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Tick  Explosion

Here we are again and it's almost Summer and not that many weeks from Christmas.  Our weather conditions throughout are erratic to say the least.  Most of us are so  time poor that we probably aren't even thinking about doing a thorough check on our equines, although at this time of the year it really is necessary if you live anywhere east of the great dividing range.  Yes, ticks are raging all down the coastline from northern tip of Queensland to well below Sydney.  It is hell for our outdoor animals suffering all manner of complaints with itch caused by the midge, biting flies, mozzies and then ticks with the possibility of fevers.  It makes rainscald, greasy heel, mud fever and  fungal infections seem mild in comparison - of course, we know that the latter complaints can also render animals extremely lame and cause extreme pain and swelling . 

Checking in ears, under jawlines, under "armpits", between thighs and down tailbones is essential to keep animals free from the "unwellness" of toxic shock from tick bites and, in small and young animals, even death.  You will be horror struck at the scabby sores and lumps the animals have in the worst kind of places.  If you have some of our queensland itch and fungal problem products then use them, sooner rather than later - your animals will thank you for it.  If it were us involved we'd be screaming like banshees with the unrelenting discomfort.  Is it any wonder that many poor animals just drop condition and go into depression.

The dangerous weather pattern of lovely rain and then blistering sun shine is a great recipe for insect explosion - this, of course, includes all the other stinging and biting nasties, just to make life more challenging.  Our animals really can't look after themselves - we have them contained and, am sure if we didn't, their choice would be to live far, far away from the coastline because it's just pure hell during the warm seasons in the sub/tropics.  It's easy to be caught up in other things or be rushed into not wanting to listen to our conscience but we need to keep "soft hearted" and do the right thing.  If you were the animals and not the owners wouldn't you want someone to care about you ?  Try to love 'em right.

Spring has sprung

We are only just into Spring but, during Winter, the ticks - yes paralysis ones too - in our area (mid north coast NSW) exploded after the last rain fall about 4 weeks ago.  This year looks like it is going to be a hot and insect prone problem for all.  It isn't only the ticks coming out, the March flies are in there too already causing sores and the animals haven't even shed their old winter coats yet.  It is wise to be vigilant about what is happening because the 'critters' are getting under horse rugs, so we all really need to be doing thorough checks and treating to rid ticks and patch up the damaged skin.  It's still very cold at night which can take condition off animals if they are deprived of their warm rugs too soon.  Oil in the diet, if it isn't already incorporated as some as part of their rations can help to warm them up and help with dry skin problems too.  Time  to take them off the molasses though otherwise the biting critters will just think they are delicious and by the time the next rainfall comes they will be out in droves.  Good luck and keep your animals comfortable.

Winter

Start  Now  With  Supplements  To  Fortify  Immune  System   Against  Itchiness

Although it may seem not to be the right time, such a long way to go before Spring, it is now  that the effort needs to be made to strengthen your animals' immune system.  This will reduce the "damage control" response your animal has to the biting insects which set off allergic reactions - itching, rubbing, biting and chewing through their flesh to gain some relief.  Raw (feed grade) Linseed Oil (administered at 175ml per day (for 15hh horse) or 1 tablespoon per day for a Labrador size dog) in the the main meal can work wonders providing sufficient time is allowed for it to work.  Usually anything from 6 weeks to 3 months is normal.  You need to keep your animals on it indefinitely.  The added bonus is that it's just great to improve the quality of skin and hair and helps reduce problems with eczema.   Just a warning though.  Not all itchiness is due to an allergical reaction.  Sometimes, and particularly with dogs, guinea pigs etc., the itchiness is caused by a mite infestations and you will need to cure this problem to solve your animals itchy  skin diseases. Sometimes just seasonal moulting can start off some itching - a good brush can do wonders too.

Keeping Them Warm & Comfortable

During this hard time of the year it can be difficult keeping condition on animals let alone trying to keep them looking like we knew them in summer.  No matter your animal / pet it is a good time to worm and arrange for some extra warmth, right now, particularly at night.   It is a good time to provide a good warm rug and in very wet conditions a shelter is handy too.  Depending on where you're living will dictate how cold it becomes during the day and whether the rug should be removed.  A lot of energy is expended trying to maintain bodily functions.  Combined with shortage of feed in paddocks and limits to budgets, the current high costs of feeds can make for an exceptionally tough time of the year for owners & animals alike.  The saying goes "a rug is as good as a feed" - not meaning that if you rug then you don't feed but rather that your animal is more likely to keep on its condition and cope with winter hardships.  Riding your horse early in the day and rubbing down so it has time to dry off properly before the icy nights will reduce chills and colds making for less problems.

