something to kill adult Onchocerca? 19 CASE STUDIES POSTED-PAGE 58

[kiama]

Hi everyone Im also a newbie from down under.
I have read most of the thread (took a long time) and im fascinated! Could it be possible that sweet itch isnt as prevalant as previously believed and that NTW is the problem most of the time??? maybe sweet itch doesnt exist at all???

I have a yearling andalusian who has recently started rubbing his long glorious mane out This is only a recent thing so I havent tried too many sweet itch remedies. His mother had sweet itch so i knew it was a possibility that he would get it (maybe hers isnt sweet itch at all ?) The only symptom so far is that he is rubbing his mane out and he does enjoy a good rub anywhere on his body. He is always asking my mare to groom him. He is in an electric paddock and there is only one pole he can rub on. My mare has an itchy dock but she still has plenty of hair there. I always just though she liked her tail rubs alot But in the last two wet seasons ( nov to march) I have noticed that she has gotten these small bumps that erupt on her upper shoulder and sometimes where the saddle sits. They usually dont bother her but they take along time to heal. Perhaps this is also NTW?
In an oppsite paddock there is a mare who is covered in sweet itch (or is it?) She is always itch and looks horrible. Her owner cant seem to solve the itchyness.
So perhaps the midgies have been attracted to her sores and picked up the NTW babies and then feed on my two horse and given them the worms?

Im thinking I should treat my two just in case!

[ChocoMare]

Just DD and git-r-dun. :yes:

[GallopHer]

When is the optimal time of year for this de-worming protocol?

[Foxtrot_s]

Waaay back in this thread I asked if there was a geographical location of these neck worms and the answer was down in the southeast of the US.
Since then, Chocomare, have you found that they are more widely spread.
i.e. - do you have a sort of pin map? Midge allergies are fairly common up here, but we are not hot and muggy in the PNW.

[JB]

If you’re having to do the DD Equimax, then time of year doesn’t matter other than “horse has problems”

Just make sure you haven’t used Quest in the last 12 weeks.

[rmh_rider]

[QUOTE=kiama;6163405]
Hi everyone Im also a newbie from down under.
I have read most of the thread (took a long time) and im fascinated! Could it be possible that sweet itch isnt as prevalant as previously believed and that NTW is the problem most of the time??? maybe sweet itch doesnt exist at all???

I have a yearling andalusian who has recently started rubbing his long glorious mane out This is only a recent thing so I havent tried too many sweet itch remedies. His mother had sweet itch so i knew it was a possibility that he would get it (maybe hers isnt sweet itch at all ?) The only symptom so far is that he is rubbing his mane out and he does enjoy a good rub anywhere on his body. He is always asking my mare to groom him. He is in an electric paddock and there is only one pole he can rub on. My mare has an itchy dock but she still has plenty of hair there. I always just though she liked her tail rubs alot But in the last two wet seasons ( nov to march) I have noticed that she has gotten these small bumps that erupt on her upper shoulder and sometimes where the saddle sits. They usually dont bother her but they take along time to heal. Perhaps this is also NTW?
In an oppsite paddock there is a mare who is covered in sweet itch (or is it?) She is always itch and looks horrible. Her owner cant seem to solve the itchyness.
So perhaps the midgies have been attracted to her sores and picked up the NTW babies and then feed on my two horse and given them the worms?

Im thinking I should treat my two just in case![/QUOTE]

I have a friend whose horses are doing to post rubbing thing. But she doesn’t think it is NTW. She is of the old school. sigh. Thank goodness you have come over from the dark side.

My mare who rubbed BAD, her tail is growing out, and it looks like she has a wig on the top of her tail. It is about 6" long on top, then thinner, then towards the bottom thicker. About drove me nuts her rubbing her tail and butt, and her mane too. Which is also finally growing out. I will keep on it this year, we have gnats out in force right now. I will put the fly mask with ears on today just to keep them swarming on her ears. I do have fly spray on her ears, and it is feb. Go figure.

worm, worm, worm. takes time. May have to worm worm worm again.

[Arabiandressage]

I hate to bring this thread alive but there is such wonderful information and clearly some very knowledgeable folks on here I thought I would ask some updated questions.

Has there been any advancement on the killing of the adult threadworms?

Is there an advantage of ivermectin over moxidectin, my vet stated both kill the larvae form.

Has anyone seen the nodules come back in the same place every year. In addition to midline issue, these buggers form pea size nodules in an old scar every spring, drives him nuts…of course explaining to my neighbor that my colt propped up like a dog scratching his belly on the ground is not in fact him engaging in the more promiscuous activity which she believes to be occurring, lol. What are you all doing to prevent the itches after they have started?

[ChocoMare]

Dunno about the adults, but it would make sense that they’re dying off as their natural life cycle comes to an end… then we keep on top of the newbies by killing off the larvae.

