Just found ticks on my horse

[walkinthewalk]

@JB

[

Yes, ivermectin WILL kill ticks who are actively feeding.

https://aaep.org/sites/default/files…71316Final.pdf

“Alternatively, orally administered ivermectin is effective against ticks on horses, however the tick must first take a blood meal from the treated horse to be affected by the drug.”

However:
“For tick species that may be capable of transmitting disease within a short period of time after feeding has begun, using oral ivermectin as the sole option for tick control may not mitigate tick-borne disease transmission and additional treatment modalities should be used in conjunction with this method.”

I read their 2016 small paragraph regarding feeding oral Ivermectin to repel ticks.

They left out something pretty important — how long does the Ivermectin remain efficient against ticks? One cannot keep dosing with Ivermectin just as a tick preventative, especially if one lives in an area where ticks are rampant. It’s a P-Poor way to manage tick control, IMO:)

Even though “Chronic Waste Syndrome” in deer is not supposed to be zoonotic and is allegedly only transmitted via their saliva, especially in shared drinking water, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn it is also transmittable via blood from a tick bite. Another reason to be diligent about tick removal. CWS hasn’t hit my area yet, but it’s up on the KY border, so just a matter of time before a case is reported in my area.

The best preventative is to still check the horse at least once daily and pull the little SOB’s off the horse — which, be careful what I talk about. I pulled four off one horse and one off the other last night. Four on one horse this time of year is the worst I’ve seen in several years—-

We had an exceptionally mild flea & tick season last year. Looks like they may make up for it this year. My neighbors chickens had better get busy:)

[Mukluk]

Has anyone tried using this (Pyrethrin shampoo) on a tick infested horse or in an effort to prevent ticks? I’ve always wondered if this works.

https://www.amazon.com/Pyranha-Pyret…3687567&sr=8-3

here is a larger size.
https://www.amazon.com/Pyranha-011-11458-Pyrethrin-Shampoo-Coconut/dp/B000MCZVXM/ref=pd_sbs_199_1/139-4864429-7155401?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000MCZVXM&pd_rd_r=43ad4906-8c76-46a9-b1d3-446ec8dcdef4&pd_rd_w=pHVBL&pd_rd_wg=hcCUM&pf_rd_p=7cd8f929-4345-4bf2-a554-7d7588b3dd5f&pf_rd_r=G9MMS16C3VP6SZ49K43D&psc=1&refRID=G9MMS16C3VP6SZ49K43D#customerReviews

[streamline]

@walkinthewalk

I read their 2016 small paragraph regarding feeding oral Ivermectin to repel ticks.

They left out something pretty important — how long does the Ivermectin remain efficient against ticks? One cannot keep dosing with Ivermectin just as a tick preventative, especially if one lives in an area where ticks are rampant. It’s a P-Poor way to manage tick control, IMO:)

Even though “Chronic Waste Syndrome” in deer is not supposed to be zoonotic and is allegedly only transmitted via their saliva, especially in shared drinking water, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn it is also transmittable via blood from a tick bite. Another reason to be diligent about tick removal. CWS hasn’t hit my area yet, but it’s up on the KY border, so just a matter of time before a case is reported in my area.

The best preventative is to still check the horse at least once daily and pull the little SOB’s off the horse — which, be careful what I talk about. I pulled four off one horse and one off the other last night. Four on one horse this time of year is the worst I’ve seen in several years—-

We had an exceptionally mild flea & tick season last year. Looks like they may make up for it this year. My neighbors chickens had better get busy:)

I think we had our first case of CWD here last year. Huge deer population. The deer like to bed down by the creek area and of course the horses like to chase them off (upsets my FIL but whatever)

I only have limited x amount of time each day to mess with the horses. I either have to pack the baby around with me when I feed horses or make sure grandparents are home.

[wildlifer]

Again, don’t smother them, it increases risk of disease transmission. Yes, you can put them in a bag or jar of whatever after you pull them off.

To the poster who keeps the ticks, not a terrible idea at all. We have a new invasive tick species (Asian long horned) that can carry new diseases, state & fed dept of ag are trying to track them, so it’s helpful whenever individuals can help keep an eye out.

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹They can also be tested if your horse gets sick, but check with your vet about details bc alcohol destroys a lot of things, so there might be another recommended technique (i. e. freezing).

