|
Post by Karen, garrettponies on Jul 16, 2012 11:36:34 GMT
With regard to other threads about horses with itching/bites/hives I have done some rather revolting homework today! I will try and be quick but some might find it helpful.
My pony came out in hives last week to which the vet said allergy to fly bites but not sweet itch. Has been wearing fly rug outside. Advised to keep in until the hives had calmed down, dose with benzyl and put on bute. No flies in the stables as we have masses of swallows so though good idea..............
Now I was away all day yesterday and left pony in wearing cotton cooler, fly spray (worn for ages so no allergy there). She was fine in the morning, hives still there but not too bad as I'd washed her night before with a natura bodywash. Came back last night you couldn't put a pin on her for hives, everywhere, poor pony she was so distressed. After a sleepless night owrrying about the cause I called vets who are coming this morning.
Two ponies, on same grass, same hay, same feed, same water, one affected one not, only difference affected pony has swallows nests in her stable. Decided to knock down unused nest, absolutely full and crawling with a variety of teeny tiny mites. Knocked them all down and they are all the same, the bird poo also has them in.
I found this on the internet...http://birdmites.org/nightmare.html
the mites pictured are exactly the same. I reckon her stable is infested and they are in her bed etc. Obviously going to show the vet and will let you know the outcome of his visit and have saved the nests to show him. It has made me feel like I am crawling, feel so sorry for her. They are so tiny they would get through a fly rug and a thin waffle cooler.
So anyone with unexplained bites and swallows............this could be a factor. I am now going to move her into a different stable, fumigate the ones with nests in.
Will keep you posted, thanks for reading.
|
|
|
Post by crazychick on Jul 16, 2012 12:06:27 GMT
We once rescued 2 dartmoors that were by a homebred stallion who we had sold after been very successful in the show ring. The owner rang us up and said she had had the stallion PTS due to sweet itch and would be doing the same with the two mares. We went for them - got them home and it turned out to be these mites that you've mentioned - not sweet itch. Unfortunately it was too late for our lovely homebred stallion but we saved the mares. Hope you get sorted!
|
|
|
Post by Karen, garrettponies on Jul 16, 2012 12:16:53 GMT
Vet has just been and confirmed my suspicion. He picked up a birds nest and his hands were literally crawling with them in about a second. Never seen anything so gross. Poor pony..................
Major work now cleaning, disinfecting everything.
So anyone with lots of swallows, beware!
|
|
|
Post by tabbycat on Jul 16, 2012 14:16:06 GMT
Had exactly the same thing pony affected with mites turned out to be the swallows nesting in there told the vet of my suspicions not sure he was conviced !!! but was injected with deosect and then put iol and sulphur mix . Stable had to be power washed out .
|
|
|
Post by jasper1 on Jul 16, 2012 18:09:33 GMT
Mine started itching within a week of the swallows returning. fine now that they have fledged, just dont like the thought of having to keep them out next year , but really cant have this happening again (
|
|
|
Post by Karen, garrettponies on Jul 16, 2012 21:41:33 GMT
Have just spent a lovely afternoon and evening power washing out the stables and shifting rubber matting, am now now cream crackered. Just waiting for spray to be delivered tomorrow for phase 2 of Operation Bird Mite Murder.
Pony is so much better with being outside, hives have gone down a lot but not gone completely. Poor little girl, feel so sorry for her.
What was the sulphur mix you used Tabbycat? At least my vet was open to it and was VERY convinced when he had them crawling all over him, yeeeeeeewwww.
|
|
|
Post by musbury on Jul 19, 2012 18:33:46 GMT
We have had the same problem with one of ours stabled in large barn. There is a spray called parasite repel (i think) that we use daily all over and it seems to stop him itching and being bitten. You can get it from your local tack shop usually for about £7 a bottle.
|
|
|
Post by junetimp on Jul 19, 2012 21:13:15 GMT
I have the same problem in my stables in a large barn. Always wondered what was causing it - off to buy Parasite Repel. Thanks for the info and the tip.
|
|
|
Post by Karen, garrettponies on Jul 20, 2012 7:36:17 GMT
Vet advised me to get Deosect which I have sprayed all the stables out with, kill everything remotely creepy crawly in an instant. It also lasts for quite a while so should be effective for the rest of the summer. I asked the manufacturuer if it was ok on stables and they said yes. Ponies have had a few days out while I deal with the situation and the one affected is now absolutely fine, all hives gone and she is happy again. She was bathed, fly-sprayed and benzyled. Poor little girl!
I have put streamers up at the stable doors to keep flies out and swallows, although they are determined little blighters!! Will try and post a pic of the streamers, its quite funny. Ponies not remotely bothered about them.
Having done lots of research into it this week and now unwittingly become a bird mite expert. They don't like tea tree, so wash your hair with tea tree shampoo.
Only good thing thats come out if it, I had intended to lift all my mats but kept putting that job to the back of my list. All stables, rugs, mats and feed room now totally blitzed. I am jiggered!
|
|
|
Post by musbury on Jul 20, 2012 12:00:03 GMT
No prob good thing about the parasite repel is you can use it all the time. Our pony is palomino and we can bath for a show spray him all over and he is clean but still protected. It even smells quite nice! good luck hope it works for you.
|
|
|
Post by watchbank on Jul 20, 2012 12:15:23 GMT
Omg! Thankyou so much for this - i have a super itchy pony, not with bites or hives but just constant twitching, rubbing in the stable when she comes in, washed her with a lice killing shampoo and lots of tiny little crab looking things came out. Stabling her was starting to be a nightmare she just brayed the door down wanting to be out in a major frenzy! Was at my wits end with it all and the rubbing, just checked box and 3 swallow nests above her so i wonder if this is whats making her itch and why she doesnt want to be inside!! x
|
|
|
Post by Karen, garrettponies on Jul 20, 2012 15:42:51 GMT
Rachnria, that sounds about right. If the babies have flown get rid of the nests and clean the box out.
Had swallows a number of years and never had a noticeable problem but we have a record amount this year and the wet and warm weather I think has helped the crawlies to breed.
Hope you get sorted
|
|
|
Post by starandsnip on Jul 20, 2012 15:55:44 GMT
We had the same problem last year we put it down to red mite from chickens we had some roosting in the barn over the stables. The horses were in a terrible state one refused to come into her stable & when she did would stand in the back corner looking away from the door she wouldnt even come for food. Over the last night she broke her stable trying to esape poor thing what a nightmare. Others were throwing themselves around the fields they were that bad. Thankfully after washing everything out with jeyes fluid & sorting the horses with - cant rememeber now it calmed down straight away. It took my girl ages to forget about it though & thankfully no repeat this year. The chickens have been banished from horse areas.
|
|
|
Post by angelena on Aug 2, 2012 14:03:28 GMT
I shifted a nest that was crawling and little devils despite putting plastic up have gone back in to build yet another nest, I thought they only had one littler of chicks before heading back home? i still see creepy crawlies on my un-opened bags of shavings. My pony is clear and has not been back in her stable until I empty it and fumigate it. ' itching again scratty things'
|
|
|
Post by sageandonion on Aug 2, 2012 19:02:52 GMT
No!!!! Oh my goodness that's it, my nests are going. Have to wait for one litter to hatch and move out first though.
|
|
|
Post by Kaseyleigh on Aug 4, 2012 17:47:27 GMT
pigeon loft stuff should do the trick spray the stable with it
|
|