Vectra 3D for tick control?

[LSMarnell]

My horse currently has 6-7 tick bites in varying states of healing. Typically, they heal up without incident with just regular cleaning/antibiotic ointment. However, once last year, and now once this year I have had a bite become abscessed/infected, and it has been more of a concern. And, painful for my horse.

A customer of mine who is a vet tech said that her practice is prescribing Vectra 3D now to horse owners for use in tick control. This is obviously an off-label use. The product is only approved for use on dogs/cats. I asked my vet about it today and he refused to prescribe it to me, which I expected. He is very much a stickler about things and I 100% understand his reasoning. However, nothing, and I mean NOTHING for equine use I have tried has worked for the ticks on my grey gelding.

My question is, is anyone currently using it and what has your experience been? I can get it from another vet practice.

I haven’t found much online about its use in horses, but I did find this.

http://www.totalequinevets.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TickArticle_FullPage_Final.pdf

[Simkie]

Really curious what responses you get here.

When I first moved to tick land, I poked around and found the tick ingredient in seresto collars is approved for livestock in other countries and can be obtained via eBay. Seriously considered trying that, perhaps added to fly spray. Wound up not having to do that–garlic has been surprisingly fabulous for my crew. But still consider it a possibility if (most likely when, sigh!) the garlic stops being effective.

[Sansena]

I have no experience using Vectra 3D for tick control. But I have had very good luck with repelling ticks on horses using organic Neem oil in a vinegar & water suspension. A friend purchases the oil on Amazon, then warms it and ads abut an ounce of it to 7 ounces of the other liquid. Must keep it warm or it will coagulate.

[Denali6298]

Not on horses, but when my dog lived in CT with my parents he got put on Vectra 3D and it worked really well. He had the run of 16 acres, mostly wooded.

[Toblersmom]

@LSMarnell

The product is only approved for use on dogs/cats.

I have no opinion on its use in horses one way or another, just wanted to point out that it is not only NOT approved for use on cats, it is absolutely contraindicated to use it on any cats, ever. The main ingredient is permethrin, which is very toxic to felines (some are even sensitive to the less potent, “natural” pyrethrins). Toxic enough that I would be cautious using permethrin products on my horse if I had one of those cat-and-pony show buddy pairs where the kitty likes to nap on the horsey fluffy hiney of an afternoon. I wouldn’t use it on a dog that is best buds with a kitty friend, either, personally.