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  Discussion on My Friesian has mite
Author Message
Member:
fargo

Posted on Saturday, Feb 24, 2007 - 11:40 pm:

My Friesian gelding has been itching like crazy, and I have been treating him as if he had scratches. My vet re-examined him and took more skin scrapings and found mites. There hasn't been much discussion about mites lately. I am wondering if there is any new treatment. Also, when I bathe my horse, his legs are the only place I find the scabs and irritation. Should I just bathe his legs with a special soap (any recomendations would be appreciated), or should he get an entire body bath? It is cold in North Dakota, the barn is about 60 degrees. I worry about getting him too wet. Any suggestions to get rid of the pests would be helpful.
Thanks.

Mary
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Feb 25, 2007 - 9:02 am:

Frank,
the text of the articles are continuously updated with newly published information to keep them current and the recommendations in this article are what we are currently recommending based on our research and experiences.

Some have used amitraz on other livestock species particularly in countries where organophosphates have been outlawed. However use in horses has been associated with a number of reports of toxicity, so we do not know what is a safe dose would be.
DrO
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Sunday, Feb 25, 2007 - 6:58 pm:

Maybe a spray made with tea tree oil would drive the little buggers out? You could mist his hair without soaking his skin. The stuff stinks enough to drive anything away. I know that for dust mites soaking in Eucalyptus oil works, don't know about your mites though. Both are pretty safe just keep out of the eyes, and don't drink the stuff.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 26, 2007 - 7:24 am:

I am afraid the mites don't smell that we are aware of Angie and I don't know of any activity of these products against mites. There have been reports of acquired sensitivity to Tea Tree Oil so if the skin starts to look irritated with its use, discontinue it.
DrO
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Feb 26, 2007 - 11:23 am:

The tip on the Eucalyptus oil used to be pushed alot with people suffering allergies. I used to soak bedding in the washing machine for 30 minutes. I know, dust mites and the mites the horse have are not the same. And DrO is right, the tea tree oil can cause skin irritation but it may help and save the horse a complete soaking bath.

I did have good results with a horse ointment that had tea tree oil and stuff in it when we got Gem and she was skin and bones, rashy, warts, and her skin was flakey. Of course a good feeding program helped too. Sometimes/most times(?) it's not just one thing that is needed.
Member:
fargo

Posted on Monday, Feb 26, 2007 - 11:12 pm:

Dr. O, what is amitraz? Since my posting, I have done per my vet's suggestions: wormed him with Ivermectin, then a prythrin containing shampoo to all 4 legs, then dried them with the hair dryer, then put Frontline from a spray bottle into his feathers to the point of saturation. Now I wait another week to bathe him again, but no more Frontline for a month. Ivermectin X2 more doses 2 weeks apart. I am wondering if there is anything I could do daily to speed the mite killing process, and whether I need to worry about secondary infections such as staph or fungus to an already "at risk" horse with sores on his legs? Do you recommend sanitizing the stall? And what do you know about sulpher dips? Would this be stronger/more effective substance to bathe his legs in?

Thank you all for your posts. I had gotten tea tree oil for Tsjibbe when we thought we were battling scratches, but I mostly used Iodine washes with Animax lotion afterwards-it didn't help very much, hence the vet coming back and re-scraping his skin to check again.

Thanks for your help!
Mary (Frank's wife)
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 - 6:32 am:

Amitraz is a triazapentadiene compound, a member of the amidine chemical family. It is an insecticide and acaricide used to control red spider mites, leaf miners, scale insects, and aphids. On cotton it is used to control bollworms, white fly, and leaf worms. On animals it is used to control ticks, mites, lice and other animal pests. The EPA classifies Amitraz as Class III - slightly toxic. However, products containing it bear the SIGNAL WORD: CAUTION.

Amitraz is registered for use on pears, cattle, hogs, and cotton. It is not permitted on apples to prevent its residues in processed apples or meat producing animals which consume apple processing waste. Amitraz was a restricted use pesticide in 1985 because some studies showed it causes cancer in mice. But re-evaluation of the evidence has led to the current classification of Amitraz as an unrestricted or General Use Pesticide (GUP) (11). Amitraz is available in an emulsifiable concentrate, wettable powder, or a pour-on powder.

Our recommendations are in the article Mary and I have not seen any work on the effectiveness of sulfurs. I don't think sanitizing the stall for other organisms important.
DrO
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