ETA - I have had some success with equispot but ticks are crazy here, so I don’t use it anymore. I would give it a shot where you are, with your shorter activity season.

[JB]

@walkinthewalk

I read their 2016 small paragraph regarding feeding oral Ivermectin to repel ticks.

They left out something pretty important — how long does the Ivermectin remain efficient against ticks? One cannot keep dosing with Ivermectin just as a tick preventative, especially if one lives in an area where ticks are rampant. It’s a P-Poor way to manage tick control, IMO:)

I don’t know what paragraph you’re referring to, so can’t comment on how you’re interpreting it. I don’t think the AAEP has ever suggested using oral ivermectin as a repellent, but maybe they suggested is as a topical, using Ivomec pour-on?

I don’t think oral ivermectin will work very long to kill ticks - it will kill what’s on there, but may not be in the blood long enough after a few days to a week (I have no idea) to kill new ones.

Even though “Chronic Waste Syndrome” in deer is not supposed to be zoonotic and is allegedly only transmitted via their saliva, especially in shared drinking water, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn it is also transmittable via blood from a tick bite. Another reason to be diligent about tick removal. CWS hasn’t hit my area yet, but it’s up on the KY border, so just a matter of time before a case is reported in my area.

CWD is known to be transmitted via blood. But like EEE/WEE/WNV/VEE where the horse is a dead-end host - too little of the virus in the blood for mosquitoes and ticks to be able to transmit it, it may be the same with deer. I have no idea.

[SuzieQNutter]

@Mukluk

Has anyone tried using this (Pyrethrin shampoo) on a tick infested horse or in an effort to prevent ticks? I’ve always wondered if this works.

https://www.amazon.com/Pyranha-Pyret…3687567&sr=8-3

here is a larger size.
https://www.amazon.com/Pyranha-011-1…ustomerReviews

Our permethrin product is Permoxin there is a cheaper one out now called Permethron.

It not only kills and repels ticks, it stops sweet itch. This is called Queensland Itch in Australia and the side affect is a long mane, tail and forelock.

I have used it for over 40 years. It is cheap, it is mixed with water, you can mix it with something else for faster drying on the package. Which I prefer to the products that are mixed with oil.

It has never burnt a horse, but only lasts 24 hours not a week like said above. Those products can burn a horse.

It is not really a shampoo, I wipe it on, usually after riding and don’t rinse it off. It is clear so you can’t tell who has it and who doesn’t once dry.

A vet told a friend it was okay to soak an emancipated puppy found who was covered in ticks.

We don’t have the tick diseases you have. We can get a parylis tick on dogs and cats. The Permethrin can be used on dogs, horses and cows but not cats.

I saw a program on TV that said once the tick is dead you can leave it on to fall off. It is just that humans don’t like having ticks hanging from them that they are removed. As I said we don’t have the tick bourn diseases you have.

[Angela_Freda]

Ivermectin for lice, I believe. Maybe that’s what the VT meant?

[streamline]

@Guilherme

With respect to those who suggest hand removal, that is a program that’s going to be of limited effectiveness. With one horse there might be a chance it can work. But you’ve got a herd of any size you have just imposed a draconian time restraint on somebody to inspect a group of 1000 pound animals in detail and and do manual removal.

There are many effective chemical methods to deal with ticks on livestock. Horses are livestock. Explore them.

To deal with ticks you DO remove by hand you can do the removal on a concrete floor (or other hard surface), drop the tick, and step on it using a “twisting motion” (like you were grinding out a lit ember). Check when you’re done to make sure you got it. With “seed ticks” (the really small ones) you can use about any hard surface and do the same thing using a finger nail. The best plan is to have a jar of alcohol there (easily obtained from Walmart or Walgreens or the like). Remember that if you’re going to use the manual method you are going to be doing this EVERY DAY for months. Set up a “station” where you can do the job most efficiently (lots of light, room to work around the horse, tools to deal with the problem, etc.).

Sometimes “better things for better living through chemistry” is a viable road.

G.

He’s covered. Way worse than I thought. I got like half a baggie full and I didn’t even make a dent. Sprayed him really good with that ultra fly spray/tick repellent.

