Equine parasites can cause hardship for horses

Herald-Tribune

NEVADA ,Mo. -- Horses suffer from many parasites.

Pastured horses are more difficult to monitor than stabled horses. It is important for horse owners to monitor their pastured horse and have a thorough pasture management system set up. That means horse owners should plan on mowing the pasture in order to cut down on ticks, etc.

Also, eliminating stagnant waters is important in ridding the area of mosquito breeding areas. The most common skin parasites that affect horses are, ticks, fleas, lice and insects.

Typically, ticks do cause a great amount of damage, though some will bite a horse which results in large swelling that will continue to swell until the ticks are removed.

These pests can cause infectious anemia in some horses which can or may result in death. Pest and pasture management should not be brushed aside.

Insects and related parasites cause direct damage to horses. They feed on the host animals, spreading diseases and causing digestive upsets, poor physical and internal conjoint and stunted growth. Ticks, unlike lice. are not species specific so the same ticks that attack the horses attack other animals as well. They cause irritation, restlessness and can be vectors of sleeping sickness, Lyme disease, piroplasmoid and EIA.

One species of ticks is a frequent invader of the ears and because of this can cause a horse to become "head shy" as well as causing them to have droopy ears. Ticks breathe through their spiracles (holes in their abdomens) so they can be suffocated with alcohol or chloroform.

Insecticides can also be used to treat ticks directly. Ticks should not be grasped with the unprotected hand, instead use tweezers to remove ticks. Insecticides in a wettable powder formation are preferred.

Lice can be found on all parts of the horse, but are usually first noticed on the head, neck, mane and tail. There are two types of horse lice.

One in particular is the horse biting louse (Bovicola equi). These lice are chestnut brown except for the abdomen, which is yellow with dark crossbands. These lice are very flat with a broad rounded head and slender legs.

The biting louse lay their eggs around the horses flanks and jaw. The second type of horse louse is the horse-sucking louse (Haematopinus asini). Sucking lice are more common than biting lice. Louse infestations are more common in horses without an adequate diet, they can cause weight loss and stunted growth.

Controlling these pests with a WP formula or insecticide suitable for horse use is the best way to remove immediate infestations. In the pasture and stable proper waste drainage and removal aids in the elimination of such pests and removes fly breeding grounds. Insecticide control should never be used as the sole means of control but it is important.

Also, residual insecticides, space sprays, fogs, mists, fly baits and fly traps aid in the reduction of adult flies. It is imperative to begin this use in early spring.

Some fly sheets, fly masks and fly leg wraps proved the horse with more protection against these pests.

Guinea fowl are also said to help control the pest/tick population in a pasture area. They are noisey and quite territorial, but can live in the wild.

Information for this story was compiled from a variety of sources. For more information on external parasite control check out www.petcaretips.net, www.uahzoo.com and equis.org. ; U.C. Davis School of Vet Medicine Book of Horses: A complete Reference Guide to Horses and Foals (Hardcover) ed by Mordecai Seigal. Also for more information on guinea fowl, visit www.gfba.org.