NAF DEET, is it safe to use?

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Billie

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I normally buy Equine America fly spray but in a rush I didn't go to my usual saddlery and they only stocked NAF products.

Someone on my yard said it is banned in some countries and that I shouldn't use it, this was after spraying my horse and turning him out!

Should I throw it out and get something else?
 
DEET is well known for being dangerous; it has been attributed to causing parts of Gulf War Syndrome.

What % is there in the Naf spray? Anything over 30% DEET is banned in Canada....not that I would ever use more than that % anyway.
 
One of the owners on our yard uses it and it does seem to be quite effective. Her horse is fine but I have heard some sensitive horses have had a reaction to it.
However I personally prefer not to use it as it is a strong chemical.
 
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DEET is well known for being dangerous; it has been attributed to causing parts of Gulf War Syndrome.

What % is there in the Naf spray? Anything over 30% DEET is banned in Canada....not that I would ever use more than that % anyway.

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It's apparently 19.6%. I'm a little worried because Billy has quite sensitive skin. At the same time he has been bugged rotten by the flies and it is supposed to be very effective.
 
i personally wouldnt use it...has brought out lumps and bumps on a few of mine..and ponies of folk i know well...

google the ingredients..interesting reading.
 
Just to put things into perspective here; over here in Canada the childrens DEET comes out at 7% DEET - that's the highest levels I'd feel comfy putting on my horses as their skin is as sensitive as childrens.

The potential neurological side-effects are really not worth the risk in my opinion. I will use 25% for myself but I wash it off the minute I come inside and would never go to bed with it still on my skin.
 
DEET used to be the main product used for fly repellancy, however, it became unpopular due to it's 'dangerous' nature. This is when Citronella became the ingredient of choice, which has now been banned because a FEW animals react badly to it. Stangely, this ban has made DEET re-appear. It is also the product the sweetitch help people recommend
 
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It is also the product the sweetitch help people recommend

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Goodness, we are told never to put it on if we have open skin. Eek.
 
Used it on all 3 of mine, i did the spot test but nothing came up and all of them happily wore it without breaking out in any lumps.
However, didnt find it effective much prefer Phazer
 
No, of course its safe to use - products have to be tested and meet certain standards before going on the market. I think maybe your friend is thinking that Deet is a bit like citronella, in that some horses can be sensitive to it. If your horse has no reaction then no problem.
 
I think you will find, if you do some research, that the UK Govt is in the process of being sued because of their use of DEET on the soldiers during the Gulf War......so bang goes your theory of it being safe.

Please people, if in doubt, do your own research and don't listen to people who don't know for sure and are just making wild guesses - then make up your OWN mind.
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However, didnt find it effective much prefer Phazer

[/ QUOTE ] Haven't used Deet, but agree with BBs that Leovet Power Phaser is very effective - why not try that instead. (In fact it was BBs that recommended it to me in the first place and I wouldn't be without it now
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My horse reacted very badly to this, he never reacts to anything and does not have sensitive skin. He now has a patch of white hairs below his withers where he reacted to it. It came up in a big lump like a huge fly bite, then gradually scabbed underneath the hair and the whole lot fell off to reveal pink skin underneath. The same happened on his flanks, girth area and on his belly, but by then I had realised what it was and thankfully no white has grown back there.

Personally I would never touch the stuff again, it is effective but at a price! It now looks like I am a horrible owner who uses a badly fitting saddle
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It doesn't matter WHAT you use, there will always be at least ONE horse that will react badly to it.
 
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It doesn't matter WHAT you use, there will always be at least ONE horse that will react badly to it.

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Indeed, but believe me I am not the only person on here whose horse has had that reaction:
Other thread
 
I've been using it on Chex and haven't had any problems. Not sure I'd buy it again, although his sweetitch did ease up after I started using it.
 
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