Sweet itch in horses, mites in horses: two common issues when it comes to horse care. But of course, there’s much more involved in keeping horses healthy and comfortable. Read our articles to learn how you can support your horse in the most natural way possible.
Sweet itch
Summer eczema (also known as tail and mane eczema) is an allergic reaction to the bite of the culicoides midge, also known as a gnat. These small biting mosquitoes are especially active at dusk and around water. The bite causes a severe itching reaction, leading horses to rub intensely, resulting in bald spots, wounds, and sometimes even infections.
Mites
Those luxurious socks not only look beautiful, but they also have a super important function! They protect your horse's skin from moisture and dirt. The hair on the legs, also known as the socks or 'wallpaper', helps keep the skin dry and clean. Even if the socks themselves appear wet or dirty, the skin underneath is often still wonderfully dry. The natural skin oils ensure that moisture and dirt do not penetrate.
Mites
Prevention is better than cure, and this is certainly true for mite infestations. If you start taking preventive measures early in the season, you significantly reduce the chance of a severe infestation. There are several steps you can take now to optimally protect your horse.
Mites
When a horse lifts its leg with a powerful movement and stamps it on the ground, it usually means that it is experiencing irritation. A single stamp due to a fly is normal, but if the stamping occurs regularly, it may indicate an underlying problem that needs attention. Stamping is not intended as a communication behavior between horses, but as an expression of discomfort. Research on Tinkers shows that consistent stamping often points to one of the causes listed below.
Mites
A strong immune system is half the battle. The more resilient your horse, the less chance mites have to cause problems. Therefore, it is wise to pay extra attention to your horse's health during the mite season. Ensure sufficient vitamins and minerals in its diet – you can do this by temporarily increasing the amount of balancer or mineral pellets. You can also opt for extra liquid minerals from, for example, the Bering Sea, which are easily absorbed by the body. And did you know that nettle tin...
Red mites
Mites
Bird mites, also known as feather mites, are parasites that feed on the blood of their host animals. They are especially known for their attacks on chickens and other birds. These small, gray to red mites hide during the day in the cracks and crevices of the chicken coop and emerge at night to feed. Due to their nocturnal activity, they often go unnoticed for a long time, allowing them to multiply quickly.
Mites
As soon as horse owners, together with a veterinarian, conclude that their horse has mites, they almost always resort to a veterinarian's remedy. A chemical product that ensures the mites die immediately. You might think that's great, but is it really great, or does such a chemical product also have unpleasant side effects? Is it not possible to use a natural remedy to ensure that mites die?
Health
Mites
Mok is a collective term for skin problems on the horse's lower leg. These problems are accompanied by sores and scabs, especially in and around the fetlock area. Mok easily occurs during wet periods because the skin becomes softer and therefore more vulnerable. However, mok usually arises from an imbalance in the body, so from the inside out. Medication, chemical products, reduced immunity, illness, waste products, and a deficiency in minerals are the main causes of mok. But mites and other ext...
Health
Are you also enjoying the warm summer? 🔆 A warm summer often means a lot of dryness. However, the dryness is not so good for your horse's hooves... Cracked hooves occur due to dry hooves, causing pieces of the hoof to break off. Unfortunately, hooves can sometimes crumble to the point where a painful situation arises. Does your horse suffer from cracked hooves? We have some tips for you! 🌸
Mites
Although we usually cannot see mites well with the naked eye, they often lead to changes in your horse's behavior. You can recognize this by stamping and rubbing their legs. Biting at the socks is also a well-known symptom. Many horses also develop scabby spots and wounds on their legs. It is important to know that not every horse reacts as intensely and clearly.
Mites
We notice that many customers think they can get rid of the mite problem in their horse with 1 or at most 2 treatments. Unfortunately, this is never the case; mites are very persistent. With a chemical treatment, you can indeed kill a large part of the mites immediately. A follow-up treatment is always necessary, but even then, you are still not rid of the mites. The eggs of mites are indestructible and do not die from chemical agents. They wait patiently until the conditions are ideal again and...
Mites
The better the immunity, the more resilient horses are against mites. It is therefore extremely important to keep your horse's immunity at an optimal level. The poor weather, shedding, etc., all affect immunity. It is therefore crucial to support your horse in this. First, ensure sufficient vitamins and minerals. This can be done by temporarily increasing the balancer/mineral pellets or by providing extra minerals (liquid from the Bering Sea), for example. Additionally, liquid nettle tincture is...