Mites

[NoviceNic]

Does anyone know what Mites look like on the heel area. What have you used to clear the mites and how did you know it was clear?? Many thanks. This is another question I am asking in direct to the Ivomec thread I have posted. So please read both.

[HairyCob]

Nic, haven't read the Ivomec thread, so forgive me if I'm repeating anything!

My understanding is that it's difficult to see the actual mites, but you might see the eggs- look a bit like severe small flake dandruff close to the skin! Signs and symptoms are persistent foot stamping and rubbing the feet/feathers against ANYTHING solid (including me!) and general unhappiness.

Prince had mites, and the advice I got was either to get the vet out to give an Ivomec shot, or to clip the feathers out and spray liberally with Frontline flea spray (about £14 from the vet!) every day for three or four days.

Frontline worked for Prince... and was cheaper than paying a call out and injection bill... but boy did he look funny with clipped out feathers!:D

[Supercali]

When my cob had mites (I think) he was stamping his back feet so I bought some Frontline spray and it did the trick. Although I had to tell the vets it was for my cats as they wouldn't sell it to me for my horse :rolleyes:

[NoviceNic]

He has dreadful dandruff. Specially up his legs and in his mane. He constantly stomps his back legs and has starting to itch his bottom constantly even if it is on me. :eek: I gave him his Ivomec injection last Tuesday. I am grooming him daily to clear the dandruff. His leg grease and sores are drying upbut that always happens when i clip him. HC and Supercali how did you know you had cleared the mites and let the feathers grow back. Did you just grow the feathers back and wait to see what happened??

I swear if i ever clear this darn mess up on his legs I am going to hold the biggest party ever... All NR members are invited of course.

[HairyCob]

Unfortunately Nic, Prince went back before his feathers had grown back, so I can't answer your question!

If I was you, I'd be chucking some louse powder down his spine too... sounds like if whatever he has is a buggly thing, then it's gone up his legs and is irritating him all over!

Has he been bothered by it all winter too... just asking because HC suffered a kind of atypical sweetitch... classic mild sweetitch in the summer, but it continued through the winter too if I didn't keep it 100% under control through the autumn.

So... something else that may be worth a try, and won't break the bank- get some Avon Skin So Soft dry oil body spray in WOODLAND FRESH fragrance (none of the other fragrances work!) and spray it liberrally in his mane and at the top of his tail... it's greasy, he'll smell like a tart's boudoir and it will need washing out from time to time, but it kept HC symptom free year round...!

[domane]

Ooh ! Funny that this subject has just come up.... it looks like Cherry may have picked up some grass mites since being turned out. Has taken to biting at her feathers and chest (was seen laying down in field today and was out rug-less!)

Our YO's husband, the farmer, treats the horses with some kind of cattle wormer which goes along the horses back! Can't remember the name but vet told him to use it on the equines! Am having Chez treated tomorrow! I haven't actually seen her scratching but Dom and RI witnessed her doing it...

Hopefully it will nip them in the bud....

[Supercali]

[QUOTE=NoviceNic]HC and Supercali how did you know you had cleared the mites and let the feathers grow back. Did you just grow the feathers back and wait to see what happened??
QUOTE]

I only knew that it stopped him stamping his legs after about a day. His feathers had been clipped by his previous owners but had about half grown back and I didn't clip them again just sprayed the stuff in.

I don't remember him having dandruff - maybe your cob has something else rather than mites :confused:

[NoviceNic]

HC Captain has had this all his life according to previous owners. They used to just leave it and wash him in Dermoline. But when I bought him I clipped him and the state his skin was in was stomach churning. :( So admitidly he is more comfortable since I have owned him. I would just like to keep his feathers on as I fancy about bit of In Hand showing as a number of people have commented on his lovely markings. We are planning a day of louse powder on all the horses this week. I have heard about the Woodland Fresh Avon Skin So Soft range. I will give it a go.

Domane - Ivomec is a product licensed for cattle. It isnt licensed for horses because of what Wally has advised above. Keep an eye on Cherry..

[Mary Poppins]

I have a shire and a shire cross who naturally grow very thick feathers. Last year I tried to keep their feathers as I love the look, but after spending a fortune on treatments, it is far easier to clip them off and then you can really treat the skin. The mites live under the skin so with the feathers on it is almost impossible to treat them. I was shocked about how bad the legs actually were underneath all the feather so I would really recommend you remove them.

As soon as they were clipped they were much, much more comfortable. I used pestopan or pestoban (can't quite remember) and although it costs a fortune it seems to do the trick. Dermoline (again can't quite remember if this is the right name!) is good for regular washing and I think this helped prevent their return.

A few weeks ago my pony started looking very uncomfortable and I noticed some raw patches and dandruft everywhere. I treated his who body with lice power and this has worked a treat.

I would like to try frontline but can't get hold of it and I don't want to lie to a vet about it's use. Surely there must be some reason why it is not licensed for horses?

[*Sez*]

Jacob had severe heel mites when we bought him. His last owner had been told it was dermatitis and had tried everything to clear it up but nothing worked. When he was vetted, our vet suggested it may be mites and that an injection would clear it up. The jab worked, and Jake's feathers started to grow out beautifully. In December, he started getting itchy and irritated again, and was often in a grouchy mood. He started stratching so much his poor legs would bleed, but because he had so much feather it was difficult to treat. The vet came out again, said it looked like heel mites again (possibly eggs in his feathers) and suggested we clip his feathers and frontline it. My dad was devastated (I sometimes think looks are the most important thing to him) and it took us ages to find anyone willing to clip him - we had to get the vet to come and sedate him then clip the feathers off himself!
Now he's looking much better, the feathers are growing back and his legs are in great shape. I would suggest, whatever you decide to do, that you clip your horse's legs if he has feathers.

[NoviceNic]

His legs are clipped but I am trying to clear the problem up so I can think about showing him. Of course I could always hog him but I dont like the look.:(

[HairyCob]

I guess you could get your vet to do a skin scrape and test it to find out definitively what the problem is Nic.. but my understanding is that this is expensive and doesn't always give a definite answer:confused:

I guess the only other option you have is to keep trying all the suggestions until you have it clear, let his feathers begin to grow, watch carefully for it coming back and keep trying and treating until you get to the bottom of it. Sadly it may well be a kind of dermatitis that will only be able to be controlled by keeping the feathers short... maybe the hogged look would grow on you!;)

[Mary Poppins]

In my experience, mites are very common in heavy hairy horses. I don't know if it is possible to clear them up as they will come back eventually. This year I am going for the prevention option and will keep the feathers short so I can nip any problem in the bud straight away. I really want my horses to have long feathers as well but they are so uncomfortable - I think that it kinder to keep them short.