Tis the season for bugs
It is the time of year when all the critters come out to play- mice, flies, mosquitoes, moths and many more. I was recently shopping for products to keep mosquitoes from around my house and was bombarded with options. For protection of your pets, the options seem to increase! Wipe, Bronco, Bug Block, Zonk-It!, Repel X and Duraguard to name a few.
Again, herbal remedies seem to be popular- EquiSect, Supershield Green and Natural Fly Spray are just some options available. (All found at Valley Vet Supply). I had a tendency to use a combination of citronella and tea tree oil on my horses in Australia and it did the trick. Tea tree oil is a beautifully smelling plant derivative grown in New South Wales, Australia and is used widely for its antiseptic and medicinal properties.
Another way to fight these pesky bugs is internally through feed. The effects of certain chemicals seep through the horse’s pores, in this method of control. Alternatively the “cover all” fly sheets, neck pieces, face masks and boots can have your horse covered from nose to hoof, albeit looking like a member of the Ku Klux Klan. I wonder how “Flicka’s” stable mates react to her new designer clothes and smelly skin!
Sarah