Home Remedies for Ticks on Horses
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Regardless of whether they infect a dog, cat or a horse, the tick is one of the most annoying and dangerous external parasites. Not only is it difficult to eliminate but it poses a great danger to the animal's health as they can transmit several diseases. Horses are strong and healthy mammals, but they are not spared from being attacked by these parasites. AnimalWised know that there are many drugs and different treatments available on the market to combat the problem at its root.
Whether or not any 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.
Contents
Combats ticks with oils
There are different types of oils, both edible and for flavoring. Not only are they good for health, but many of their scents are a natural repellent for ticks. Here are two recipes:
Olive oil and essential oils
You will need:
- 50 milliliters of olive oil
- Rosemary oil
- Thyme oil
- Lavender oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- An atomizer
Preparing your home remedy is very easy: add 50 milliliters of olive oil in the atomizer and add between 10 and 15 drops of essential oils. Spray in areas where ticks are often located, avoiding the eyes and snout of the horse. It also sprinkles the spaces of the stable.
Olive oil and alcohol
You will need:
- 20 milliliters of olive oil
- 1 liter of alcohol
- Atomizer
Mix the alcohol and olive oil into the atomizer and spray on the affected areas.
Fight ticks with lemon
The properties of lemon are innumerable. Among its various uses and applications, it is the main ingredient in two solutions against ticks on horses:
Aloe Vera and Lemon Juice
You will need:
- 2 lemons
- 4 leaves of aloe (aloe vera)
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Table salt
- An atomizer
The first thing to do is squeeze the lemons as hard as you can to extract as much juice as possible. Next, peel the leaves of the aloe. Ideally, at the cuts on the side, where you will see a division, extract the glass (the slimey substance it contains). Wash the aloe vera glass with a little water and place in the atomizer, along with the lemon juice.
To this preparation add 6 spoonfuls of salt and 2 of baking soda. Shake well and spray on the ticks of your horse, letting it dry.
Lemon, essential oils and apple cider vinegar
You will need:
- A lemon
- Apple cider vinegar
- Alcohol
- Aromatic oils (lavender, rosemary, cedar, etc.)
- Water
- An atomizer
In a pot, bring 4 cups of water to the boil with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and half a tablespoon 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. Pour in the atomizer and spray on the horse.
What you should know about ticks and horses
In addition to these home remedies, we want to offer some recommendations and advice when it comes to removing annoying ticks on your horse:
- Ticks feed the blood of the horse and other mammals and can transmit serious diseases through their saliva, depending on the type to which they belong. That is why it is such a serious problem that you must attend to immediately.
- During the hot season, your horse may contract a tick on one of your walks, if you usually walk away from the stable or the farm where you live. When this occurs, the horse will take the parasite back to the stable, where it will reproduce quickly.
- The ticks that attack the horses are the same ones that affect dogs, cats and cattle.
- Regularly inspect the coat of your horse, as a few ticks will not cause much itching. That is why it must be you who detects them in time, before they multiply.
- When you check the coat of your horse, pay special attention to the area of the ears, eyes, legs and tail, areas that prefer to tick ticks.
- Check the coat in the opposite direction in which it grows, looking for unusual lumps.
- It is not recommended to remove them by hand, because if you crush or pull strongly two things can happen: that the parasite deposits more saliva in the blood of your horse, or that their claws are attached to the skin of the horse and cause an infection.
- If you manage to catch some, never throw them away. They will expel their eggs and you will only have more ticks in the stable 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 method to remove them directly is to use a hook (or clamp), or a plastic tick remover, like the one that we show you 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, especially if we notice any wounds, discomfort or decay. In any case, it is always advisable to consult with the professional on any questions that you may related to your horse.
If you want to read similar articles to Home Remedies for Ticks on Horses, we recommend you visit our Skin care category.
