😆🕷️🪳Check out the friends we made recently 🪳🕷️😆
Two species of lice can infest horses: Haematopinus asini (bloodsucking louse) Damalinia equi (biting louse- most common in the UK)
How do I know my horse has lice?
🦟 You might see them!
They are visible using a good light and parting the hair of your horse, and can look like walking dandruff!
🦟 Itching
You may see your horse scratching, or notice raw/hairless patches of skin appearing.
Not all horses have a big reaction to lice - some can show just flaky skin and a poor quality coat, so parting the hair and looking for lice in good light is important.
Lice are common in young, old and native breed horses- but can be seen on any horse.
They are also common in horses with Equine Cushings (PPID), so we may advise testing for this if lice are found on your horse.
How do I treat my horse?
- We recommend treating with a product called Deosect, which contains cypermethrin to kill the lice. This treatment will need to be repeated multiple times to kill emerging larvae.
- Treat any in contact horses to prevent spread
- Clean and disinfect rugs and grooming kit
- Isolate!
If your horse has shown any of these symptoms recently, give us a call on 01357 520251 to discuss next steps!
🤍📚🐴Client Night 🐴📚🤍
Thank you so much for all of the suggestions for the client night.
We went with the most requested which was... (check the video)
🤍The night will take place on Monday the 15th of April @ 7pm
🤍We will discuss clinical signs, diagnosis & management of this disease.
🤍On the night we will be handing out vouchers towards gastroscopy and there will also be a competition 👀
🤍There will be a maximum of 30 spaces so please call 01357 520251 or email to book in.
🌟🌸🐴🌼👋Good bye February 👋 🌟🌸🐴🌼
We decided to take part in filming one second of our day at work every day and it has turned out great! We will upload at the end of every month
🐴🍃🌾RAGWORT 🌾🍃🐴
Did you know that if a horse were to ingest just 1-5kg of Ragwort in its lifetime, it may be fatal?
All grazing land should be regularly checked and cleared of Ragwort to limit the chance of your horse eating it.
If you do suspect your horse may have ingested Ragwort at any point, please contact your vet.
☀️🌿🪰Sweet Itch Prevention 🪰🌿☀️
Once horses start getting bitten by the midges and show signs of sweet itch, they will find anything and everything to scratch against. Now is the best time to start paddock maintenance
🌱 Fence off any trees or posts that the horse could use as a scratching device
🌱Cut back any overhanging branches from trees. If your horse rubs in the stable, try to cover these areas with protective material (you'd be surprised what you can do with a simple pool noodle!).
🌱Keep horse in during peak fly times, dusk and dawn
🌱 Fly rugs, masks
🌱Insect repellents- Sprays, gels, washes
🌱If you need further advice on this topic please contact us on 01357 520251
🐴🤔Sweet Itch 🤔🐴
What is Sweet Itch??
Sweet Itch is an allergic reaction to bites from midges but it also occurs with bites from black flies, horn flies, stable flies, and occasionally hypersensitivity to mosquito bites and horse flies 🪰
This allergic reaction causes an itching sensation causing horses to scratch, rub and bite affected areas. The disorder is familial suggesting a genetic predilection. Sweet itch also seems to get worse with age.
🌿How will I know if my horse has Sweet Itch? 🌿
Horses may be suffering from intense itching, hair loss, skin colour changes, thin or snapped mane/tail. You may also notice skin scabs, crusting and weight loss. This condition is typically seasonal, occurring over the summer.
🌿How will my vet confirm my horse has Sweet Itch?
A clinical exam and a thorough history would be taken from the owner. Often this is enough to confirm diagnosis but, intradermal skin testing can be performed but often not necessary.
🌿Can my horse be treated for Sweet Itch?🌿
Keep an eye out for further posts on Sweet Itch prevention and preparation.
Wishing you all a very Happy Valentines Day!
A little behind the scenes video of Rio getting his coughing investigated 🐴🕵️
Thanks Rio for being a great patient, and thank you to his owner for letting us share this video.
Let us know if you would be interested in seeing anything else!
📆✅BOOK ONLINE ✅📆
Did you know you can book your appointments online?
Check out the video if you want to know how ☺️
