Post by Tamara on Jan 13, 2016 19:55:41 GMT -5
I've been trying to deal with a pretty bad lice infestation on MacLeod for months now and it just doesn't seem to be getting better. I have treated a very bad infestation on my donkey the winter before last, using sulfur as Jenn kindly recommended. It worked very well, however I think half the battle was won by vigorously brushing out and trimming his winter coat off until there was no long hair left on which the lice could lay their eggs. MacLeod has lost most of his winter coat but his summer coat is still an inch or two long - much longer than a donkey's coat - leaving a lot of hair for the lice to hide in and lay on.
At first I was dusting him with sulfur once every week or two (which he hates, BTW). I was also brushing him regularly, however he seemed to start getting agitated when I brushed him and even tried to headbutt me once, leading to my decision to sell him. Of course I can't sell him until the lice are gone. His skin is very flaky along his topline where the majority of the lice are gathered, especially around his tailhead. I'm wondering if brushing actually hurts his skin, hence the agitation. He loves being scratched around his neck and used to love scratches on his tailhead too so it doesn't make sense that he doesn't like it anymore. My donkey also had very flaky skin when he had lice and I'm not sure if it's just the lice that cause it or if the sulfur causes flaking.
So in mid December - around the 15th I think - I treated him with pour-on Cydectin which is supposed to kill lice too.
Just today I was thinking of taking some photos of him so I can put him up for sale, but I find he is covered in lice eggs again. Obviously the cydectin and sulfur does not work to kill the eggs.
I can only think that my last option is to cut the fur off, and the eggs along with it. That's what worked on the donkey. But that is very tricky... Scissors are not effective or quick enough. I can't afford to spend $100-$200 on battery powered horse clippers. My only other option would be to lure him down to the little paddock closest to the house, hook up extension leads from the garage and use my rather blunt set of clippers that we used to clip the dogs. Of course I would also have to wrangle a halter onto MacLeod and get him tied up tight enough so he can't run off or headbutt me while I clip him. If I manage that I figure I could give him a bath at the same time - I have a bottle of lice shampoo that is intended for human use, but it could work?
ETA - I do have Pestene lice powder as well however I found it very ineffective when treating the donkey.
Anything else I can do to treat him?
At first I was dusting him with sulfur once every week or two (which he hates, BTW). I was also brushing him regularly, however he seemed to start getting agitated when I brushed him and even tried to headbutt me once, leading to my decision to sell him. Of course I can't sell him until the lice are gone. His skin is very flaky along his topline where the majority of the lice are gathered, especially around his tailhead. I'm wondering if brushing actually hurts his skin, hence the agitation. He loves being scratched around his neck and used to love scratches on his tailhead too so it doesn't make sense that he doesn't like it anymore. My donkey also had very flaky skin when he had lice and I'm not sure if it's just the lice that cause it or if the sulfur causes flaking.
So in mid December - around the 15th I think - I treated him with pour-on Cydectin which is supposed to kill lice too.
Just today I was thinking of taking some photos of him so I can put him up for sale, but I find he is covered in lice eggs again. Obviously the cydectin and sulfur does not work to kill the eggs.
I can only think that my last option is to cut the fur off, and the eggs along with it. That's what worked on the donkey. But that is very tricky... Scissors are not effective or quick enough. I can't afford to spend $100-$200 on battery powered horse clippers. My only other option would be to lure him down to the little paddock closest to the house, hook up extension leads from the garage and use my rather blunt set of clippers that we used to clip the dogs. Of course I would also have to wrangle a halter onto MacLeod and get him tied up tight enough so he can't run off or headbutt me while I clip him. If I manage that I figure I could give him a bath at the same time - I have a bottle of lice shampoo that is intended for human use, but it could work?
ETA - I do have Pestene lice powder as well however I found it very ineffective when treating the donkey.
Anything else I can do to treat him?