Well I DD’d with Equimax and then 2 weeks later DD’d with Ivermectin. The little crustie bumps are going away and the bright red spots on my boarders chest are gone too. They seem less itchy but my mare is still loosing hair off her face. May just be to her sweating. But they do seem much more comfortable and no tail rubbing.
Update
My girl has always been a tail-rubber, breaking the beautiful hairs at the base of her dock and really thinning out her tail (disclaimer: this was in spite of the fact that (1) she is on a rotational worming schedule, (2) I go out of my way to keep her udders and dock squeaky clean, (3) I feed Omega Horseshine and the rest of her skin/coat is always excellent, (4) I’ve used topicals like Calm Coat, etc.). Anyway, I just wanted to report that it’s been two weeks since I gave her the first DD of Equimaxx and wouldn’t you know she has not rubbed ONCE since and her tail is growing back?! NTWs or not, I’m thrilled. I’ll be getting more tomorrow…:winkgrin:
OK, I am waaay late to this party. Thanks so much to all who have posted here–espe Choco and EqT!!!
My WB gelding developed this strange swelling in his poll. It varies from the size of half a ping-pong ball to a tennis ball. Vet inspection drew off serous fluid, but nothing else. Ultra-sound showed nothing. There is no heat and apparently no pain. Doesn’t seem to be bothered in the double. It hypothesized by the vet to be attributed to ligamentous scar tissue from the suspected suspension of his head from the barn rafter during a floating. Been monitoring this for the last year and a half. The swelling is always present, but the size goes up and down–even in the winter months.
This spring (we are in CO, but he is homebred and foaled in VA), he developed the tissue paper thing on his sides at the widest part of his barrel–no where else on his body. Couldn’t figure it out–too high for spur rubs, too low for saddle flap, suspected the edge of my insulated winter paddock boots.
Then, as the spring heat progressed he lost his appetite (was a total chow hound usually). Began to suspect ulcers. Treated with Ugard/Gastroguard. No noticeable improvement. Also, for the last several years, he has had an unimproved weepy eye–clear fluid. It’s been flushed and seemingly nothing going on. He also had a mystery mouth ulcer high up in his lip this spring.
He is incredibly stiff laterally in the base of his neck and has always been reluctant to yeild at the poll in upper collection – always seemed mechanical. He doesn’t really appear to have any other bumps or misc. skin irritations, though . . .
So . . . could all this be NTW!!!:eek:
hmmm… for all those that are wondering (and double dosing without even knowing) if their horse has neck thread worms - instead of buying the hype why not get a skin biopsy before treating? apparently that will let you know if your horse is infested. (as per the nice vet on smartpak)
My vet disagrees with the vet from smartpak.
He said why run up a big vet bill when DD is perfectly safe, the symptoms match, and it’s the treatment he’d recommend anyway.
If the DD doesn’t work - THEN call him out and we’ll see what else might be going on.
Maybe it appears we’re not consulting with our vets? I can’t speak for other posters but I do work with my vet.
Do you all treat only the horses that show clinical signs of NTWs? Or do you DD each horse in the spring as a preventative?
Last year I followed the DD protocol on my pony after reading this thread and it cleared up the NTW issue. I also treated one of my 3 horses who showed mild signs and he improved. The other 2 horses have never showed any clinical signs of NTWs. The pony needed to treated again this year.
I’m wondering if the horses should be treated even if they don’t show any outward signs.
Incidentally, the pony is 23 yo so the NTWs have had years to reproduce. The 3 horses are ages 7, 9 and 10 - so perhaps this is why the pony shows the worst reaction.
It won’t hurt to try. Just be sure to do both Double Doses. Do do do!!! keep us/me posted :yes:
Since all horses get bit by the gnats/midges/no-see-ums, you can be sure that the NTWs are there but living happily under-skin, breeding away. If one horse has outward symptoms, then hit everyone. For the “Mild/No Visible Symptoms” horses, though, you could do one DD Equimax and then follow up with a second DD IF you see emergence/itching/skin changes.
got a ?
this thread is so long, but it looks like you guys are using one DD Equimax and in 14 days following with one DD ivermectin, right?
thanks Chocomare - makes sense of course. So I’ll hit everyone with a DD.
Close… DD Equiimax on Day 1, DD Equimax again on Day 14 - Repeat on Day 21 for severe cares.
Mild ones can do the DD E’'max/DD Ivermectin.
just found this thread, wonder if it would help my horse…this is the 2nd summer in a row he has got the itchy/crustys…been told it was allergies, but…hhhmmmm…
ANYWAY, I just did a regular deworming with ivermectin 3 days ago…when would i be able to try the DD? Do I have to wait a certain amount of time, since I just wormed? Thanks…
Let him have it! 
WOW, What a thread. 
Anyways, I got the DD down, but what do you guys do for the crusty’s as far as treatment. Leave them alone and let them heal or pull the scabs off and let the fresh air get to them??? Do you put any meds on top of them, and if so, What? A mare I know of has the worse case of crusty stuff I’ve ever seen and it is so painful to the touch for her that she is not wanting to lie down to rest. Would very much like to help this owner out while she is waiting on a call back from her vet. Thanks for the info.
Nope, don’t pick scabs. You’ll just open the body up to infection.
To soothe the rough spots in the meanwhile, a good slathering of Aloe Heal is nice and calming to the skin, without stinging. SWAT works good on the belly to keep the gnats off too.
I’ve browsed this thread and I’ll apologize if I’m asking a question which has been answered previously. Is there an optimal time to do the double dosing of Equimax? Is there a time of year when it is not helpful?
Thanks for your advice.
Spring through warm Autumn… basically gnat season 
I haven’t read this entire thread, but a really good chunk of it. Is there a summary anywhere that I could print out and show my lease horse’s owner and some other people at the barn? It really really looks worth trying from what I’ve read here, but I need to convince others.
Thanks for digging this all up!!
The case studies.
Also, here are all the links to studies/scientific stuff
Why Double Dose With Equimax-Thanks To Our Aussie Friends
Onchocercosis of Intervertebral Joint Capsule
Seasonal Changes-Study by American Society of Parisitologists, 1987 - Note: be sure to read the bottom “Abstract”
