The misery of Ticks

Storminateacup

Storminateacup

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We have very bad ticks at our farm in the Scottish Highlands. I use Flypour every two weeks from the vet on my horses, but they still get ticks biting them, especally the smaller ticks on the noses. My youngster gets them all up between his legs near his sheath and groin and he gets lumps as a result. I pick them off daily, yes, he lets me do everything these days! but I worry about if I am leaving the mouthparts behind to become encapsulated or something, or even leaving wounds for flies to feed on. I am at my wits end trying to keep on top of the problem and worried constantly that my youngster will get Lymes disease form these horrid things.

Your experiences and suggestions please.
 
Frontline spray prevents and kills ticks - it's very effective! Once a fortnight does the job.

It's a prescription only flea treatment for dogs and cats so it's unlikely your horse vet will give it out but...you have a dog don't you?;)
 
I have found that the worst carrier of ticks are hedgehogs, if you have any lurking try re homing them ie put them in a bucket & take them to a wood or something. I had a tick problem & when the hedgehogs went so did the ticks. though I had to take the culprits over a mile away as they kept coming back.
 
you are lucky he lets you pull them off. I find mine hate me taking the small ones off around the nose. My vet sold me frontline spray for dogs which helps a lot but she did tell me I would need to apply weekly. That seems to be about right. They are horrible things
 
Thanks for your replies everyone, I will get some vaseline and try putting this on him, and ask about the Frontline. He is very good these days about my removing them, mostly the seem to come off intact with heads but we have the tick twisters for the dog so I will try but usually I have to be a bit quick, plus I need glasses on for accuracy!!
 
I had big probs last year in one particular field - my mares nose and legs were covered in them. I use Tick Spray by Barrier (http://www.barrier-biotech.com/product.php?pid=TC2) and it works a treat. The vet says frontline spray is good but she would have reservations about spraying it on the muzzle.

Also - the vet said the best thing to do is get the ticks off as soon as poss i.e. don't cover them in vaseline as they have a habit of regurgitating their stomach contents into your horse which increases the chance of spreading disease. How Nice!
 
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