Seven steps for the effective treatment of mites in horses

Have you got a stomping Gypsy horse? A Frisian biting his socks? Or a Clydesdale with scabs on her legs? Your horse may have suffered a mite infection! Mites tend to crop up in fall, which is why it is important to start working towards your total solution now, in order to protect your horse against itching and sores. This blog explains what steps are involved.Mites are tiny critters that like to nest on horses’ legs. Horses with tall sock and a lot of hair are especially prone to infestations. Mites cause itching, scabs and irritation, causing the horse to bite its legs, stomp its feet and develop scabs on their legs that can be mistaken for mud fever. Mites become active when temperatures drop and horses grow a thicker coat. Combating them requires a total solution. Doing just one thing will not prevent them from resurfacing. It is also very important to implement preventive measures early, which is now! Unfortunately, no method currently exists for effectively eliminating all mite eggs at once. This means your battle will have to last until the final mite egg has hatched, otherwise they will keep coming back. Eggs can survive weeks or even months, so the more severe the mite infection, the longer it will take. Be prepared for an extended battle before any results become apparent, and don’t dismiss your method after a month without any visible improvement. In addition, do not stop treatment as soon as the problem seems to have been solved. The coat may still contain mite eggs that will be hatching soon.Step 1: Timely treatment Effective treatment of horse mites begins with good timing. The longer you wait, the more eggs your horse’s coat will contain and the more time it will take to solve the problem. In addition, scabs may form on the legs as your horse tries to scratch the itch. Do not wait too long and treat preventively, especially if your horse suffered a mite infection the year before. Start your preventive measures as soon as the winter coat begins to grow. This is usually in October, when temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius.Step 2: Make sure your horse ‘tastes bad’ Female mites need blood to lay eggs. If they fail to drink blood, the life cycle is interrupted and no new mites are born. Finecto+ Horse makes this happen. It consists of herbs and essential oils that deter mites by changing the taste and smell of the horse’s blood. This natural supplement is mixed into the horse feed and prevents mites from laying eggs as they lose interest in the horse’s blood. The product is 100% natural and toxin-free. Contrary to a lot of shampoos, mites do not develop a resistance to this product. It is important to start treatment with Finecto+ Horse in time, preferably as soon as your horse starts growing its winter coat.Step 3: Keep your horse and its immune system healthy A horse’s immune system plays an important part in the prevention of mite infections, and it works overtime during fall; large temperature differences, humidity and the shedding of its summer coat are all factors that expose a horse to potential health issues. This increases the risk of disease and parasites such as mites. Make sure you support your horse’s immune system with the right supplements or put your horse on a detox regimen as autumn begins. A healthy horse with a strong immune system is better equipped to withstand a mite infestation.Step 4: use shampoos as intended There are various methods for treating a horse that is affected by mites. A lot of people use shampoos or other liquids, intended for application to wet legs (or even the entire horse). Keep in mind that the shampoo must be applied at least twice in order to interrupt the lifecycle of the mites, since these substances do not tend to affect the eggs. As a result, the effect seems temporary as eggs begin to hatch after a week and the problem resurfaces. Make sure you keep ten days between two shampoo washes, otherwise the mites will survive. The more eggs, the longer it takes to get rid of all the mites. You may need to apply the shampoo four or five times, separated by ten days every time! A downside of this type of treatment is that the mites are quite quick to develop a resistance to the chemicals.Step 5: Do not forget the surroundings If your horse is part of a large herd or is being kept in a boarding stable, keep in mind that mites are contagious. Some horses without symptoms may still be carriers and infect other horses. This is why it is best to treat the entire herd preventively as soon as one horse develops symptoms of an infection. Brushes, saddle cloths and blankets can harbour a lot of eggs and mites which is why it is important to disinfect and wash these items as well. Similarly to the application of shampoo to the legs, this has to be done a couple of times separated by about ten days.Step 6: Less sugar Mites love sugar. Limiting the amount of sugar and starch in roughage and feed concentrate are important measures when your horse is suffering from mites. Give it enough properly dried hay and a limited amount of high-quality, low-sugar feed concentrate. Or opt for products with linseed oil as an energy source in addition to your roughage.

Conclusion: Prevention, patience and a combination of measures

The seven steps provided above make for a total solution to a mite infestation. All steps are important but washing isn’t always practical during winter. This is why timely prevention, a detox regimen and treatment from within using Finecto+ Horse form the most important elements of a total approach to combating mites. Use as many of the aforementioned measures as possible in order to completely eliminate a mite infection. The more mites there are, the longer it will take. Check out this blog to find out why a quick fix for mite infections does not exist. Don’t wait any longer, and get started right away!Step 7: Treat sores and lesions Sores and scabs resulting from mite infection will cause a lot of itching and discomfort to your horse. Treat the affected skin using Finecto+ Protect Spray. Sores will dry up more quickly and your horse will leave the affected area alone.