Older horses need more attention at this time of the year.  Their teeth may also need rasping to cope with harder feeding.  Sometimes making pellets into a mash by adding warm water and allowing to soak can help make eating and digestion easier reducing the chances of colic.  A good handful of salt added can also be beneficial as it will help them take up extra water  for digestion and hydration. The less energy expended the more condition will be kept on - its much like a bank account.  If you keep drawing out and not putting in then pretty soon the balance is very low - your animal has lost significant body weight and things can go very wrong, particularly if you're riding the animal.  Where competition for feed is strong, if possible move horses into separate holding pens at meal times or paddocks to reduce accidents  caused by fighting - it can significantly reduce your vet bills.  Your loving kindness will pay dividends.  Click to see Horses Prayer

April

The Autumn Moult (hair shedding)

Most animals are well on their way to shedding their summer coats for winter woollies and for those already itchy characters can mean a continuation of their uncomfortable plight.   Dogs, cats and horses need special attention to relieve themselves. 

Cats may have a tendency to develop fur balls and may need oil added to their feeds to help cope with this type of problem whilst dogs and horses need grooming a couple of times a week at least to help remove their excess hair.

Worming before winter is also another way to ensure comfort and that the animals obtain maximum nutrition from their feed during a tough time of the year particularly  for those that graze whilst a nice warm rug at night will help to maintain body condition.

March

Reduce Itching & Self Mutilation

To help with itchiness ensure that you check and treat under the jawline between branches of jaw bones, inside ears, through the forelock and poll,  between the upper thighs, down the tail bone and around navel / sheath / udder.  Rugging can only do so much.

Sometimes you may be surprised at what you find - lumps, scabs and swellings which indicate insect attack and all contributing to your animal's discomfort and continual itching.

February

Greasy  Heel  Lameness

Sometimes after treating greasy heel a few times with only the EquITCH Spray/Wipe-On your horse may become lame.  Drying out of the scabs can sometimes cause cracking of the skin under scabs especially where they are very thick & crusty.  The treatment needs to include an application of EquITCH Salve,  with preferably zinc as a final coat to prevent photo-sensitivity and to help soften scabs.  

If the scabs are detaching naturally then a good long  soak in warm soapy water (natural soap) followed by gentle washing will soften the scabs and in most instances help remove most of them.  Don't try to force scabs off !!       Gently dry part with towel, air dry then apply EquITCH Salve followed by white zinc cream.  Using a clean paint brush is the gentlest applicator if used in a stroking manner.

January

Product Melt-down

If you find that your salve (cream) is liquifying because of the heat, applying it with a sponge can help.  You don't need to throw the sponge away after each use.  Just pop it in a re-sealable plastic bag and keep for next time.  Sponges can also be kept in a container in an old beer fridge and provide a more refreshing application for those really hot days. You can even pre-soak sponges in salve and be prepared for a quick but cool start to your treatment routine.

Eye Protection

Have you noticed the grass seeds beginning to appear in your paddocks?  Be alert for runny eyes caused by seeds and those rotten little black flies that carry eye infections from horse to horse.  Using a mesh fly mask instead of fly veils not only protects from flies but also prevents grass seeds from causing problems and the time and labour issues  involved with curing them.  

Continual Itchy Problems

Is your horse/pony continuing to scratch it's mane & tail out no matter what you're doing to try and help relieve the problem -  then it may be a worm problem?  Yes!  You've already been worming on a regular basis.  However, this could still be a contributing factor.   This may help. 

• Use a "Plus" type of  wormer as it eliminates tape worms and "cutaneous onchocerciasis" (a worm that dwells in the neck area) and ensure you use the amount for about 50kg more than your horse's actual weight (assuming you're worming a 15.2hh animal that would probably be a 10% increase).
• 21 days later (on that day and no later) repeat the worming.
• Ensure that you examine the droppings between 24 & 48 hours after worming to identify which worms were prevalent and to gauge the effectiveness of your worming.  You may be very surprised at what you find!

Temporary Relief for Itching - 27 NOV & 04DEC08

• If you're struggling trying to keep your animal comfortable and you haven't received your EquITCH or MITE/Itch NO-More products from us and the itching and self-mutilation is driving you nuts then a good long shampoo with a selenium sulphide (1% or 2% strength) based anti-dandruff product can help in the short-term.  (Be really careful around the head area and use a baby tearless shampoo for that part).  After lathering up the body well, leave the suds on for 5-10 minutes and then rinse off well, towel dry.  This is not a long-term solution or cure for your animal skin problem s but it may help you for a day or so until you receive your order.

