Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2015 20:41:33 GMT
Is this a normal practice?
Benny doesn't have lice, and as far as I know, neither does his pasture buddy. However almost everyone is signing up for the annual spring delousing. This is something I am not familiar with as I have only ever heard of treating horses for lice who actually have them (or have a strong likelihood of having them).
I guess the reasoning behind this is that some of the fence lines are shared with a cattle pasture and sometimes the cattle will get them and pass them to the horses.
Is there any point or harm in this practice? As far as I understand this is not a preventative thing.
Of course, if I have Benny done I will pay dearly for the privilege (Read as: Sick and tired of being nickel and dimed here).
Is it worth it? Most of the barn is on the list, but it just seems odd / silly to me. |
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Mar 19, 2015 21:12:12 GMT
I have never d-loused any horse under my care, one I owned or not, period.
Never had the need, never had the problem arise! wag finger
Most cattle operations here by me are very careful to d-louse their animals if a problem occurs, they are pro-active in prevention...guess the animals would fret off weight if they succumb to the buggers.
I know they have a identification ear tag, then another ear tag and leg bands of fly insecticide, maybe that also is a lice d-louse product too? IDK...
I, with the exception of worming and vaccinations do not treat for a issue that does not exist on my animals.
You are talking about administering a insecticide in a very large amount over that entire body...
I would do some serious investigating before subjecting your animals to this...my opinion.
Also realize if there really is a infestation, this is not a one-time treatment "all-fixed issue"!
It means turn-outs, including fences and trees are subject to being carriers. Every piece of tack, brushes, saddle, pads, blankets...absolutely everything that touches them must also be treated to stop the cycle. Just sprinkling Sevin dust or a so-so bath is a waste if you do have a problem...imo.
Unless treated completely and fully with proper products...It's Back!!
I think you already have read enough of my posts to know I don't do what everyone else does because they are doing it...
I do what is right for my animals. I also truly don't mind if others don't like me and what I stand for...my animals come first and I advocate for them.
I found this simple article for you....
Please note it says Veterinarian Confirmed Infestation & A Approved Treatment ...if necessary.
www.wikihow.com/Treat-Horse-Lice
With that, now you need to figure out what you do with your animals...best of luck.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2015 21:19:27 GMT
Thank you for such a quick and detailed reply. I agree with you on all points. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't out of the loop for thinking this is a little odd and largely unnecessary for a healthy group of horses that don't currently have lice.
I'm all about doing what is best for Benny, even if it ticks a few people off along the way. My horse matters much more to me than their opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Mar 19, 2015 21:27:36 GMT
Apollo....I just went looking...what I just found if true...
Lice are host-specific. Cattle lice wont live on horses or vice versa. Poultry lice only live on poultry. Horses can get ticks.
I have had up to 5 dogs at a time and never found fleas on my horses.
"Lice occur most often in horses that are stressed, by inadequate nutrition, illness, injury, a severe winter, ect... Horses that are well groomed and well fed seldom get lice"
From here...http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/horse-forums/can-horses-get-cow-lice-or-ticks-258501.html
And another...
store.msuextension.org/publications/AgandNaturalResources/MT201002AG.pdf
Apollo...no place can I find it in writing that cattle transfer their specific lice to another animal of a different species.
Cattle have cattle lice, horse {equine or donkey/mule} has horse lice,  have lice...I can find nothing in any article, that make any mention of cattle transferring their species specific lice to another species...
More food for thought....
|
|
leli
New Member
Posts: 57 
|
Post by leli on Mar 19, 2015 22:17:06 GMT
The two pastures at the barn have on occasion shared fences with cattle (and the cattle sometimes breached the fences.....grrrr). The only time I know for sure that any of the horses had lice was when some of the youngsters were sent to someone else's pasture for the winter. One of them came back with lice and gave it to a few others in the pen. But it was pretty obvious.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2015 22:30:20 GMT
Thanks!
Great food for thought. I think I might just print that article and maybe do some googling of my own on the subject.
I did speak to one lady who is rather 'in the know' about the barn and things going on there. She said nobody has lice, and that this is just a regular thing they do (like shots). The reason she gave was the cows, but maybe she was just talking out of her .... you know where.
That settles it then! No delousing for Benny. Thanks again!
|
|
|
|
Post by lorddaxter on Mar 19, 2015 22:32:57 GMT
All my horses got lice last year, first time ever, vet said most likely from the deer.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Mar 20, 2015 0:22:31 GMT
All i have to say is they want to de-louse every horse but isn't this the barn that does not believe all horses should be wormed?? that does not make any sense at all. and who is doing the de-lousing. and the powder comes in a canister like baby powder and it is done in two week intervals 3 times. unless they are going to spray each horse like they do to prisoner of war for lice. i am amazed at how things are done.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2015 2:05:05 GMT
Well all I can say is I am getting a first hand education on how not the manage a barn...
If Benny happens to get lice then I guess I will just get one of those cannisters myself and do him. This is apparently done as a preventative measure, spoke to another boarder who has been there a while about it tonight. It's just really odd, and priorities are a little askew.
It would be the barn manager doing the delousing.
Anyone else itchy yet? Lol
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Mar 20, 2015 10:04:10 GMT
Does the B/M also collect the $$ for this?
Sounds more to me that it is a way to "pad the pocket"...............
Here Apollo is what that d-lice powder costs...
www.jefferspet.com/products/horse-lice-dust-6oz
Unfortunately, this company can not ship this to Canada...but gives a cost reference.
Now, how much does that B/M charge? 
 ......
|
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Mar 20, 2015 12:13:33 GMT
You're on the right track with forgoing medication for a condition that doesn't exist when that medicine isn't preventative but a treatment. Now if there was a threat of horse lice, the then medication would be called a vaccination and would be pest specific. Just as there are antibiotics for particular bacterial communities, and there are antibiotic compounds which combine multiple targets, a de-lousing program or a worming program would target specific pests.
I used to worm on a schedule based on perceived threat, not I'm going the extra step and having a fecal count done first. That being said fecal counts don't find encysted larvae but then those aren't affected by oral wormers either unless, again, the medicine is specific to that.
Most people react out of fear of being "not one of the group" and fall prey to threats because of ignorance. You aren't one of those folks. Knew that already.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2015 14:47:02 GMT
Barn Manager would be collecting and is charging $30/ horse. I have seen similar bottles of that powder here for around the same price.
Thanks you all for reaffirming that I am not totally crazy (yet), and this is completely unnecessary and (probably) and money grab.
My grandpa always used to say that if something isn't broken don't fix it. I think that applies to this situation as well.
Oh well, just going to smile and shake my head.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Mar 20, 2015 19:22:44 GMT
From reading other forums {NOT HT!} some pretty knowledgeable sounding people say if a horse is deficient in Vitamin A they are susceptible to lice, rain rot and a host of other ailments.
I don't know if it is true or not.
I can tell you in the 10+ years of managing a H/J show barn where animals were kept with good food sources and clean environment, never EVER did I have a outbreak nor "treat" for lice that were not present.
I can see if you have a immune system compromised animal, a health failing animal this happening... but a young, healthy horse who is groomed often and taken care of...No!
|
|
|
|
Post by lorddaxter on Mar 20, 2015 20:20:53 GMT
Agree, I've only had to do it once, its a pia too, messy for ages!....hope I go another 30 years before I have to do it again!
|
|
have 
