|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 6, 2016 23:17:34 GMT
Vet managed to miss that my aunt's mare has ear mites (we think) and she spread it to Roselyn's horse Hurricane. The two worst affected have scratched themselves bloody despite our best efforts. It looks like classic ear mites. I'm in contact with another vet but he can't come out until next week and I'm waiting to hear a price quote because he has to travel a good bit, over an hour, to get here.
What are y'all remedies and suggestions for mites? The others were treated with otc ear mite killer as a precaution and it hasn't spread to them yet, but the two worst affected aren't letting us get the medicine where it needs to be for it to work now after several days of aggravating them getting lotion into their ears, and a few days' treatment (8 days) didn't clear it up. Blondie and Hurricane are separated.
|
|
|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 7, 2016 1:17:44 GMT
Vet (the one who did Melody's surgery) is scheduled to come out Tuesday. He thinks they probably need more than just topical intervention at this point. I had read somewhere that worming them with ivermectin works...didn't work for us. Topical treatments just aren't cutting it for these two and even Greg seconded getting Dr. B out here.
Any tricks on getting the pests gone from the stall and shelter?
|
|
Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572 
|
Post by Lipizzan on Sept 7, 2016 7:01:06 GMT
Oh God, never had a problem with that. Hope you find a solution quickly.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Sept 7, 2016 11:34:24 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 7, 2016 17:26:11 GMT
The topical lotion we were using covered that too. Either way, we are having the vet come out to get this fixed. Thanks for the link. I hope we can get this fixed soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 7, 2016 21:39:01 GMT
Spirit.... Unless I read it wrong... Ivermectin is not for ingesting but as a topical application.Now, I would not want to be the one needing to swab the inside of the ear without sedation.  |
|
|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 7, 2016 23:06:27 GMT
Been there. It's been a fight every time.
The stuff I read said giving it to them internally worked. ( I was skeptical on that one!) They had both, topically and internally. We've also tried two different types of ear mite treatment.
And Greg said the horses got past him when he was bringing the ATV in the gate. I'm dropping a few f bombs right now. That means they're ALL exposed again.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Sept 8, 2016 0:48:31 GMT
MEN,, like they can not see the horses crowding the gate and can not flail to get them away..//..... and i can hear them up here in new york wag finger
|
|
|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 13, 2016 23:26:07 GMT
Well, I'm a little less pissed at my local vet, but not much.
We knew Blondie has sweet itch, but apparently, her reactions are changing.
Hurricane has developed an allergy (vet is pretty sure because it fits all the signs) to insects, probably gnats. He said he's seen an increase in insect-related issues this summer. He said everything has become resistant to the traditional sprays and he didn't see any mites in either of their ears. He also said Hurricane is about the age where horses often develop allergies that weren't seen before.
We have had a horrible time keeping the gnats and mosquitoes off of them. The sprays, even the expensive kind, don't keep them off for long.
He gave them each a shot of a long-acting steroid and a fast acting one as well as pills of dex to give them. He gave a spray to help with the secondary infection due to them scratching against everything. He said it's similar to vetricin but stronger.
He also said that Blondie looks like she needs a power pack wormer. Pale gums, fatigued, problems getting weight back on. She was wormed, but he said the worms have probably become resistant to ivermectin since we're having trouble and Hurricane is showing signs of needing wormer again too. He gave us the stuff we need to power worm them. (Both are wormed for day one and the others will be tomorrow.) He gave us advice for Blondie's feed regimen too but said not to change anything until we see if the wormer helps. He said in 2 weeks, we should see the weight start to slowly come back on. If not, bloodwork will be done to see what else might be going on.
He was out of the fly spray he mixes for his own horses but told us where to get it and how to mix it.
Both will be stalled an hour before dusk.
During the summer, he recommended that we think about starting them on a small dose of dex to prevent flare ups. Fly masks with ear covers, stalling with fans during the worst part of the day for insects, super-strength fly spray, and steroids as needed to treat bad flare ups.
It makes sense because none of the others had it and the mite medicine wasn't helping.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 14, 2016 0:23:39 GMT
So glad you may have some answers....
And a "new" vet you like and trust their diagnostic capabilities... 
My friends horse is on Dex for heaves....
I don't know if it is coincidence or a side-effect but her horses hooves are now crap.
Split and crack something terrible.
I have had conflicting information about this...some say it is the medication, others say it is the disease... I don't know.
Maybe make a call to that vet and ask for their opinion {then share it please}.
Maybe a hoof supplement is needed, maybe nothing...
Like I said, "I don't know"....
just what I've observed in the past year now...
|
|
|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 14, 2016 0:53:08 GMT
Asked my vet about that already. He said he's only seen hoof issues with dex with really high doses and even then, rarely and he uses dex often for horses like Blondie with severe allergies and Hurricane with developing ones.
He also suggested spraying or dipping mybhorses' hooves in some lysol diluted in water with all the standing water and nud from the daily rain for the past month and a half.
