Re: [RC] Mane mites - Now Change of Attitude - Lani M Olson
Hi folks!
Thanks to all who have posted with their thoughts and similar experiences.
I now have to give the vet a break. He just called me and said after researching
he has found that there ARE some mites that get on horses and has suggested a
course of action. So first, let's give him credit for following up, and when I
said after last night's call I thought he considered me an Internet Idiot he
said he was sorry for that.
Now, bear in mind that WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE that my horses have mites,
but he said the symptoms do fit what he has researched, including intense
rubbing for a couple of days followed by a couple of weeks of not
rubbing, so FOR MY HORSES we are going to try a program of a regular dose
of paste ivermectin given two weeks apart for a total of three doses. I had
given my usual ivermectin worming on Oct. 1, seventeen days ago, but he said to
proceed as the second dose even though it is three days over the two weeks, then
give the third one fourteen days from now.
So, for disclaimer, I am not telling or recommending anyone else do this,
but it's pretty obvious there are a lot of horses out there suffering from an
unknown source of itching. I am going to try this and will post back in about
six weeks to let everybody know if it succeeded (since the original mare rubbed
all last winter it should be obvious if she stops or continues). He stated there
is one mite that would be resistant to this and would involve what amounts to a
sheep-dip treatment so we didn't discuss that too much hoping it isn't necessary
and again, we don't know for a fact that mites are the problem. But this is a
course of action that seems feasible and not outrageously expensive, at least
with just three horses.
