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  Discussion on Do bots sting?
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Member:
Dres

Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 7:57 pm:

My horses go crazy when the bots hover around them... two of my mares race around the pasture trying to rid themselves of them... My gelding just stands very still and watches... Seems to me they make a buzzing sound, like a bee.. They light so quickly depositing the eggs does that hurt..??

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with SPOTS..
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 - 11:32 pm:

Hi, Ann,

I have watched bots lay eggs on horses and don't believe I have ever seen one sting a horse, but they ARE large, and they DO buzz LOUDLY, and I bet that their egg-laying tickles the hairs of the horses' shoulders and legs as the bot flies hover and stick the eggs, one at a time, on the individuals hairs. I bet most horses have had a bee-stinging experience at one time in their lives, so maybe the buzzing is enough to make some of the horses uncomfortable.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 6:21 am:

No they don't sting but I am sure your horse is confusing them for biting flies or other bothersome insects.
DrO
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2005 - 9:30 am:

Had to post. I seriously saw "do bots sing". I just started laughing when I though I saw that.
Anything that makes you smile is a good thing :-)
New Member:
rl1306

Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2011 - 8:31 am:

Greetings from Rattlesnake Country BP Corrals, Nogales, Arizona!
We have one horse, name Cleve. For the last 6 weeks, he has shown signs of Mild Colic. The first time he had 105 temp. and was cool down and given medication. Was treated for colic. after the vets visit and returned to corrals. He colic again two weeks later. Repeated treated. two weeks later again. We think he could have bots and now we think it's an ulcer?
We think the world of our vet and have the highest respect. But, the fever is unknown? Vets has us deworming him? Now, we will take a stool sample to see if there's blood present? The horse is loosing weight, he drinks water, eat well. I've ask the vet to scope the horse for ulcers.
Really worried about this horse!!
Member:
babychop

Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2011 - 1:06 pm:

I have had 2 episodes of bots in SD, once from a horse returning from central CA and once from some straw that arrived from elsewhere that apparently had some form of bots in it that wound up on my horse's legs (go figure). I did some research and found that bot larvae burrow through the lips and tongue of the horse (eww gross!) and wind up in the intestines (can't remember if they actually are burrowing into the lining or not but after the above it makes sense). Nasty little things and it continues the cycle, out through the poop which is a nice incubator, and then the fly who lays the eggs. Horse bites at the eggs that have been laid around it's legs and belly and that continues the cycle. Do the research but it was awful to read especially the burrowing part. I had to order a bot knife as nobody sells them in San Diego and then worm my horses to address it which took care of the bots (in typical bot areas I would imagine you'd have more of an issue with it).

As for repeated colic, have you had your horse scoped for ulcers? Vet can test fresh feces that haven't been contaminated (meaning you'll need to catch it as it falls or get it from the very top of the pile just after that hasn't touched the ground) and seal it in a baggie - for blood content, etc.

It could be a number of things but I'd also do a simple sand test - take an exam glove & put a fecal ball or two in it & then fill w/water - shake it up & see what settles into the fingers. If it's sand you've got a problem and it's time to run some psyllium through your horse. My mare was prone to colic, and I mean terrible bouts, we found out she was fairly full of sand, ran psyllium through her, put her on a hind gut yeast based supplement and she hasn't colic'd since (that's been several years ago). Some supplements you can check out are FORCO, SUCCEED, ADR (Kentucky Performance Products)... There are a few out there - some more expensive than others but if you keep the hind gut healthy you're ahead of the game.

Doesn't hurt to check it out.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 - 9:12 am:

Welcome Richard,
I believe we can help you with your question but let me get you started off right so you can get the best answer as quick as possible.

You will get more responses if you start your own discussion rather than post at the bottom of another member's discussion. Each discussion is "owned" by the original poster and all replies in that discussion should either directly or indirectly address the concerns of the original poster.

To start your own discussion back up one page using the navigation bar at the top of this page. This will be a Article Page on Bots. Below the article you will find a list of already existing discussions on this topic. Under this list you will find the "Start New Discussion" button. This is a good topic on your subject so you should first review the article as it will have important information on your subject. Next check the titles of the already existing discussions to see if your question has already been answered.

If your question remains unanswered, now is the time to Start a New Discussion. Select a short title that describes your specific concern. A title like "Help!!!" does not help others find your specific topic. Instead something like "Ace for Colic?" allows others to rapidly find and understand what your topic is about just by viewing the title. This is likely to bring more responses from those with some experience with your topic and allows members to find answers to their questions quicker.
DrO
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