Tics on legs

[mybuzz]

All through the spring/summer months my cob itches his front and back legs, we have tried getting dectomax as we were told that it may be mites that he had but this didn't work. We were also told the dectomax would stop him getting tics. But last weekend when i was washing his legs i found about 20 tics on both front legs. They are too small to get out and there are also too many. Does anyone know any good ways of getting tics away?

 

[kellyeaton]

cover them all in vasaline!

 

[mybuzz]

thanks i shall try that

 

[Wishful]

Are you sure they are not Bot eggs rather than ticks? If so ask your vet for a bot comb and there is a wormer which deals with them...

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

also, if your horse has clpiped legs, light a cigarette (or nick a mates) and use the hot butt of the cig to touch them and they will release. just make sure you dont get the horse!

Can you not use a tick fork? (get them from vets)

 

[mybuzz]

Thanks, he has quite alot of hair down his legs so i think the cigarette might be a bit dangerous lol!
well we have one but even the smallest one is still a bit big for some of the ticks.

 

[HayleyandBob]

Deosect seems to work fairly well on mine, its not cheap mind you but it lasts for ever !

 

[deecee]

I know this sounds daft but what about a nit comb

 

[mybuzz]

That would actually probaly work! i think i might try that tomorrow, thanks!

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

just be careful you don't leave heads in though if you use a nit comb!

id vaseline them over night first, then nit comb them as they will have released

 

[henryhorn]

Soak them in surgical spirit and they usually drop off.
I've also used dog flea spray which worked well.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I'd echo what Wishful asked. Are you sure they are tics and not bot eggs or lice? Tics are clearly visible as an insect - a very bloated insect when they have sucked enough blood and are full. If you are seeing just small white-ish flecks the size of a grain of rice, they are probably bot eggs. If you are seeing small white insects the size of a grain of rice, creeping slowly through the hair, they are probably lice. The problem with feather mites is that you can destroy the adults but you need to re-apply whatever you've used after about 10 days when the eggs, that are unharmed by the stuff that kills the adults, hatch out and start the re-infestation all over again. In addition, the mites can drop off the horse's feathers into bedding etc so a re-infestation will occur again. The dectomax needs 2 injections, 10 days apart but you will probably still have to re-do this whole cycle every 4 or 5 months. An easy and more permanent solution is to clip your neds feathers out totally. Nothing for the little bleeders to live in and Frontline or any good insecticidal shampoo can be rubbed right into the skin and bingo, all dead

. Of course, if your ned needs his feathers to look gorgeous or if you show him, that might not be an acceptable solution

.

 

[deecee]

You could also try after you have it sorted pig oil it is used widely in the shire showing world...they swear by it!

 

[mybuzz]

Thanks, i dont think its bot eggs or mites as i have looked carefully and have seen all the tics. I havnt been able to try any way of getting them of yet as it has been to wet and the vaseline wouldnt stick etc... but the first day the weather is nice i will try every way i can to get them of