Mites?

[3BayGeldings]

Hey,

i had a call from the lady that loans my horse to say that he's itching really badly all over. At first i assumed it was due to his coat coming through, but apparently it is really bad and much worse than just itchy hair!

She thinks it might be mites. Can anyone suggest how to treat it? Should we get the vet tomorrow, or try out a powder from a shop first? Also, do we need to wash his rugs, change bedding etc etc?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

x

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

If it's all over it's probably lice. You can get louse powder but there are 2 different sorts of louse, the sucking ones and the biting ones. Close ups of both are enough to give you nightmares for a week lol. You can try the powder you can buy over the counter but your vet will tell you they aren't that effective. We had an outbreak 2 winters ago and the group of horses that were affected had Frontline rubbed into their hair along the back, mane, neck, armpits, everywhere the little buggers are hiding. You have to repeat it after 10 days. You also have to wash all rugs, numnahs, etc change bedding, jet clean or disinfect the floor and Frontline any wood in the stable where the horse might have leant coz they can creep in there too. The loan yard might have an outbreak and if so it's important that ALL horses that have access to each other are treated, otherwise all your effort and money will have been wasted as they could just get infected again. Good luck!

 

[kellyeaton]

coopers fly sry and spot on from the vets and a good bath in an insecticedtal shampoo!

 

[Theresa_F]

Mites normally only attack legs, occasionally belly and sheath area and on very rare occasions, can get in the tail. All over itching is maybe a change of diet - is he a hardy hairy type? If I feed my gypsy cob good quality hay, he comes up in small lumps and very itchy, put him back on course stuff and he is fine.

Could also be change of coat, getting too hot, change of diet or as others have said lice.

If it turns out it is just his legs, itchy and stamping, PM me and I will send you a very long PM on dealing with mites in hairy horses - secret is frontline, then pig oil and sulphur.