Re: ivermectin vs moxidectin – Ivermectin is cheaper

If the itchies have started, I’ll hit 'em with ivermectin and offer external relief with Aloe Heal or something else soothing.

[JB]

Unfortunately, the adults can live 15 years

The other diff between ivermectin and moxidectin is you can double the ivermectin dose but you’d NEVER double the moxidectin dose

[Arabiandressage]

Adults

[QUOTE=JB;6183639]
Unfortunately, the adults can live 15 years

The other diff between ivermectin and moxidectin is you can double the ivermectin dose but you’d NEVER double the moxidectin dose[/QUOTE]

Thank you that was what I was wondering…these adults are tough worms! Goodness!:eek:

[Ridinmom]

I just found this thread. I’m amazed at the length of the discussion.

I’ve helped care for a mare who yearly had the midline cruddy skin and itch diagnosed as “sweet itch”. She is in the NE was turned out evenings and all night which meant she was out during the worst time for the culicoides gnats.

Last year I did some research and worked with the vet’s suggestions. Turnout was changed to daytime. Horse got antihistamine high quality. She was on antibug supplement with Omega 3 fatty acid and MSG. Ivermectin wormer was used 2 extra times. Also used a product called MTG on her stomach. She was put on daily wormer in addition to the regular fecal tests and paste wormer recommended by vet doing those tests. She did not have full out break. Her chest was involved and you could tell she bit at it. She was not seen to itch her stomach on the ground like a dog as in the past. I know she was still somewhat itchy.

BTW, anyone notice these horses seem extra sensitive to grooming esp. in the chest, girth, lower stomach areas? Horses in the NE are usually more sensitive in the winter months(I think dry skin has something to do with it) and I know horses with ulcers are agitated to grooming in these areas. We regularly clean the bag area of this mare and she’s content to have it done.

I’ve checked into other herbal supplements this winter and am considering starting them. Anyone use anything?

This mare’s life will be changing and she is going on pasture board in May. I want to help her owner with recommendation that might reduce the cost of the care which is priority.

I think the worming many of you have done would be the first place to start. The other supplement/medicine care may have no one to pay for it. Comments?

[monique1986]

[QUOTE=JB;6166042]

Just make sure you haven’t used Quest in the last 12 weeks.[/QUOTE]

Why? What would happen?

Is Quest still in their system at 12 weeks??

:eek:

[JB]

Moxidectin is “good” for about 12 weeks. I would not want to use anything else, much less a DD of Equimax, if you did Quest/Plus in the last 2 months, and I’d be very hesitant to try it before at least 2.5 months.

12 weeks is just safer if you can manage.

[LovelyBay]

Got mine!

I got my Equimax in the mail yesterday, and either this weekend or next I’m going to try it out! Wish me luck!

[ThisTooShallPass]

Luck to you LovelyBay. I sincerely think doing this protocol properly made a diff in an old horse I have.

[ozhorses]

DD yesterday

Hi everyone,

Well I finally double dosed my Percheron cross yesterday - waiting excitedly to see what happens. I’ve noticed this morning some of the lumps seem softer - he also has the runs - but so far itching at same frequency.

I’m in Australia so would also be interested to hear from any other Aussies out there!

Also what worming schedule is recommended - it probably says in this thread but I’m still trying to find it!

[EqTrainer]

If he has the runs from it, most likely he had quite a load

[ozhorses]

[QUOTE=EqTrainer;6227497]
If he has the runs from it, most likely he had quite a load :([/QUOTE]

:eek: Oh No!!! I thought it may have been due just to the drugs in the wormer!! Well, I will certainly keep an eye on him. Today he didn’t seem so itchy and his tail not so full of dandruff - will keep my fingers crossed!

Cheers!

[quarterhorse4me]

As with everyone else I have been absolutely fascinated and creeped out by this thread. Just brought home a new horse and she was not in great condition by my standards at that time. As soon as she started shedding and the bugs came out I noticed her beginning to itch and lose hair around her neck, stomach, girth area and flanks.
Originally, I suspected sweet itch but the location of the affected areas was not quite the same. She is not really digging at her mane and tail and nothing on her back. I then found this thread and have tried the first DD (keeping my fingers crossed).
However, during my research I also found numerous articles referring to the benefits of flax seed for horses with skin allergies. Have any of y’all (yes from the south where bugs are awful) tried flax seed in conjunction with the equimax/ivermectin?? I think I will try it on all three of mine.

[EqTrainer]

Any kind of nutritonal support is helpful of course. But in the end, if you kill the offenders and the horses immune system is functioning correctly, you should be a no-itch zone. I find quality mineral supplementation to be the most important factor in maintaining good health after you kill all the buggers.