I don’t know any living thing that likes flies. Dogs, cats, humans, and horses all find flies to be pests. But if you keep horses, you will soon find that flies come along with the territory. Don’t let their smallness fool you, they can present significant health risks for horses. Not only can insects irritate a horse with their buzzing and biting, but they also often transmit diseases.

Diseases Horses can Get from Flies

Flies and gnats can cause problems on the surface, including itching, hair loss, abrasions, ulcerations, hives, and skin thickening. Any of these conditions can make a horse susceptible to bacteria and infection. These problems are bad enough, but many of the problems caused by flies go deeper than the skin. Some of the most common diseases flies, gnats, and mosquitoes can cause horses include:

·         Equine Encephalitis. This condition is caused by mosquitoes and causes spinal cord and brain inflammation.

·         Equine Infectious Anemia. Flies carry this blood-borne virus. The symptoms can vary for horses and may present itself in a variety of ways from running a slight fever to weakness, disorientation, or weight loss.

·         Pigeon Fever. This is a bacterial infection caused by flies depositing bacteria on a horse’s broken skin. It causes large abscesses on the horse’s underbelly or chest.

·         Sweet Itch. Gnat bites can trigger this allergic reaction that causes mane/tail rubbing as well as damage to skin along the upper back, neck, and tail base.

·         Summer Sores. Flies cause these horrible nonhealing wounds. The house, stable, and face fly deposit their larvae on the horse, which leads to nonhealing wounds.

·         West Nile Virus. This virus is carried by mosquitoes and can cause neurological disease in horses.

How to Manage Flies Around Horses

Since flies post such potential dangers for horses, it’s important to implement measures to control them. This is crucial for ensuring the health and wellbeing of your horses. There are lots of strategies, here are a few to consider.

·         Stable Cleanliness and Management. Keep the stable area clean by removing manure regularly, since it is known to attract flies. You may want to use traps that are designed to help control them.

·         Pasture Management. It may seem huge to think about maintaining a clean pasture. But you can make a difference by removing manure. Avoid stagnant water sources, because they attract flies. Consider using protective fly sheets or fly repellents to minimize exposure.

·         Use Fly Control Devices. Inside barns and stables, you have several options. Installing screens, sticky tapes or fly traps can help catch and eliminate flies. These options can be great for reducing the fly population in a high-risk area.

·         Protective Measures. You can use physical protection for horses, which is very useful during peak fly season. Use fly boots, fly sheets, and fly masks that are specifically designed to protect horses from flies. Check with your vet about insect repellents that can be safely used for equine populations.

An All-Natural Option!

Did you know that catnip is a natural fly repellent? According to Science News, Nepeta cataria, which is the active component of catnip, repels insects. Recent studies have concluded that catnip can repel flies for up to three hours.

At PawerLab, our canine engineers worked diligently to formulate catnip-infused wipes for use on our feline friends. The catnip in the multi-purpose pet wipes can be helpful for managing flies. It’s an extra, natural measure horse managers and owners can take to help prevent the horrible diseases and health problems that can be caused by flies.

About the Author: Fiona

Fiona is the President & CEO of Pawer Lab. She manages the day-to-day operations and makes sure everything runs purrfectly. Her hobbies include chasing lasers, taking names, and snacking on treats.