Apparently Swat is no longer going to be available in Canada due to certain ingredients. I’ve had a look at my local tack stores and there doesn’t seem to be anything similar. Does anyone know of any similar products? One of mine is out 24/7 and we have horse flies of unusual size and mosquitoes that seem to get larger and larger each year. Pony’s back legs get covered in blood due to the buggers gnawing at his sheath unless I put swat on it.
I think it’s called equishield by kinetic vet. Comes in a tub and I think about the same price. I live in south Florida and would put it on my horses belly
3 Likes
I admit, I have tried lots of things and I always end up back at Swat.
I hope they keep selling Swat where I am.
1 Like
In Canada things often get pulled because of ingredients and non-bilingual labelling🤬… Like vetrolin linament…I love the stuff but haven’t been able to get it here for years.
2 Likes
Essex Feed had tons of Swat maybe two weeks ago? https://www.essexfeed.ca/ I don’t know if they ship, but it might be worth a call.
Riding Warehouse has shipped Thrushbuster to me in Canada, so they likely (maybe) would ship Swat too. Shipping isn’t cheap, but the Swat is reasonable.
1 Like
Is CLAC-Deogel available to you? It’s not the same ingredients but a similar function. It’s one of the only things that works for me. I noticed it has a longer effective use life than SWAT, but it’s not good for places with open sores.
You could try fly boots to help, too.
2 Likes
Mixing fly spray with a non melting carrier might do? Maybe zinc oxide?
1 Like
what about cosmetic grade neem oil? i used to buy it on amazon. smells horrible. works well on gnats and midges. not sure about regular flies, but worth trying.
1 Like
I did see that one available and wondered if it would work.
It’s more his sheath that needs protecting… The flies bite bite it and the blood drips onto his legs…
That’s an idea! Never thought I’d that!
We use Vick’s Vapor Rub on chests, tummies, chins, and ears here. It works great!
3 Likes
Mixing your fly spray of choice with Vaseline will probably provide nearly identical results to SWAT. Possibly better, depending on which repellents work best on your property.
1 Like
SWAT doesn’t seem to melt in the heat nearly as much as straight petroleum jelly, though? Probably has some sort of stabilizer.
Maybe not as big a deal in Canada, lol. I like zinc oxide a lot for that factor–holds up pretty well in the heat.
You two are geniuses. What concentration/ratio are we talking, zinc oxide (or petroleum jelly) to flyspray? Am I diluting the flyspray in water first, or using the concentrate?
I notice CLAC isn’t available to me anymore at Dover. I’m almost done with the bottle, too. 
You’ll have to do the math (and a kitchen scale would be very helpful for mixing), but this is the composition of SWAT.
I’ve always liked Nu-Stock much more than SWAT. It’s a skin healing cream, not a fly repellent, but boy does that sulfur stench keep the flies away! And it doesn’t melt off in the Florida heat like the vasoline-based ointments do. A lot of them here get a rub/scabs under their belly from kicking at flies in the summer. I put it on that area once or twice a week, keeps the flies off it and lets it heal.
2 Likes
Have you tried Farrier’s Wife Belly Salve. It’s an all natural healing ointment but also works great keeping flies/gnats off and helps with the itchies from their bites. I use it on my horse’s sheath and belly.
1 Like
I’m all about winging it tbh 
I’d start with like half a tube of Freedom 45 (whatever they’re calling it now, isn’t it something different?) in a 16 oz tub of zinc oxide. Mix well!
I use a lot of zinc oxide in the summer, it’s great for those weird scrapes and bites and whatever. Buy in bulk!
Okay actually doing the math–a full tube of that proforce 50 stuff (the new freedom 45) in a 15 oz jar of zinc oxide gives you ~0.2% permethrin, to match swat.
1 Like
I’ve been adding neem oil to my fly spray but haven’t really noticed an appreciable difference. I’m a little disappointed!
