This message is from: "jen frame" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi LInda, I have a lot of experience with fly allergies, so here comes a barage of info! I suspect that your Fjord is allergic to the Cullicoides Fly which is also called a Gnat or No-See-Ums. This type of biting fly will NOT be erradicated by Fly Preditors, so don't waste your money on them. Nor will their population be effectively reduced by feeding the feed through larvacides. They breed in organic material like fallen leaves in the woods, etc.
The horse is actually allergic to the saliva in the Cullicoides bite, so what you need to do is calm down your horses's hyper immune response. This reduces the inflammatory response. And you need to repel the Cullicoides from biting. To repel them from biting, try this: 1). Feed garlic. There has been debate on this list as to whether garlic causes anemia--it doesn't. (verified by numerous tests, and verified by blood test done on my own horses who get a double dose). It must be very smelly garlic, The best I've ever found is by Springtime herbals. 2). Vitamin B1 changes the chemistry in sweat and makes horses, humans, even dogs (who don't sweat) not very appetizing to all biting insects including mosquitos and fleas and ticks. Buy a B1 supplement from KVVET.COM called Su-Per B1. Feed it daily. There is no toxicity, and it's cheap! It WORKS! with those 2 supplements you will reduce the number of bites your Fjord gets. To calm the hyper immune response: 3). Feed a high quality Flax supplement every day. I think the best is Glanzen 3 by Horsetech.com You are adding some fat, but not much starch to the Fjord's diet, so it is OK for plump Fjords! The Omega 3's really help moderate the inflammatory response. 4). Feed your horse antioxidents. This really helps them heal those never healing fly bites that become all season long pussy sores. Anitoxidents are crucial for allergy sufferers. I have mine custom made for my horses by horsetech. BUt they also have an already formulated Antioxident supplement that looks really good. It may be a little short on Vitamin E, though, so look at it closely and if it doesn't have what you want, ask the owner Rod to make you a blend with what you want in it. If you want to feed a safe and natural feed through larvacide, then feed Diatomaceous Earth. The best is by a company called DE36.COM . DO NOT feed garden store variety DE. There is some debate in Horse Journal as to wether DE works as an internal de-wormer. But I know that it does work as a feed through. The flies eggs laid in the horse poop that has DE in it, don't hatch! So this will reduce the population of other biting flies, NOT the Cullicoides. If your vet has an actual allergy shot that desensitizes the horse over time to the Cullicoides, I would like to know, because I thought that was only available in England. I hope this helps! Jen On 5/21/08, Lola Lahr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "Lola Lahr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > I have 8 horses and I use both an insect growth regulator (Simplifly) and > the fly predators. With my 2 mustangs, I am also trying Bug Check (mostly > garlic) to keep the gnats off their bellies - they are both very allergic to > gnat bites, lose all of their belly hair and the whole area gets crusty > with bloody, oozing sores which are very very itchy . The addition of the > Bug Check seems to be working on the gnats and mosquitoes. I have 1 Arab > who gets the welts all over him from bites, and so far, this year, no welts > just using the predators and Simplifly. I have also used Endure on an as > needed basis, haven't had to use it yet this year. I know what you mean by > the $$, but this seems to be the least chemically based treatment menu I > have been able to come up with so far, and the reduction in flies is such a > relief to everyone! Simplifly and Solitude work the same way, and is just a > little less expensive. We got a large tub from KV Vet Supply for a bit less > $ than an equivalent dosage amount of Solitude, and it works very, very > well. > > > On 5/21/08, Linda McThoy Patorni <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > This message is from: Linda McThoy Patorni <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > I have a Fjord who suffers from fly bite allergies. Every summer she gets > > welts and speckles over her face and neck, and on the tops of her legs. > She > > wears a fly mask and I use Endure which I find to be the best protection. > > My barn and corrals are immaculate - I put up those hideous smelly fly > bags > > and use the timed sprayers. The place is becoming a chemical factory which > I > > am not happy about. And, I don't actually get that many flies at 7000ft in > > New Mexico. However, it happens each summer, is definitely fly-related and > > I cannot seem to get a handle on it. I spoke to my vet who talked about > > allergy shots, but I'm hesitant to do that. He said he had heard of other > > Fjords and ponies having similar problems. I am considering trying > > Solitude, an ingestible fly control which is put in their feed and prevents > > further fly breeding if used properly. Yet another chemical. I was about > to > > try fly predators, but I have had mixed reviews from friends about their > > effectiveness, and it's expensive. I have seven equines, so it all adds up. > > > > Does anyone have any suggestions or successful solutions? Has anyone tried > > Solitude? So far we're free and clear of flies, but I know it will begin > > soon. Thanks! > > > > The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: > > http://tinyurl.com/rcepw > > The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: > http://tinyurl.com/rcepw The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
