Lice

[LittleMiss]

As some of you may know aready from my previous few posts, I bought a pregnant mare to get her out of a bad situation. I did not realize how bad until today.

When I first saw her, she was standing in a manure filled stall, and tied on. I realized later that she was underweight under all that hair. Then I saw lice, which I dusted her for. So today, I was going at her with the shedding blade to try and get some of the hair off. She has very dry skin and was loving the scratches. Then all of a sudden she seemed irritated when I switched sides. I got to the area around her withers, and clumps of hair and gooey scabs started comming off. The skin underneath seemed fine, but it was obvious it was hurting her to pick off. When I had a closer look, the scabby areas are infested with dead lice and lice eggs. It's gross. She still has about an area the size of my hand that's scabby and needs tending to.

It seems to hurt her when I pick the hair and scabs off. But they need to come off. Right now she has a bald spot about 4 square inches, and by the time I am finished, I would say it will be tripple that.

To make it less painful, I was going to bathe the area with warm water first. I was thinking I should clip her also. Is there a shampoo I can use on her as well? This poor mare has been scratching on anything she can find, and although she's been dusted, she's got super dry skin on top of the lice problem. I just want her to feel better.

 

[dannigirl]

For the sore scabby areas, I would get some triple antibiotic ointment (2 nice tubes for about $4 at walmart) and spread it liberally on the scabby and sore spots. This will help soften as it is a gelly (vasoline) consistency. I would definitely do some more about the lice. For the dry skin and itching, you might try some pure aloevera gel. Not sure, but should be able to get at walmart or kmart or someplace like that. I have found it with sunscreen. If you think she can handle it--and I would only try little bits at a time--you can try some human body lotions. You can usually find some that is sort of runny. I am just not sure about the perfumes and such so procede slowly and see how she handles it. Maybe something unscented. Just my thoughts. I have never had a really bad dry skin problem so don't know stuff for horses. Hopefully someone else will be able to help. I was looking for something quickly available close that you could get soon before she rubs anymore spots.

Good luck and bless you for caring for this poor baby.

Anbie

 

[Marty]

When you try to pull the scabs off, try using some kind of oil to wet the area, like mineral oil or vegatable oil to lubericate it and then it might not hurt her. Poor thing.

 

[TheCaseFamily00]

I'm glad she's being taken care of now,poor girl. The 3 minis I got a few months ago had horrible dry skin to,never seen horses so dry. I realized they didn't have salt or mineral blocks either

. Hope she feels better soon.

 

[nbark]

Get some Healthy Hair. I too got a little one that had dandruff so bad she looked like a snow storm when I started to brush her. I clipped her down and found dirt bumps (scabs of dirt attached to the skin). We got those off and then doused her in Healthy Hair. It is an oil based skin and coat conditioner that works fabulously. She only needed two treatments and now no more dandruff and her coat is looking nice and shiny. You mix it with water and can either spray it on or pour it on. We spray it on.

For the lice you can try the shampoo that they sell at the drug stores for people with head lice. Lice is lice, they all die the same way. The shampoo might be a little less iritating to her skin.

 

[Indy's mom]

Besides dusting her you must worm her with Ivermectin!!!! You will need to worm her then again two weeks later and then 2 weeks after that for a total of 3 times!!!!!! This along with the dusting will get rid of your lice problem once and for all!

Don't worry, it is very safe!! I unfortunately have had to do this for 2 of my horses and it worked like a charm!

Good luck and God bless you for taking in this poor girl!!!!!

~Tammy