He takes the time to answer questions and explains everything thoroughly as opposed to the other vet who rushed and didn't inspire trust.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 14, 2016 1:25:26 GMT
I don't know the pill strength but know it is 4 pills a day, every day. She is looking into reducing the amount of medication as long as the horse is comfortable and thrives... I think it is because of the heaves, COPD....not the drug itself that the feet now have issue. Think her vet gave us a cross-eyed look about that "rumor" when we asked but rumor can make you think twice and ask questions to have peace of mind and knowledge before giving of anything...  |
|
|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 14, 2016 10:49:09 GMT
Geeze, the typos last night! Sorry. Exhausted. Dr. B didn't scoff at it, but he did say that he didn't think that would be a problem. He seemed more worried about thrush from all the mud amd water than dex causing hoof issues. At this point though, they needed the steroids. Those poor horses were absolutely miserable and I'm going to have to retrain Hurricane. He's head shy again.  |
|
|
|
Post by carshon on Sept 14, 2016 13:40:35 GMT
Wow! I have been following this with interest. Thank you so much for posting. My ignorance in not knowing horses can get ear mites was embarrassing! The differences in raising horses in different parts of the country are amazing. So glad you found a new vet and one that seems interested and gives good advice.
I have a new horse and we are putting weight on her slowly too. I have had her 3 weeks and you can see subtle differences so we know it is working. The bugs have been so bad this year. I know we have been using Eco-Vet fly spray on our horses and cows. The cows are so bit up with flies and mosquitoes they are tearing everything down itching on it. This stuff works and lasts quite awhile. My daughters mare was so itchy she was bloody on her chest from rubbing it on the gate. She wears a fly sheet some days and is doused in fly spray.
Keep us posted on progress.
As for Dex - my good friend has a horse with moderate heaves and her horse has gotten Dex almost daily this summner because it was so hot and humid her breathing was labored. No difference in her hooves at all. This mare has been on Dex for about 5 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 14, 2016 15:58:48 GMT
Thanks for that Carshon....
Guess it is "her" horse....anything is possible and I put nothing past the hooves being horse related to that animal.
That is what the vet said too.
So, did you introduce your new horse and I miss it???
A new thread started someplace?? 
I did see trail ride photos and a different horse you were riding...here or on FB...
Thought you were "borrowing" after losing your last one...
Glad you found a new mount and friend. 
|
|
|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 25, 2016 11:53:38 GMT
Wanted to give you guys an update. Both Blondie (didn't intro her yet. Was hoping to get more weight on her before posting pics) and Hurricane are a thousand times better! The wounds are healing nicely and there is no new infection. Hair is growing back and Hurricane is getting better about letting us touch near his ears.
|
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Ear mites
Sept 25, 2016 14:11:07 GMT
via mobile
Post by hugs on Sept 25, 2016 14:11:07 GMT
Knock on wood you have this handled and totally taken care of and won't reoccur. Obviously flies and mosquitoes always reoccur *ugh*
Is there a climactic component to these issues?
|
|
|
|
Post by spirithawk06 on Sept 25, 2016 16:38:56 GMT
Dr. B said he's thinking the gnats have mutated, which is why we didn't recognize Blondie's reaction. Her sweet itch usually manifests in hives, not like what she has now. He said Hurricane is at the age where horses with allergies usually start showing the reactions.
He said they've been horrible, more so than usual this summer, and add all the water from the 2 months of rain nearly every day, we're inundated with bugs, especially gnats and mosquitoes.
We're supposed to have a cool front passing at the end of the month that should lessen the severity of the stinging bugs. We will have to prepare ahead of time for the spring and summer, especially next summer.
It will reoccur if we do not keep the gnats off of them. We have a fan in their stall and the stall sprayed down with repellent that they go into an hour before dusk and a half our after if not for the whole night.
I'm looking into buying a fly mask with ears for Hurricane. Blondie has one. A fly sheet is also a consideration if I can fix a part of the field where he won't be in the trees to rip it.
We're also buying a higher concentrate of fly spray for them and were told to consider putting them on a low dose of dex during the summer.
|
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Ear mites
Sept 25, 2016 17:02:00 GMT
via mobile
Post by hugs on Sept 25, 2016 17:02:00 GMT
Goodness, mutating gnats, what does he mean? That they have evolved to be resistant to insecticides?
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 25, 2016 18:01:01 GMT
Consider adding a spray mister that can do a pretty good area fly & mosquito free for you.
Battery operated so continual metered application of insecticide...
I bought mine in Tractor Supply on sale...
www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/country-vet-country-home-automatic-flying-insect-air-freshening-kit?cm_vc=-10005
You can purchase refill canisters online from many places...
My machine has a on/off button that can be used so not "spraying" the barn when the horses are not in residence...or bug problem is non-existent.
It can also be set to a "timer" setting for ease of use.
I have one of these in the barn and another in our garage, that is how we normally enter through to our home.
Since I put this in the garage I no longer have mosquitoes entering nor flies...
It has also eliminated spiders, crickets and bugs in general in my garage...and in the house too.
I have family that uses one of these machines during the year with different cans of scent for that season...a nice way to make your home smell inviting.
|
|
