Released May 9, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Md. — Temperatures are warming, pastures are greening, and the flying, creeping, and crawling pests are making their yearly appearance. Some are large and obviously bothersome. Others, however, are pretty elusive. We tend to be more mindful of the insect problems that we can see, but tend to overlook those that are a little more hidden. All of the flying, creeping, and crawling pests are classic disease vectors. They transmit diseases with a vengeance. One that we need to be particularly mindful about is the tick. Ticks are masters of “hide and seek.”
What does this mean to you, as a horse owner?
Everyone wants their horses to be healthy. To do that, we need to feed them appropriately and manage to prevent disease. We feed our horses well and vaccinate against the recommended diseases. Ticks are carriers of Lyme Disease, and there is no currently licensed equine vaccine available. What’s more, ticks also can cause Lyme Disease in humans. Pay careful attention to your horses and monitor them for ticks, and make sure to check ourselves for ticks when we’ve been outdoors in the woods or in fields.
Where do ticks hide?
They are pretty ubiquitous once the weather warms, but particularly populate wooded and grassy areas. While they like to attach in areas of the body with folded skin, or other “cover,” they will take just about any opportunity to hitch a ride for a blood meal. You should develop a system to regularly check for ticks.
Grooming time is a logical time to do this. First, be sure to groom your ENTIRE horse, being mindful of raised, bumpy areas all over the horse. If there is a raised or bumpy area, look more closely to make sure that it is not a tick. Remember they will hitch a ride on any body part, but ticks tend to migrate quickly to the more desirable areas. As you groom, pay special attention to the horse’s ears and face. Check inside the ears, and under the horse’s jaw.
Any crevices on the body are potential places for ticks. The forelock, mane and tail are areas that ticks like to hide. So check them carefully. Also be sure to examine the loose skin around the front legs (armpits) and in the fetlocks. Look carefully under the horse’s belly, in the groin area, and especially under the tail head and around the anus. Ticks readily attach in these areas, so be sure to look CLOSELY.
How do I remove the tick?
It is best to use tweezers and grasp the tick at its mouthpart where it attaches to the horse. Firmly remove the tick, but be sure to prevent it from being ruptured as you remove it. Once the tick is removed, place it in a closed container for further observation or flush it down the toilet. Can I prevent ticks from biting and attaching to my horse?
There are tick repellent products available. While they may help to decrease the ticks on your horse for a period of time, it is still a good idea to continue to check for ticks, even if using one of these products.
Enjoy the warm, sunny days with your horse. But be sure to keep the “tick check” in mind when grooming. You and your horse will be glad you did!
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http://www.agnr.umd.edu/news/article.cfm?id=780cb44d0a5a5a8f01c40b8ca7367f0f
Contact: Elaine Long Bailey, elbailey@umd.edu
