Post by Calaminty Jane on Mar 10, 2011 10:41:16 GMT -5
Horse Health: Bots Are Not Just a Computer Problem
by Eleanor Blazer
Copyright 2010
Posted: Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Is there a bot running in the background of your horse? In the technical world of computers a bot is an automated software program that runs in the background. Equine bots are unwanted parasites.
The bot fly looks like a small bee. They can be seen darting around the legs, head and sides of horses. The adult bot fly does not bite, sting or eat it lives on stored energy. The bot fly lives only to reproduce.
As the bot zooms around the horse it lays eggs on the hair. The eggs are generally yellow in color. One egg at a time is attached to the hair. One bot fly can lay several hundred eggs on a horse.
There are three types of bot flies that prefer horses. Each species has a favorite place to lay eggs. The horse bot, which is the most common, targets the legs, flanks and girth area of the horse. The nose bot, which is rare, prefers the hairs around the muzzle. The throat bot lays eggs on long hairs under the jaw line. The buzzing fly can cause some horses to become irritated. Many riders have been thrown because of a busy bot fly.
The next step in the bot fly's life cycle is for the egg to be transported to a moist warm environment - your horses digestive system. As the horse eats, grooms and rubs his nose on his legs, the eggs become dislodged and some start to hatch. The eggs and larvae end up in your horses mouth. Remaining eggs hatch and the collective larvae live in the mouth for about three weeks burrowed in the soft tissue of the gums, tongue and lips. This is called the first instar stage of the life cycle.
At the end of the instar stage the larvae molt (the second instar stage) and are swallowed. The bot fly larvae attach to the lining of the stomach and small intestine. They use sharp hooks located in their mouth to fasten themselves to the lining of your horses internal organs. They will remain for about seven to nine months - feeding on your horse. Bots at this stage can be either second or third instars.
Once that part of the bot fly life cycle is complete, they pass through the large intestine and are expelled in the manure. The larvae burrow into the ground. In the summer and fall larvae pupate and become adult bot flies, mate and lay eggs on your horse
Researchers are not in agreement as to how much damage bot larvae can cause. It is generally accepted that bots are detrimental to the horses health. During the first instar stage, irritation to sensitive mouth tissue can be present. Infection and the loosening of teeth may occur with high numbers of first instars in your horses mouth.
Most veterinarians agree bot infestation can result in poor health, failure to utilize nutrients from feed, colic, loss of appetite, ulcers and abnormal bowel movements. Rupture of the stomach and blockages of intestine can occur in severe cases. But regardless what researchers disagree or agree about - I don't want them on or in my horse!
The first step in eradicating bots is to eliminate manure piles. Breaking up piles to expose them to the sun may help kill larvae. Removing that unsightly manure pile on a regular basis may also help break the life cycle of the bot fly.
Now to remove the eggs from the hair: daily grooming will aid in detecting eggs when they appear. You'll find they are well attached. There are many tools on the market to help remove bots. Bot knives, grooming blocks, sandpaper and bot combs work well. Be careful when using sharp edged tools.
You can use warm water and wash the legs. The warm moisture makes the eggs hatch very quickly. Use fly spray immediately after washing the legs to kill the larvae. The first instars do not live long if they don't reach a supporting environment like your horses mouth.
Use disposable gloves when removing bot eggs and wash your hands afterward. Humans have been infected with horse bots in rare cases. A warm moist environment causes the eggs to hatch and the larvae can migrate into the human skin. Do not rub your eyes. There have been cases of ocular myiasis (invasion of the eye by a parasitic larvae) due to bot eggs.
When removing the eggs don't do it where you'll contaminate grass, hay or the area where you horse may eat. Controlling bot larvae once they are in your horse requires chemicals. Luckily, products are available that work quite well and are reasonably safe if used according to the directions.
The anthelmintic (a drug that expels parasites) called ivermectin is the most common chemical used to kill bots living within the equine digestive system. Ivermectin is available in many over-the-counter horse deworming products. Even though bots are not worms, dewormers that contain ivermectin will kill bots in the stomach and small intestine.
Boticides are recommended to be given after the first hard-killing frost (the adult bot flies are killed) and again in the spring to remove any bots that may still be present in the stomach or large intestine. Horses that live in warm climates may be exposed to bot flies year-round and may need more frequent treatments. Consult your local veterinarian.
Daily dewormers do not control bots. If you use one of these products, be sure to administer a boticide twice a year. One note about moxidectin - this chemical is a boticide. There is some controversy about the safety of the moxidectin. It should not be used on foals under the age of four months, weak horses or horses carrying a heavy parasite load. Use caution, read the label and consult your veterinarian.
