Ticks /lyme disease

[chaps89]

Moved to a new yard, fatty is now basically out on a wild meadow, lots of mixed grasses/flowers/weeds, knee high. It comes complete with lots of creepy crawlies, including ticks.

I've pulled a couple off her now, still quite tiny, then bathed with salt water and purple sprayed.

I'm concerned as she was diagnosed with Lymes disease in 2016 and had time off and antibiotics. She's come back fine, my understanding though is she would always test positive for Lyme now as it never really goes away.

Is there anything I can do to repel them (they haven't been in areas a fly rug would have prevented them, plus it's just too hot to pop a fly rug on now. She's covered in leovet gel which seems effective at repelling normal flies at least)
Is there a particular way to remove them (I've just been pulling them off and making sure as best I can to remove the head too)
And anything I should do once I pull them off?
And is she likely to be more susceptible to having a flare up of Lymes? (This yard is only a few miles as the crow flies from where she was when originally affected)

I'll speak to the vet if need be but thought I'd try the wealth of knowledge on here first

 

[bonny]

Do horses get tested for Lyme disease in the uk ?

 

[chaps89]

Yep, done by Liphook in my case (from memory) Had to go to a medicinal specialist for treatment advice though.
Pony at a neighbouring yard was hospitalised with it a year or so prior (again at Liphook, though that is just our nearest referral hospital)

Eta - why would I say she'd been diagnosed if she hadn't. Odd question?!

 

[bonny]

Yep, done by Liphook in my case (from memory) Had to go to a medicinal specialist for treatment advice though.
Pony at a neighbouring yard was hospitalised with it a year or so prior (again at Liphook, though that is just our nearest referral hospital)

Eta - why would I say she'd been diagnosed if she hadn't. Odd question?!

I wondered because humans can’t get tested in the uk

 

[chaps89]

Ah ok, fair enough.
I think humans can - there's a poster on here who has it but the NHS test is very limited and off the top of my head if it comes back negative they won't re-test but apparently privately different tests can be run. I'm not sure of the ins and outs but I definitely remember seeing her threads about it as she had a horrible time getting to the bottom of the problem.

 

[ester]

when I was using deosect it seemed to help, but they did use to aim for muzzles so I wonder if muzzling had as much effect.
We certainly do test humans too.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/lyme-borreliosis-service

 

[catkin]

With regard to removing ticks, you can get a dog tick-remover from vets. It's a little plastic hook that easily slips round the tick. The one we have came in a pack of two different sizes and takes them off in a trice.
Check the pony over daily, the quicker they are removed the better.

 

[ester]

I do like the o'tom tick removers

 

[PapaverFollis]

Yes, use an o'tom.

I found power phaser stopped our daft exracer getting them on his face (was sticking his head in a bush that all the normal horses were ignoring and getting ticks on him almost daily! ). Used the gel/cream stuff just on his cheeks and upper neck and he stopped getting them. Possibly he stopped being a weirdo and sticking his head in the bush too but worth a try. Horribly stuff though.

 

[meleeka]

I use Deosect which seems to work well.

 

[Twohorses]

I do not like Shapley's MTG for its intended purpose, BUT I do like it as a tick repellant, lol

It is sulfur-based and stinks like old bacon grease --- plus it IS very greasy--- blech---

Anyway, soak the bottom of the tail and apply some on the ankles -- I wouldn't go above the ankles because it is greasy.

You might also lightly apply some under the jowel area.

https://shapleys.com/index.php/Products/Original-m-t-g

They also sell shampoo --- if it smells anything like the original M-T-G, it should also repel ticks.

This ^^^ is Shapley's web site, but this stuff is sold on Amazon, if that helps you

 

[Landcruiser]

Do horses get tested for Lyme disease in the uk ?

My horse was tested by my regular vet in Wiltshire, years ago, when he had multiple symptoms which could have fitted with Lymes Disease. He was negative, thankfully, and the mystery illness was diagnosed as a non specific virus (best guess!)

 

[Leo Walker]

Butox Swish works, its a cattle spot on. One dose seems to last about a month on horses. And yes humans can be tested. I've been tested twice now.

 

[ElectricChampagne]

I do not like Shapley's MTG for its intended purpose, BUT I do like it as a tick repellant, lol

It is sulfur-based and stinks like old bacon grease --- plus it IS very greasy--- blech---

Anyway, soak the bottom of the tail and apply some on the ankles -- I wouldn't go above the ankles because it is greasy.

You might also lightly apply some under the jowel area.

https://shapleys.com/index.php/Products/Original-m-t-g

They also sell shampoo --- if it smells anything like the original M-T-G, it should also repel ticks.

This ^^^ is Shapley's web site, but this stuff is sold on Amazon, if that helps you

Be very very careful putting this on a horse in the sun though, you will cause burns, particularly if the horse has pink skin.

I've heard of apple cider vinegar being used topically but not sure either. I add it to my dog's water as he gets ticks in the past and it seems to have helped.

 

[chaps89]

She is muzzled anyway as she is fatty, but I've been extra careful about putting her fly mask on too, which seems to help as I'm not finding them on her face thankfully.
Eek, I don't want to burn her! She is pink skinned so I may avoid that one for now but thankyou for the suggestion and I will bear it in mind if I get desperate.
Bought more leovet fly spray and some dermoline insecticidal shampoo today, luckily with it being hot tomorrow a bath will be about right. I know it's more for lice but I figure it certainly won't hurt her.
Tick remover on order too.
I will ask the vet about Butox Swish (I presume it's POM?!)

 

[Britestar]

You can only get swish from a vet as not licensed in horses, but very effective.