Post by racaille on Jan 27, 2012 13:50:23 GMT
I've finally tracked down the problem for my poor itchy scratchy boys - and it's not ringworm!
Although initially I thought it could be, it did not progress like ringworm would, or respond to the treatment, and I was a bit flummoxed, to tell the truth.
Yesterday I donned my super specs and had a good look all over Lad, who had a flaky bald patch near his mane the size of a clementine. But you know how, if you scratch a ringworm patch, they go all gooey and grateful? Well, this certainly wasn't itchy per se, although clearly he'd been scratching which is why it was bald.
Deeper inspection revealed little insects in his hair. Of course, I thought immediately of fleas, but they were the wrong colour, then of lice but they were the wrong shape. And the ponies don't go anywhere to pick up parasites ....
So I put a few in a tissue and set off for the vet. (I did giggle when I opened my tissue full of insects near a woman and her horrible cat. She was horrified! But I can't stand her or her ruddy cat.) And what a surprise! The little beasties are what we call 'moucherons de foin' - hay flies. But at this time of year!!!!!!!!
Because it has been so very very mild - we've had NO winter at all - the flies which would normally die in the cold are overwintering in the ponies' coats. Normally, in summer, they live in hairy ears and suck blood if you don't keep them clear, but now they have taken up residence in the warm bits under manes and chins and under tails.
I have NEVER heard of this before and neither has the vet. Now I have a huge pray of insecticide to spray all over the ponies, although I will have to train them both with a water spray first as they will both go mental.
The reason Paco han't been affected, by the way, is that he is rugged at night so doesn't have the thick fur that the littler lads have. And when I ride him - having already noticed moucherons about - I often spray him with my vinegar stuff.
Bizarre, huh?
Although initially I thought it could be, it did not progress like ringworm would, or respond to the treatment, and I was a bit flummoxed, to tell the truth.
Yesterday I donned my super specs and had a good look all over Lad, who had a flaky bald patch near his mane the size of a clementine. But you know how, if you scratch a ringworm patch, they go all gooey and grateful? Well, this certainly wasn't itchy per se, although clearly he'd been scratching which is why it was bald.
Deeper inspection revealed little insects in his hair. Of course, I thought immediately of fleas, but they were the wrong colour, then of lice but they were the wrong shape. And the ponies don't go anywhere to pick up parasites ....
So I put a few in a tissue and set off for the vet. (I did giggle when I opened my tissue full of insects near a woman and her horrible cat. She was horrified! But I can't stand her or her ruddy cat.) And what a surprise! The little beasties are what we call 'moucherons de foin' - hay flies. But at this time of year!!!!!!!!
Because it has been so very very mild - we've had NO winter at all - the flies which would normally die in the cold are overwintering in the ponies' coats. Normally, in summer, they live in hairy ears and suck blood if you don't keep them clear, but now they have taken up residence in the warm bits under manes and chins and under tails.
I have NEVER heard of this before and neither has the vet. Now I have a huge pray of insecticide to spray all over the ponies, although I will have to train them both with a water spray first as they will both go mental.
The reason Paco han't been affected, by the way, is that he is rugged at night so doesn't have the thick fur that the littler lads have. And when I ride him - having already noticed moucherons about - I often spray him with my vinegar stuff.
Bizarre, huh?
for so much hard work we thank ye!!