Ticks and Sheathes

[Laya]

I went out to the stable today and my horse Justin had a COATING of ticks on his sheath and it took me forever to get them off!! Is there anything that can be put on Justin that'll help keep ticks off or is there no such thing?

Thanks.

[Kristy]

there are tick washes that you can wash your horse in that will deter ticks. Ticks do not affect horses like they do dogs unless you get many of them or in some major place like the neck or something. Also make sure when you pull the ticks off (fingers are the best way!), you remove their WHOLE body. Not just their heads cause they're nasty little buggers and will just grow a head again!
Hope this helps
Kristy

[Wally]

Kristy,
It's the head that you have to make sure you remove, It's this bit that the tick burries in the skin of the animal. The risk is that you pull off the body leaving the head still in the skin. This is when infection sets in and you get an abscess.

[clairev]

Laya

I've heard it is dangerous to just pull the ticks off if they are attached. I think you are supposed to coat them in Vaseline to smother them so that they let go before pulling off - this is what I've heard about them on cats and dogs anyway!

[Allie]

I just pull them off with my fingers. I've found tweezers to be entirely useless, as they simply slide off the tick. As Wally said, it is important that you get the entire tick out, and don't leave any under the skin.

Allie

[Wally]

When our working sheep dog gets them I use the lighted end of a cigatette to dab on their backsides, (The tick not the dog!)this loosens their grip. The only problem is I don't smoke! I have a pack in hand just for this job. You can buy a thing called a tick picker from the vet, I've seen them used I think they're quite good.

[This message has been edited by Wally (edited 14 May 2000).]

[bren]

Wellllll....you'd have to have a pretty quiet horse to get that close to that part of his anatomy with a lit cigarette! LOL <can see my husband cringe already>