---------------------
For information about caring for horses take the online courses Stable Management and Nutrition for Maximum Performance taught by Eleanor Blazer. Earn certification or work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in equine studies. Go to www.horsecoursesonline.com for more information. Visit Eleanor's website at www.thewayofhorses.com
by Eleanor Blazer
Copyright 2010
Posted: Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Is there a bot running in the background of your horse? In the technical world of computers a bot is an automated software program that runs in the background. Equine bots are unwanted parasites.
The bot fly looks like a small bee. They can be seen darting around the legs, head and sides of horses. The adult bot fly does not bite, sting or eat it lives on stored energy. The bot fly lives only to reproduce.
As the bot zooms around the horse it lays eggs on the hair. The eggs are generally yellow in color. One egg at a time is attached to the hair. One bot fly can lay several hundred eggs on a horse.
There are three types of bot flies that prefer horses. Each species has a favorite place to lay eggs. The horse bot, which is the most common, targets the legs, flanks and girth area of the horse. The nose bot, which is rare, prefers the hairs around the muzzle. The throat bot lays eggs on long hairs under the jaw line. The buzzing fly can cause some horses to become irritated. Many riders have been thrown because of a busy bot fly.
The next step in the bot fly's life cycle is for the egg to be transported to a moist warm environment - your horses digestive system. As the horse eats, grooms and rubs his nose on his legs, the eggs become dislodged and some start to hatch. The eggs and larvae end up in your horses mouth. Remaining eggs hatch and the collective larvae live in the mouth for about three weeks burrowed in the soft tissue of the gums, tongue and lips. This is called the first instar stage of the life cycle.
At the end of the instar stage the larvae molt (the second instar stage) and are swallowed. The bot fly larvae attach to the lining of the stomach and small intestine. They use sharp hooks located in their mouth to fasten themselves to the lining of your horses internal organs. They will remain for about seven to nine months - feeding on your horse. Bots at this stage can be either second or third instars.
Once that part of the bot fly life cycle is complete, they pass through the large intestine and are expelled in the manure. The larvae burrow into the ground. In the summer and fall larvae pupate and become adult bot flies, mate and lay eggs on your horse
Researchers are not in agreement as to how much damage bot larvae can cause. It is generally accepted that bots are detrimental to the horses health. During the first instar stage, irritation to sensitive mouth tissue can be present. Infection and the loosening of teeth may occur with high numbers of first instars in your horses mouth.
Most veterinarians agree bot infestation can result in poor health, failure to utilize nutrients from feed, colic, loss of appetite, ulcers and abnormal bowel movements. Rupture of the stomach and blockages of intestine can occur in severe cases. But regardless what researchers disagree or agree about - I don't want them on or in my horse!
The first step in eradicating bots is to eliminate manure piles. Breaking up piles to expose them to the sun may help kill larvae. Removing that unsightly manure pile on a regular basis may also help break the life cycle of the bot fly.
Now to remove the eggs from the hair: daily grooming will aid in detecting eggs when they appear. You'll find they are well attached. There are many tools on the market to help remove bots. Bot knives, grooming blocks, sandpaper and bot combs work well. Be careful when using sharp edged tools.
You can use warm water and wash the legs. The warm moisture makes the eggs hatch very quickly. Use fly spray immediately after washing the legs to kill the larvae. The first instars do not live long if they don't reach a supporting environment like your horses mouth.
Use disposable gloves when removing bot eggs and wash your hands afterward. Humans have been infected with horse bots in rare cases. A warm moist environment causes the eggs to hatch and the larvae can migrate into the human skin. Do not rub your eyes. There have been cases of ocular myiasis (invasion of the eye by a parasitic larvae) due to bot eggs.
When removing the eggs don't do it where you'll contaminate grass, hay or the area where you horse may eat. Controlling bot larvae once they are in your horse requires chemicals. Luckily, products are available that work quite well and are reasonably safe if used according to the directions.
The anthelmintic (a drug that expels parasites) called ivermectin is the most common chemical used to kill bots living within the equine digestive system. Ivermectin is available in many over-the-counter horse deworming products. Even though bots are not worms, dewormers that contain ivermectin will kill bots in the stomach and small intestine.
Boticides are recommended to be given after the first hard-killing frost (the adult bot flies are killed) and again in the spring to remove any bots that may still be present in the stomach or large intestine. Horses that live in warm climates may be exposed to bot flies year-round and may need more frequent treatments. Consult your local veterinarian.
Daily dewormers do not control bots. If you use one of these products, be sure to administer a boticide twice a year. One note about moxidectin - this chemical is a boticide. There is some controversy about the safety of the moxidectin. It should not be used on foals under the age of four months, weak horses or horses carrying a heavy parasite load. Use caution, read the label and consult your veterinarian.
---------------------
For information about caring for horses take the online courses Stable Management and Nutrition for Maximum Performance taught by Eleanor Blazer. Earn certification or work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in equine studies. Go to www.horsecoursesonline.com for more information. Visit Eleanor's website at www.thewayofhorses.com