So, we've got a nice old horse that lives on the farm. She doesn't belong to us, but the folks that brought her out have been absent for a years and we like her company. Anyway, tonite she was really trying to scratch the curve of her belly, in front of her hip. I went over to scratch and I discovered her belly is COVERED in tiny red ticks... and she's got hard abscesses w/ cheesy yellow goo (like big pimples). I was picking off the ticks when I noticed the tiny yellow eggs coating her legs and belly- they've got to be bot eggs.
My questions:
1. I was touching her, the eggs and the abscesses w/ my bare hands. Now I have the heeby jeebies. Am I at risk?
2. My sheep share the barn and pasture with her. Are the bots a risk to them??
3. I'm assuming we'll spend tomorrow w/ bot knives- cleaning her off far from the common areas. Any hints?
4. I assumed the abscesses were from ticks growing in to the swelling, is it more likely they are bot larvae?? Do I have to cut them out?
5. I read about the importance of worming the horse w/ an appropriate wormer after the first hard frost to eliminate the likelihood of them surviving 'til spring, any advice on a brand?
Oh man, my skin is crawling. UGH!
My questions:
1. I was touching her, the eggs and the abscesses w/ my bare hands. Now I have the heeby jeebies. Am I at risk?
2. My sheep share the barn and pasture with her. Are the bots a risk to them??
3. I'm assuming we'll spend tomorrow w/ bot knives- cleaning her off far from the common areas. Any hints?
4. I assumed the abscesses were from ticks growing in to the swelling, is it more likely they are bot larvae?? Do I have to cut them out?
5. I read about the importance of worming the horse w/ an appropriate wormer after the first hard frost to eliminate the likelihood of them surviving 'til spring, any advice on a brand?
Oh man, my skin is crawling. UGH!
