What does an internal herbal supplement do for horses with 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 then hatch. Therefore, dealing with mites is extremely difficult and can take a long time. Mites are also highly contagious; it can happen that within a few days all horses in a stable are infected. Not all horses show the signs, but they can still carry the eggs, leading to a rapid reinfestation.
Mites
14 November '22 • 2 min reading time
Resistance… resistance and more resistance
The better your horse's resistance is, the less susceptible it is to mites. And then you come to a difficult point when you use chemical agents. These agents always have a negative impact on the horse's resistance. As a result, the horse becomes more susceptible to mites, and you remain stuck in a downward spiral. It is therefore extremely important to keep your horse's resistance optimal. Ensure sufficient vitamins and minerals, for example, by adding nettle tincture and providing good quality roughage. Preferably avoid packaged hay/forage, as this disrupts the pH in the horse's body, which also lowers resistance. Grains (starch-rich products) are also not recommended for horses that are sensitive to mites, as they disrupt the body as well. This disrupts gut function, which also has a significant impact on the overall resistance of the horse.
Herbs Support Immunity
The great advantage of herbs is that you can use them to optimize immunity, such as Echinacea. But nettle (tincture) is also a real boost for immunity and supports digestion. The beauty of liquid nettle is that it is also blood-purifying and has antihistamine properties. By using herbs, you can ensure that your horse's immunity remains optimal, making it less susceptible to mites. This also allows the horse to better 'fight' against the existing mites, and the effects of the mites are less intense.
Herbs make blood indigestible and act as repellents
Another advantage of herbs is that with the right mixture, you can ensure that the blood/skin of the horse becomes indigestible for mites. Mites will consume this, but because it is indigestible, they cannot use the blood and skin flakes to reproduce. As a result, the mite population will gradually decrease, and no new eggs will be laid. While chemical treatments do not eliminate the eggs, herbs can help ensure that fewer eggs are laid. Additionally, herbs and essential oils can make the horse less attractive to parasites. Citronellol and Citronellal are good examples of this. This acts as a repellent, making it less likely for mites to be present on the horse. With herbs, it is important to provide them daily for an extended period. A supplement mixed with feed is very suitable for this purpose. Herbs should be given for a longer duration than a chemical treatment lasts, but this way, you avoid the negative effects of a chemical treatment. You can also use herbs very effectively for preventive purposes.
Conclusion: herbs and essential oils do more!
A chemical treatment only kills the currently present mites. A quick fix, but with consequences for overall resistance. It also does not affect the eggs, leading to a rapid reinfestation. With a herbal-based supplement against mites, you not only address the mite problem, but you also support overall resistance. You help the horse become more resilient against mites.
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