Whether it infects a dog, a cat or a horse, the tick is one of the most annoying and dangerous external parasites, both because of how difficult it is to eliminate and because of the danger it represents for the animal's he alth. Horses are strong and he althy mammals, but that does not mean they are spared from being attacked by these parasites. On our site we know that there are many drugs and different treatments available on the market to combat the problem at its root.
Whether none of the commercial options have worked for you or you prefer a natural alternative, in this article we present several home remedies for ticks on horses.
Fight ticks with oils
There are different types of oils, both edible and flavoring. Not only are they good for your he alth, but many of their aromas are a natural repellent for ticks, which will stay away from your hair. Here are two recipes:
Olive oil and essential oils
You will need to:
- 50 milliliters of olive oil
- Rosemary oil
- Thyme oil
- Lavender oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Atomizer
Preparing your home remedy is very easy: add 50 milliliters of olive oil to the atomizer and add between 10 and 15 drops of essential oils. Whisk and spray in areas where ticks are visible, avoiding the horse's eyes and snout. Also spray the stall spaces.
Olive oil and alcohol
You will need to:
- 20 milliliters of olive oil
- 1 liter of alcohol
- Atomizer
Mix the alcohol and olive oil into the spray bottle and spray on the affected areas.
Fight ticks with lemon
The properties of the lemon are innumerable. Among its various uses and applications, is that of being the main ingredient in two preparations against ticks in horses:
Lemon juice and aloe vera crystal
You will need to
- Kilo and a half of lemon
- 4 aloe vera leaves
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Table s alt
- Atomizer
The first thing you should do is squeeze the lemons as much as possible to extract as much juice as possible. Then, peel the aloe leaves. The ideal is that you cut them on the side, where you will see a division, and that you extract the crystal (a slimy substance that it contains). Wash the aloe vera glass with a little water and place in the spray bottle, along with the lemon juice.
To this preparation add 6 tablespoons of s alt and 2 of baking soda. Shake well and spray on the ticks on your horse, letting dry.
Lemon, essential oils and apple cider vinegar
You will need to:
- A lemon
- Apple vinager
- Alcohol
- Aromatic oils (lavender, rosemary, cedar, etc.)
- Water
- Atomizer
In a pot, bring to a boil 4 cups of water with a tablespoon and a half of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon and a half of alcohol. Squeeze the lemon and then add about 10 drops of the essential oils. Stir the preparation until it boils and let it cool down. Pour into a spray bottle and spray your horse with it.
What you should know about ticks and horses
In addition to home remedies, we want to offer you some recommendations and advice when it comes to keeping annoying ticks away from your horse:
- Ticks feed on the blood of horses and other mammals and can transmit serious diseases through their saliva, depending on the type to which they belong. That's why this is a problem that you should attend to immediately.
- During hot weather, your horse may catch a tick on one of his rides, if he tends to stray from the stable or farm where he lives. When this happens, it carries the parasite to the pen, where they breed fast.
- The ticks that attack horses are the same ones that affect dogs, cats and cattle.
- Regularly inspect your horse's coat, as a few ticks won't make it very itchy. That is why you must be the one to detect them in time, before they multiply.
- When you check your horse's coat, pay special attention to the area around the ears, eyes, legs and tail, areas that ticks prefer to bite.
- Check the fur in the opposite direction from which it grows, looking for unusual lumps.
- It is not recommended to remove them by hand, because if you crush or pull them too hard two things can happen: the parasite deposits more saliva in your horse's blood, or its mouth claws get stuck to equine skin and causes an infection
- If you manage to catch one, never throw it away: it will expel its eggs and you will only have more ticks in the barn in a few days. Put the animal in a bottle with alcohol and consult your veterinarian about the species, to prevent future diseases.
- The ideal way to remove them directly is to use a plastic hook (or tweezers) tick-remover, like the one shown in the image.
When should we go to the vet?
It is important to consult our veterinarian whenever the horse has a very high number of ticks, as well as if we appreciatewounds, discomfort or decay In any case, it is always a good idea to ask the professional about any questions we have or may arise related to our partner.