Shaved his coat down as well. I honestly need to shave the whole horse and find something to treat it.

We are sold out of alcohol, all % of it at all the local Walmart’s/drug stores etc.

When my DH has his nexts days off he can come help me.

[walktrot]

Be alert constantly when you are grooming and tacking up. I found a tick on his eyelid very close to the lashes. Fortunately it had not bitten yet so I removed it with my fingers. Sometimes there is a little patch of messed up hairs sticking out. Often there is a tick in there. I use permethrin like Equispot and I think it helps, but there are plenty of areas where you can find ticks that permethrin doesn’t get to. I also use Endure Fly Spray.

I use a TickEase removal tool that has really good tweezers on one end and a flat slotted thing on the other end. I don’t have much for fingernails but I hate using them - usually they don’t work. I also got a TickCheck Removal Tool. I haven’ tried it yet, but it is not a sharp as the TickEase for delicate areas like the head.

I have a sabino Paint with white legs so it’s easy to do a tick check after we ride outside. If I find something I try to let my fellow riders know. Also, the dogs who come along usually have dozens when we get back. They get checked after the horses have been turned out.

My horse had Lyme in 2010. 6 weeks on doxy cured it. I think a lot of people don’t use the antibiotics long enough. A human Lyme specialist told the BO that spirochetes that aren’t killed can burrow into the tissues and emerge and start up again. Her son had it. Also, blood samples in this area go to the Cornell lab. They can distinguish between acute and chronic cases. It’s endemic here and we figure if you tested all the horses on the farm they probably would show a positive blood test.

Nasty. Nasty. Nasty.

[endlessclimb]

They’re coming from somewhere. Are you mowing down high areas of your pasture regularly? Ticks live in tall grasses, they climb on up and wait to grab on. Sounds like your guy walked through a newly hatched nest.

Along with all the other stuff, you need to figure out where they’re coming from (sure, deer, but the environment has to be right, too) and eliminate that as well. Burn if it’s dry enough, that will kill what’s there while making the grass short. Double whammy.

[JB]

@streamline

He’s covered. Way worse than I thought. I got like half a baggie full and I didn’t even make a dent. Sprayed him really good with that ultra fly spray/tick repellent.

Shaved his coat down as well. I honestly need to shave the whole horse and find something to treat it.

We are sold out of alcohol, all % of it at all the local Walmart’s/drug stores etc.

When my DH has his nexts days off he can come help me.

Sounds like a good reason to hit him with ivermectin

[Posting_Trot]

If he’s that covered with ticks, he probably does need to see the vet. There are a few tick-borne diseases and the more ticks he’s had on him (and the longer they’ve been on), the more likely it is that at least one disease has been transmitted to him. You want to have a long talk with the vet about what diseases can be tested for, when and how they might be treated.

I’d also really go over the horse’s environment very carefully. As someone above said, the ticks are coming from somewhere. It could be that the ticks are in a wooded or brushy area of the paddock, or if there are mice in the stable they could be carrying the ticks as well. Mice also love to live in woodpiles, stone walls, etc, and where there are mice there will be ticks.

[streamline]

@Posting Trot

If he’s that covered with ticks, he probably does need to see the vet. There are a few tick-borne diseases and the more ticks he’s had on him (and the longer they’ve been on), the more likely it is that at least one disease has been transmitted to him. You want to have a long talk with the vet about what diseases can be tested for, when and how they might be treated.

I’d also really go over the horse’s environment very carefully. As someone above said, the ticks are coming from somewhere. It could be that the ticks are in a wooded or brushy area of the paddock, or if there are mice in the stable they could be carrying the ticks as well. Mice also love to live in woodpiles, stone walls, etc, and where there are mice there will be ticks.

DH has kept horses in the same sport current horse is in. Without ever having ticks. Doesn’t mean they didn’t come from there.

ive had this horse for a few weeks. He’s been separated from my others horses. Waiting for vet check/horse is a pain to catch.

[candyappy]

@wildlifer

they will either vomit (releasing any pathogens they may be carrying)
Ticks are a constant here, so if you have never had one before, lucky!

I didn’t know there was such a thing as Tick vomit???

I personally use an oil based fly spray daily ( getting the legs good) before turning them out and it seems to keep ticks at bay.