Mites

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tb23

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After a few previous posts and speaking to some people on the yard, I'm pretty sure the Shetland I look after has mites, im just wondering what the treatment is for it apart from the powder which I am already using but her coat is so thick it doesnt seem to be making a difference. I've seen shampoos on the Internet but its too cold for her to be bathed as she's so old. I've read that powders can be put in feeds for those with ringworm, is there anything similar for mites?

The pony was abandoned and the person who has taken her on is not too keen on getting the vet out so I jut want some info before I ask them about it again.

Thanks in advance :)
 
Thanks! :) I'll give it a try, I've tried out one type of mite powder already but because her coats so thick it doesn't seem to be working, either that or it isn't mites at all, going to get the vet out I think
 
Frontline is a dog/cat flea control spray, on prescription from vet.

We used it on my Welsh D as a shot in the dark and in desperation. He developed itchy legs in his teens and would stamp and cross his legs over to itch them, he was fairly heavily feathered and with a very dense under coat.

He had what appeared to be cracked heels, so I clipped them out and treated as per mud rash. Over a period of two weeks his legs quite literally rotted. Yellow pus and scabs travelled up his legs, between his thighs, forward to his sheath and along his tummy, into his elbows. His fronts didn't progress above the knee.

Steriods, antibiotics etc etc didn't touch it. A skin scrape suggested harvest mites - this was deepest winter - don't be fooled into thinking it's a summer problem.

That poor cob suffered big time, Frontline was tried and worked in a spectacular fashion, a spray behind the knee and hock, repeated weekly. I had to keep a very close eye on his heels and I kept them clipped and clean.
The old boy passed 3 years ago today aged a wonderful 30yrs and had been with me from 6 months old.

I would suggest you to speak to your vet, bearing in mind your vet may be reluctant to use a non horse licensed product, but I do know the use of Frontline is nothing new in the treatment of harvest mites. Good luck and keep an eye on the pony's legs because if it takes off like my cob's did you are in trouble.
 
what are the symptoms?

do you mean feather mites? or lice?

the old pony gets feather mites every year. she gets an injactable treatment from the vets. i think it might be called dectomax, but cant actually remember for sure. it is intramuscular so you can administer it yourself. they get one injection then another in one or two weeks (i'd need to look up my old calendar!)

it also worms the horse at the same time, but will not treat lice. ;)
 
There are MANY treatments for feather mites and different people find different results.
I use Benzyl Benzoate, you can get it online. rub right down to skin level every 2-3 weeks.
Dectomax injections are not licensed in horses but are a cattle wormer. They are very popular among heavily feathered horse owners, mine has previoulsy been treated this way. The active ingerdient in this (ivermectin) is also available in a wash which is often more effective at treating the initial infestation.
Frontline is expensive but does work for a lot of cases.
I bought the mite powder but find it to be useless as I can't get it down to the skin with so much hair!
Shire people often use pig oil & sulphur if it's just leg based itching, i didn't like it as it was messy and i found to be ineffective but each to their own.
If it's possible to get the pony to the sea saltwater is great for clearing up skin itchies. I live a long way from the sea but make my own (warm) salt water and wash his legs in it every few weeks.
People have recommended me to feed seaweed, garlic and ginger to keep the little blighters at bay. i bought G&G raw from supermarkets which was cheap but noticed little difference.
 
Evening,

Thanks! Have been looking for a spray or something similar as being a Shetland her coat is so thick and dense!

So sorry to hear about your boy, hope you are okay, today can't be easy for you.
 
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