Week 5 & 6 - 18 NOV 08

LET THE HORSES DO THE TALKING - Bitless Bridle Research

• Dr. Cook’s demonstration with the above title at the annual conference of the Certified Horsemanship Association at the Kentucky Horse Park in October 2008 was well received.  It provides a guide for the future evolution of horsemanship in all disciplines.  The demonstration took the form of a valid scientific experiment in front of witnesses. Four horses were ridden in a bitted bridle (jointed snaffle), by CHA riding instructors, through a four-minute, standardized exercise test, followed immediately by a repeat of the same exercise test, with the same rider, using the BitlessBridle. None of the horses had ever, prior to the test, been ridden in the BitlessBridle. The horses’ behavior, body language and performance did the ‘talking’ and a videotape recording served as the ‘laboratory notebook’ for future reference. 

• An independent judge scored the tests on a scale from one to ten, for each of the 27 phases of the test. The average score when bitted was 33% and, when bitless, 68%. It was something of a revelation for owners, riders and spectators that a significant improvement in the behavior and performance of a horse was so obviously apparent in the first four minutes after removal of the bit.  The experiment also demonstrated that the transition from bitted to bitless was easy and virtually instantaneous.   

• Copies of the experimental protocol can be made available.  The experiment is simple to duplicate and others are encouraged to repeat it. If the results of this first experiment can be reproduced by multiple investigators, this would provide important evidence for submitting to pony clubs, national equine federations, and the international equine federation (FEI) in support of a rule change proposal to permit the crossunder bitless bridle.

Week 4 - 06 NOV 08

Waterproof  ear  plugs

• To prevent water entering in ears when washing horses, dogs etc. which can develop into bacterial & fungal infections you can make and use waterproof ear plugs to sort out the problem.  Buy a roll of sheet cottonwool and either pull or cut a  section off (large piece for horses etc.).  Scrunch it up tight to make a ball then try it for size in the ear.  You want it to be just a bit too big.  When you think it is correct size, either soak with olive oil or massage vaseline through it.  Make sure that excess oil is removed (so it can't drip into the ear) or if using vaseline that enough is used to ensure waterproof quality.  Insert into ear making sure that the fit is right and that the ear canal has been plugged properly.  Rather make the plugs larger than smaller as you can always pick bits of to trim to size but you can't add bits very easily.  Use baby shampoo for washing around heads to prevent eyes being stung and causing resistance in animals.

Week 3

Resisting  animal insect  attack

• Eliminating molasses from your horses' diet is a positive way of reducing the attack by mozzies and other biting insects.  To flavour bland feeds the use of salt (sodium - 60 gms ) and apple cider vinegar (natural potassium 50-100mls),  which are 2 of the major electrolytes,  are far more beneficial to your horses' health and encourage good hydration levels to cope with hot & humid weather conditions.  The daily amounts quoted above are  for an average 15hh horse.

Week 2

Controlling  mites  &  fleas

• Now with the (intermittent) warmer weather arriving dogs, cats and other house pets may be starting to do the annual itching and scratching routine .  Combined with moulting they can develop nasty rashes on bellies, start biting their paws and chewing "hot spots" on themselves.  To reduce the chances of them picking up mites, which live on the animal and lay their eggs under the skin, sprinkle agricultural lime (NOT builders lime) under the nice shady areas around bushes and on the lawn where they spend their leisure time. This  helps control grass mites and garden fleas.  If you suffer from fleas around your house built on stumps a good spray preparation called "lime sulphur" (smells  like rotten eggs, is bright yellow and used to treat plant insects) purchased through garden nurseries can be mixed up and sprayed in the areas difficult to access.  This will help keep both your animals and selves comfortable.

Week 1

Cheap  &  effective  rug  protection

• For all weather & insect protection for horses, donkeys, ponies and other large outdoor animals, use jute (hessian) rugs/combos (cheap as chips through internet horse supply companies).  Jute material is a marvellous natural fibre which breathes when dry and tightens up when wet.  It is a great product for animals in the tropics to help prevent fungal problems caused by over-heating as it allows moisture & heat to escape.  It is also thick enough to prevent stinging flies from penetrating  the weave - you don't have to spend the day running out to the paddock every 5 minutes to change or add extra rugs for rain - real bonus when you have to be at work and cannot do it anyway .  Prior to the "plastic boom time" jute was used to make the old water bottles which were carried on the front of vehicles by farmers & travellers for cool drinking water whilst away from other facilities.

• Where possible commence prevention treatment now for itchy skin conditions.  If the condition is already evident then you need to treat for "existing condition" to cure and thereafter maintain on the prevention regime.