Mites...anyone else dealing with them?!!

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Sophstar

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Just had my cob checked out as his legs are sooo itchy. He's continually scratching his front heels and can be seen rubbing his back heels on anything in the field to give them a good scratch! Before I had even finished explaining the 'symptoms' the vet said 'it's mites.' Soooo now he's had his first mite injection and second one in a few weeks time and been told to clip all his legs just to sort the soreness out to start with:( bye bye to his lovely fluffy legs!

Anyone else dealing with mites currently? Do you keep you horse's feather clipped or let them grow back? I did explain to the vet he lives out 24/7 so wanted his feathers back in the winter to give him a bit of protection and he said he will 'some' feather grown back but it is advised to clip start of spring to give his legs some airing:rolleyes:
 
I've really struggled with them, I've only owned him since January and I've had the injection done twice. I clipped off his feathers to treat the sores, then started to grow them back, then he started rubbing again so off they came. I'm growing them again now as I want to show him. And he has a lovely thick mane, which I don't want to pull. I'm going to try pig oil & Sulphur when they have grown back. Which a lot of people on here recommend.
 
I have two hairy cobs, when they get mites I use frontline spray. One application and then repeat after 10 days. I use pig oil and sulphur on the feathers in the winter. The feathers stay on, never had to clip them.
 
I'm having terrible trouble with mites. My mare is quite fine with no feather but gets them every spring and they are usually cleared up with two applications of Frontline. This year they have come back a second time and really taken hold in her mane and tail and shoulders. we've had an injection and are due another so hope it works!

I have been recommended by a vet nurse to use a powder called Diatom which is very effective against mites. You can put it on their legs and also in the bedding and it can also be fed like a wormer. I've been googling it for more information and am seriously thinking of using this as its completely natural, no chemicals.

Good luck with your treatment.
 
We use pig oil and sulphur from:
http://www.sussexcobs.co.uk/pigoilandsulphur.htm

I give the bottle a really good shake, then put some in an old supplement tub and use a paint brush to slap it on, then I rub it in. Next day I'll wipe off surplus with an old towel. Seems to keep the beasties at bay and is much cheaper - also wards off mud fever and keeps any feather mud free!:)
 
Just bought some feather mite powder by Nettex, but have to say not impressed. Horse has since been rubbing and scratching. I have used frontline in the past but am not too happy about frequent use.
 
It's an endless battle!

After 18 months trying to rid the things with feathers on i have resorted to clipping ~ quite mortified about what was hidden under all that hair. I have been using foot stamp whilst the sores heal and am going to repeat frontline with 10 days between. I have always pig oil and sulphured but you need to get rid first then use it as a preventative.

He's had dectomax the lot previously
 
Thanks for the tips...since the first ivermectin jab he hasn't been quite as itchy and hasn't reduced his front legs to bleeding (yet) but his hind heels are still quite sore and itchy, as he can be heard giving his back feet a good stamp. If he didn't have shoes on I think he would have probably destroyed his feet the amount he stamps! Now just trying to find the best set of clippers to get rid of the dam feathers!
 
my donkey has mange mites for the second time,
she is itchy -scaby- crusty.,


its improving now. Washed her in hibi scrub and mites shampoo
 
Theresa_F on here has sent me a fantastic PM about how to look after feathers and deal with mites etc. I have followed her advice and had no problems and never had to clip the feathers.
 
Dectamax always used to work really well, but recently there seems to be some resistance to it.

I use a Ivermectin oral sheep wormer Noromectin or Oramec) to get rid of the mites. It's available from agricultural stores and costs less than £20 /Litre which lasts ages. I put some gloves on, tip some in a Body Shop type smallish bottle and just get squirting/rubbing in. It works well.

A week or so later I apply pig oil and sulphur in the same manner and this regime keeps them under control.

As Thersa F says, you don't have to clip off the feather, this will not get rid of the mites. I have never used Frontline but spraying is not something many horses will tolerate, so I would decant it into a similar BS bottle and apply as above. I wouldn't buy any of this stuff from my vets either, way too expensive, go to agri shop for that too.
 
Unless you have open sores or big skin folds, no need to clip, though it can make life easier to start the treatment. I personally have never clipped any of mine out apart from x-rays and was pleased to note when I did, no signs of any skin damage.

Frontline x 3 treatments then onto pig oil and sulphur. In dry months I just dust with sulphur.

The secret is that you need to do this every 2 - 4 weeks for the rest of your life. Once you get the knack it is a 10 minute job from mixing P&S to applying.

I buy my oil and sulpur in bulk to keep the cost down.

If you want a copy of the very long and rambling note that I do about having heavy horses/gypsy cobs kept in show condition, then PM me with your email address and I will send it to you. Alternatively you can get my email address and details from the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association's website - tgca.co.uk.

I can't guarantee what I say will work, but I have received a lot of positive feedback from those who have taken up the dark art of P&S for life.
 
Theresa_F said:
Unless you have open sores or big skin folds, no need to clip, though it can make life easier to start the treatment. I personally have never clipped any of mine out apart from x-rays and was pleased to note when I did, no signs of any skin damage.
Click to expand...

I know he's got a few open sores on his front legs and his back legs are quite tender when I go to pick out his feet so my aim is just to clip him out now just to get a good start on treating him and have a good look to see what really is going on with his skin! If that all goes well, I want his feathers on as it gets very muddy in our fields and I try to keep him out 24/7 with just one night in a week to let his legs completely dry off. I've heard all about pig oil and sulphur from this forum so am intrigued to know more especially if it will help look after his legs in the winter.
 
I've used Theresa_F's instructions for my very hairy beastie who had really bad mite problems & it has really worked. The only problem is I have to make sure I don't smell of the stuff when I get HP in from the field or he won't be caught!
Theresa - where do you bulk buy? I get my pig oil from the saddlery for £27 for 4.5 litres. I get through a fair amount with 2 & wondered if I could save a few pennies.
 
I suspect some of the older horse owners on here have used Coopers Louse Powder in the past. (I think it may be Battle's or something these days). It is no longer licenced for direct use on livestock but is sold for sprinkling in hen houses, etc. We used to give two applications about 14 days apart as the eggs were not destroyed the first time around.

I asked my vet if it was still safe to use directly on horses. I got no reply -- but I did get a wink....;)


Of course, I wouldn't even suggest you use it, except on the stables etc. where mites may reside.;)
 
I get 25 litres of the stuff plus 10k of sulphur and you can get this either from Matthew Burkes - http://www.matthewburks.co.uk or call Tom or Ron Brewster at Heavy Horse Supplies - http://www.heavyhorsesupplies.co.uk and ask them how much. For me, it is cheaper to pay the postage and buy in bulk than travel to the nearest place that sells it which is 30 miles away and only does it in 5 litre containers.

This amount lasts me a year for my two very hairy horses and the container is useful afterwards when cleaned out for storing water in when the tap freezes or going to shows.

I am also going to enquire from these people about their products and see how their prices compare.

http://www.shireoil.com/Shop/Treatments?shop_perpage=1000
 
I have spoken to my vet this week about this, and they are going to make me a concoction. It has the same active ingredient as frontline in liquid parrafin. I then have to dilute in water, and spray on daily for a week...... Then i might use pig oil and sulphur for maintainance. I clip feathers but mainly because it reduces the amount of product you need to use.
 
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