Summer Sores

Veterinary, horse care, and training issues.

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Bondama
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Summer Sores

Postby Bondama » Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:00 am

Does anyone have any experience with these?
Justice: When you get what you deserve.
Mercy: When you don't get what you deserve.
Grace: When you get what you don't deserve.

majxmom
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Postby majxmom » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:19 am

I have two horses that are plagued with them, a mother and daughter. Usually I have outstanding fly control using Solitude, but I didn't start until July 1st this year, and the flies were swarming everywhere for a few weeks.

Summer sores are actually caused by a tiny parasite that the flies transfer around. My vet had me worm the mares with ivermectin once a week for four weeks. A cortisone shot can help quite a lot, because they are in itchy agony. Desitin on the sores can help with the itchiness, and seems to give quite a lot of immediate relief. My manual for equine practice says that ivermectin can be used as a topical paste, but that didn't seem to work that good for me. If the sores are infected, you can use SMZ, but it's not the infection that is the problem, it's the parasites.

Extreme fly control is needed. Solitude works awesome! All my horses are in pasture, so I have to hand-feed it individually, but it eliminates almost all flies in a few weeks.
"When I am on my deathbed, I imagine I will say, 'Thank God I did that'" - Arthur Hancock, on buying back Gato del Sol from Europe after Exceller was killed in a slaughterhouse in Sweden.

ckaye
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Postby ckaye » Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:30 am

Go read this thread (and prepare to be grossed out): http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/sh ... p?t=155469