Treating feather mites

The_snoopster

The_snoopster

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 September 2009
Messages
3,968
Location
shropshire
Visit site
I have recently bought a cob with lots of feathers an
and I believe she has mites. The vet is coming next monday to start her vacinations. What treatment do you al think he will try and will it work ?. I have searched the forum and there are lots of different treatments people prefer, with various successes.
I really would prefer to keep her feathers as they are during treatment, however some say to clip them off to get the best outcome. As anyone successfully treated them without clipping the feathers off ?

Also in vets section, but it seems quiet in there today
 
I recently treated my mare for mites. She got 2 x dectomax injections, 3 weeks apart. I also cover her feathers in pig oil and sulphur every 10-14 days. So far, so good :)
 
Spray on frontline for dogs... I have heard never tried it. My first thing would be bath whole cob with bug shampoo and lice treat
 
Tayto said:
I recently treated my mare for mites. She got 2 x dectomax injections, 3 weeks apart. I also cover her feathers in pig oil and sulphur every 10-14 days. So far, so good :)
Click to expand...

I did exactly the same and it worked. Tried Frontline spray but they came back. Have been lucky this year and not needed injecting so far.
 
Thanks so much for your replies, never come across this problem even after 20 odd years of only having hairy cobs. I have heard of pig oil and sulphur, but should I wait untill she has been treated before using it ? I have heard it can irritate them more if they are already sore, er skin does not appear to be broken just quite flakey and foot stamping and the odd bite at her feet.
 
I have successfully treated mites with Cooper's Fly Repellant Plus but my current mare seems to have just as much of a problem with sweating under her very full feathers. I have had to very reluctantly clip them off this summer. My intention is to clear up the flakey skin and then let the feather grow back, using pig oil to, hopefully, keep them in good condition.
 
You could try shampooing with Dermaline Insecticial then applying the pig oil once dry. I wouldnt apply the pig oil until the sores have scabbed over but if they are flaky it will break the white flakes down so you can comb it out.
 
Ooooh, please do be very careful if applying Pig Oil, especially to damaged areas of skin, especially on white feathers and pink legs!!! Sorry, I always have to say this. I know it works for some people, but my traddie came up as red as a lobster when I did it on him, so my advice would be to patch test first for 48 hours and then apply cautiously.

For feather mites: my vet prescribed three X doses of ivermectin oral wormer, to be taken one every fortnight. This did sort the situation out. But you'd need to check with your own vet first as the problem with this sort of medicating using worming mixture is that you can so easily build up resistence.
 
Thanks so much for all your replies, as for the pig oil and suphur I have also heard it can cause more irrtitation hence why I was cautious about using it. I am just wondering because she is currently having a 5 day panacur guard treatment, wether the ivermectin treatment maybe a bit too soon after it ?
I really want to get this girl sorted out, she has the vet and dentist due out within 5 days of each other. Its a shame some people just dont keep on top of teeth as hers have some very sharp edges, now we have discovered the mites. Poor girl has been very busy being sorted out with me, but I dont want to start her reschooling untill I know she is happy and comfortable.
 
I had the same problem recently with my highland but was determined not to shave his legs. So 2 x injections of Dectomax, 2 weeks apart, completely changed his (shavings) bed as he comes in every night (*) and they can live in beds, I'm told. My vet said to keep them as dry as poss and not shampoo during the Dectomax treatment as the little blighters like damp conditions, but then to shampoo with an antiseptic/medicated shampoo to ease off any remaining scabs, which I did. No problems since then. I was subsequently recommended to spray thoroughly with either Coopers or Tritek fly spray, and/or treat with Frontline Combo, which we get for the dog. I didn't do either of these but will consider them if it happens again. Not sure I'd use pig oil and sulphur as it can be very irritant on raw skin, but I do use it during the winter to keep feathers mud free.

* comes in every night as part of his SI and waistline management programmes!!
 
I went and got her some coopers so hope this gives her some relief untill the vet arrives on monday morning, poor girl has been through so much in just a few weeks. Sold 3 times in 2 weeks, foal taken off her at the sales, moved on from sales then I found her and bought her, just trying to do my best by her. She has settled in really well, and she gave me her first whinny yesterday 3 days after getting her, worming, teeth, vacs are all in hand, she has a full diary at the moment lol.
Thankyou for all your replies they have been very helpful.
 
Dectomax.

It's an injection. You have an initial set and then annual top up. Absolutely fabulous. You do need to sign a waiver as it's licensed for cattle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top