Vet recommended getting all rugs washed- mites

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Pc2003

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Vet has just been out and diagnosed some parasitic skin issue. Probably harvest mites. Got a couple of treatments to get done. However vet said I will need to wash all my rugs and blankets etc. How am I going to work this?! This time of year. He is clipped. I can’t send all my rugs away to be washed at once. Will be weeks till I get them back. I can probably wash blankets etc but not the outdoor rugs!! What Can I do? Do you think I could spray them with something instead???
 
Wash all your stable rugs and anything that could be used as an under-rug in your washing machine and buy a cheap lightweight turnout. Use stable rugs under LW turnout according to weather conditions whilst you wait for other turnouts to be professionally cleaned.
 
TGM said:
Wash all your stable rugs and anything that could be used as an under-rug in your washing machine and buy a cheap lightweight turnout. Use stable rugs under LW turnout according to weather conditions whilst you wait for other turnouts to be professionally cleaned.
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Yes that’s a good idea!!! Looks to be v warm here by day so may get away without a rug in the day maybe. Agh this will be a nightmare
 
Can't you just sprinkle the horse with louse powder immediately before you put each rug on him? That's what I've always done when I've bought a new horse that's brought in lice. I would have thought harvest mites would be killed by the same stuff? Will the eggs even be killed by washing?
 
How do these mites respond to freezing? Can you ask vet which ones they think it is and google? Do you have a chest freezer? Quite a few types of parasite can be removed from non-washable items by popping the item into a freezer for a couple of days...
 
Buy new rugs. donate old ones to local horse charity and tell them they need a good wash. they will have a washing machine. horse gets new rugs charity is helped. easier for you . jobs a gud'un.
 
Go buy 1 new turnout rug and then wash a few of your thinner stable rugs in machine at home. That should tied you over and then get the rest sent off to wash asap.
Ant powder is same active ingredient as louse powder and fraction of price of louse powder especially if you buy in bargain shops. I would then dose horse in it between every rug change. Chuck bedding and out and spray stable down completely with jeyes fluid and replace bedding with new. 14 days and your will be lice free :)
 
You can wash a lightweight turnout in your home machine. Just don't use detergent either buy some nikwax rug wash from your tack shop or buy nikwax tech wash and use it instead of wash powder to protect the waterproofing. Rinse the machine and detergent draw before you do it too.

Wash thinner stable rugs and fleeces at home too and use them under a lightweight turnout while you get your big rugs cleaned.

You could also use a laundrette as they often have bigger machines. Pop your rug in an old duvet cover to avoid leaving bits and hair in the machine.
 
I’m currently busy doing the same thing. Horse has had one Dectomax injection and is due next one next week. Apparently, best time to wash rugs is just after second injection as there’s no point before.

I always used to send my rugs away to be washed but, last year, tried washing them at home and am now a convert! You can get Nikwax rug wash and reproofer online. As Kat says, you need to put washer on rinse cycle to get rid of any detergent first. If the rug is relatively new or recently reproofed, you don’t need to do the reproofing bit after every washing. I manage to do a medium weight 6’3” turnout in my washer. My plan is to have a clean turnout ready to put on after the second injection and then wash all his other rugs over a couple of days next week.
 
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