How can I keep my horse safe from ticks?

How can I keep my horse safe from ticks?

With warmer weather upon us, we can expect the ticks to start to come out from their hibernation. We most commonly worry about ticks on our dogs and cats, and if you are a farmer, on your livestock as well, but what about our horses? 

There are three main types of ticks that are commonly found on horses. 

• Cattle Ticks – predominately in areas such Queensland, Northern Territory and Northern Western Australia 

• Bush Ticks – Mainly found along the coastal region of Southeast Queensland and New South Wales, stretching down to Northeastern Victoria. 

• Paralysis Ticks – Along the coastal areas of Eastern Australia and are worse during late Winter, Spring and the Summer months 

If you do live in a high infestation area it can be hard to prevent your horse from getting a tick at some stage. However, there are a few preventative measures to help reduce the risk. 

• Remove any scrub or bush in your paddock, ticks love to live amongst the brush ready to bounce when something walks past 

• Keep grasses short- this helps reduce the chance of them climbing up legs 

• Check your horse daily for any ticks 

• There are some insect repellents that may help reduce the chance of a tick bite, especially any that are Pyrethrum based 

• Some people like to use light weight rugs on their horses as a form of protection. This may or may not work, however daily checking is still required. Ticks climb and can still make their way under the rug to their preferred areas.  

• Groom your horse daily to keep coat clean and short 

• If you have gone for a ride, especially in an area with a lot of bush or trees, be sure to thoroughly check your horse afterwards, making sure they haven’t picked up a tick on the ride.  

• If the ticks are particularly bad where you are, try to relocate your horse to a less infested area. 

Ticks like biting areas where the skin tends to be a bit softer and thinner. The most common areas that need to be checked thoroughly are 

• Around the mouth, lips and nose 

• Eyes and Ears 

• Stomach 

• Flank 

• Armpits 

• Between the hind legs 

• Base of Tail 

• Girth area 

• Legs 

If you do find a tick on your horse, your first reaction is probably going to be to pull it off. Try not to do this as quite often you may get the body of the tick, but the head will remain buried in the skin. The best way is to spray the tick with a pyrethrum-based spray and wait for about an hour. If the tick is still alive spray a second time. Once the tick has died, it can be safely removed or may even just fall off. If your horse has a large infestation of ticks, you should call your veterinarian straight away. They will be able to help you with removing the ticks and any necessary treatment.  

Of the most concern is paralysis ticks. Adult horses will have some resistance if only one or two ticks are found, however young or small horses can become quite unwell. Young horses can even die if not treated correctly.  

Symptoms of tick paralysis 

• Staggering Gait or muscle weakness (paralysis) 

• Skin irritation around site of bite and localised swelling 

• Excess rubbing or scratching 

• Difficulty breathing which may appear as choke 

• General distress 

• Sweating and high temperature 

Ticks love moisture and darkness and can be more prevalent after a lot of rain and humidity. Keeping grass short and regular monitoring of your horse are the most effective and less costly ways to keep your horse safe. Remain vigilant and contact your veterinarian immediately if your horse displays any concerning signs.