuck all weekend?

 

[ycbm]

How are you getting Spotinor?

You can buy it from places like Viovet. I used to get mine from an agricultural store near me.
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[HollyWoozle]

My YO has a horse with a similar flat sarcoid. She sometimes puts a cross of physio tape over it to keep the flies off. Could you put the tape on on Friday and hope it stays stuck all weekend?

That’s not a bad shout actually! I have some polster stuff which would work.

You can buy it from places like Viovet. I used to get mine from an agricultural store near me.
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I ordered online but have to speak to a specialist over the phone (about my pet cow… obviously) before they’ll release it to me

 

[JenJ]

That’s not a bad shout actually! I have some polster stuff which would work.



I ordered online but have to speak to a specialist over the phone (about my pet cow… obviously) before they’ll release it to me

This is my problem - I've been wanting to use Spotinor since ycbm mentioned it a year or two (or three...) ago, but can't bring myself to lie about my 'cow' when ordering, and certainly wouldn't be able to if I actually had to speak to someone! I wish it was actually licensed for use on horses so we could buy it properly, especially as Deosect still seems to be AWOL.

I did buy an Australian equine spot on treatment through Amazon a couple of years ago, but it wasn't THAT great, and I also kept expecting to be arrested for "illegally importing" it (I just bought it from Amazon UK, didn't even realise it was Australian until it turned up a fortnight later!)

 

[HopOnTrot]

Deosect, the girls had lice during lockdown and when I called the vet for treatment they prescribed a bottle per pony, which as they only use a few ml per treatment it’s lasted me forever!

 

[JenJ]

Deosect, the girls had lice during lockdown and when I called the vet for treatment they prescribed a bottle per pony, which as they only use a few ml per treatment it’s lasted me forever!

It's been out of stock since March/April, supposedly due to manufacturing issues and production was due to resume in June, but I've not seen any available yet. I'm currently using Tri Tec 14, which is nowhere near as good, has to be re-applied after a few days, and again, isn't even licensed for use on horses in the UK (it is in the US, Aus etc). It's sold here as an 'equine equipment' spray.

I'm so annoyed with myself, as I had a spring clean in early March, which included throwing away a half-full bottle of Deosect as it'd been open since last summer and I don't like using them for that long. I should have kept it - I have two little Section As and half a bottle would easily have seen me through this whole summer! It was only a week or so later when I tried to order a replacement that I became aware of the supply issues.

 

[HollyWoozle]

@JenJ I've realised that cow owners also have to have them registered and have a holding number too.

I think I’m going to speak to the vet and ask them to prescribe Spotinor. Could do without another bill but isn’t that always the way?

 

[HollyWoozle]

@JenJ our vets have recommended Switch as an alternative, no prescription need and licensed for horses.

Switch Lotion 250ml

Switch Lotion aids in the control of sweet itch on horses and donkeys.

www.vetpharmacy.co.uk