Rue
06-05-2009, 03:46 PM
Had a new farrier out yesterday to trim hooves on our herd (our old farrier is switching over to working at the race track only). Nice young woman - I think we'll keep her.
She mentioned that this is the first year she's seen so many lice on horses. I've never seen lice on horses. The wormer that we usually give 3-4 times a year takes care of the lice too.
But then she looks at our big warmblood...and sure enough he has lice!:ssuprised:
Then, she looks at our 28+ year old mare - and she CRAWLING with lice! :ssuprised: :ssuprised:
Even though I'm an entomologist...I'm still creeped out and itchy today.
I also wormed and vaccinated everyone yesterday. I hope this dose of wormer does in the lice. But maybe I should pick up some louse powder and treat those two horses for extra protection.
We're thinking the outbreak is a combined result of a very cold winter - which is hard on the horses...esp. those with other issues. Our warmblood was very sick last year with some mystery wasting disease. He seems to have recovered, although he could do with another 100 lbs. And my mare is just very old and arthritic - that's enough to result in a weaker system.
Not sure which type of lice they have...I need to find a disecting scope...or a good magnifiying glass.
She mentioned that this is the first year she's seen so many lice on horses. I've never seen lice on horses. The wormer that we usually give 3-4 times a year takes care of the lice too.
But then she looks at our big warmblood...and sure enough he has lice!:ssuprised:
Then, she looks at our 28+ year old mare - and she CRAWLING with lice! :ssuprised: :ssuprised:
Even though I'm an entomologist...I'm still creeped out and itchy today.
I also wormed and vaccinated everyone yesterday. I hope this dose of wormer does in the lice. But maybe I should pick up some louse powder and treat those two horses for extra protection.
We're thinking the outbreak is a combined result of a very cold winter - which is hard on the horses...esp. those with other issues. Our warmblood was very sick last year with some mystery wasting disease. He seems to have recovered, although he could do with another 100 lbs. And my mare is just very old and arthritic - that's enough to result in a weaker system.
Not sure which type of lice they have...I need to find a disecting scope...or a good magnifiying glass.