Mites... slightly freaked out

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SadKen

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So the vet is coming on Friday as my lad is itchy. Someone else posted on here about similar symptoms the other day and mites were suggested. I have Munchausen's-by-pony and I think he does have mites or more correctly, mange. I also think he has the worst one, the sarcoptic one. I accept this is probably just overactive imagination though.

I'm dreading confessing this to my fellow liveries and I'm totally urgh about it, I've never had to deal with mites before. Not sure where he even caught them as he hasn't been off the yard since last September. He's had bumps before which is what this is, with some hairloss this time.

How would you feel about mites if a fellow livery had them? If it is mites, I think I will have to pay for his fieldmate to be treated. Would appreciate anyone's thoughts on this; should I also buy a load of inseciticidal shampoo for the whole yard to use?

Also I can't stop itching when I think about it!
 
I would suggest mites are generally caught from field, straw or hay, rather than from other horses, and some horses are more prone to them than others. I have three and mites affect one, never bother the others even though they share grazing, stables, kit etc. Don't panic - they can be a pain to deal with and uncomfortable for the horse, but not the end of the world.
 
Agree about where he could have got them, does your yard have straw bedding? Unless you have brought the horse onto the yard recently and spread the mites I don't think you are any more accountable than others!
 
aeg123 said:
I would suggest mites are generally caught from field, straw or hay, rather than from other horses, and some horses are more prone to them than others. I have three and mites affect one, never bother the others even though they share grazing, stables, kit etc. Don't panic - they can be a pain to deal with and uncomfortable for the horse, but not the end of the world.
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Seconded.

I have 6 on the yard, one with desperate mite problem. Treated with dectomax, selsen, front line, cetreben and pig oil. Horse is a heavy riding cob and kept clipped to within an inch of her life, very labour intensive but manageable.

None of the other horses are affected, 2 are feathered and not clipped out yet as they are youngsters, others are clean legged. They share brushes, rugs etc. The problem horse was the last horse into the yard and was bought with the problem.
 
No straw bedding at the yard, some folks use Sundown but I use shavings. Thanks for the suggestions, I feel like I've let him get dirty, but this does help. Pig oil on order and hopefully the vet will help. Poor fella just feel so sorry for him all itchy and cross. I don't want to ride him til it is sorted as the lumps are where his tack goes. I do think he's a bit under the weather in general tbh as his coat is dull and he just seems a bit down.
 
I feel your pain but it really isn't something you could have prevented. The mites (if that is what it is) can be picked up from all manner of places. My boy suffers terribly from them and we go through a constant cycle of treatments. Hopefully once clear your ponio will be free.
 
I wouldn't be worried about it if you were my fellow livery - we have one heavily feathered cob who suffers with mites but none of the others (featherless types) have been affected.

You aren't getting confused with lice though are you if it's in the saddle area? This is more contagious so wouldn't be too happy as a fellow livery but is easily treatable with some lice powder.
 
LouandBee said:
I wouldn't be worried about it if you were my fellow livery - we have one heavily feathered cob who suffers with mites but none of the others (featherless types) have been affected.

You aren't getting confused with lice though are you if it's in the saddle area? This is more contagious so wouldn't be too happy as a fellow livery but is easily treatable with some lice powder.
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Coopers is the best lice treatment - fab stuff.
 
If it's in the saddle areas it sounds more like lice to me. Easily treateable with Cooper's Fly Repellent Plus. Two treatments, two weeks apart. No need to bother the vet or pay a callout fee. Ours have picked them up from horses in the neighbouring field - it's really no big deal.
 
Hm, well I had a good look and couldn't see any lice, I've been in really close too. He's got a scabby back but lumpy chest and front legs at the top, and underarms as it were. I've had lice before as it happens, they crawled from the horse (not mine!) Up my hair and my dad had to delouse me! Don't think it is lice, but prepared to be corrected! Thanks for all the reassurance, I feel a bit better now.
 
SadKen said:
Hm, well I had a good look and couldn't see any lice, I've been in really close too. He's got a scabby back but lumpy chest and front legs at the top, and underarms as it were. I've had lice before as it happens, they crawled from the horse (not mine!) Up my hair and my dad had to delouse me! Don't think it is lice, but prepared to be corrected! Thanks for all the reassurance, I feel a bit better now.
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Well I've found that Cooper's works just as well for feather mites, so that is still my recommendation.
 
Don't panic. My boy suffers from recurring leg mites, he's heavily feathered but now kept clipped I have used everything under the sun...shifts them for a while but they're always back :rolleyes: regular dectomax keeps him comfy though. In three years they've never transferred to another livery. There's an interesting study I read somewhere about mites where they were 'Fed' tb skin and cob skin...in the tb test tube they died...some animals just aren't suceptible
 
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