Donkey Lice Infestation :(

[Tamara]

So I have this old (possibly around 30 years) rescue donkey with an awful louse problem which I've been trying to treat for probably a couple of months now. I've been using Pestene powder with no success. I've probably powdered him about 4-5 times, but the powder is now just sticking in his hair and he stinks of it so I haven't redone it in a while.

I feel really terrible for the poor guy - I ought to have caught this problem sooner but he is super timid and doesn't like being touched. I knew he had a problem of some kind as his hair is always rough and patchy, but the previous owner told me he had a skin condition so I thought that was the problem. Then I found he was riddled with lice.

Obviously I need to try something different. The lice are mostly found on his withers and flanks, leading me to think they are biting louse. His skin isn't noticeably sore or red, but his hair is very rough, patchy and his skin scabby in the heavily infested areas. Both the lice and eggs are easy to see, there are so many.

I'm asking here in case somebody knows of a good natural remedy. I'm willing to try the chemical washes or sprays but I wanted other opinions first. He's been abused in the past and washing him is going to be a scary experience. He's also still got a thick winter coat, but I've been putting off shaving him for the same reason. I did cut some of the fur off his withers with scissors.

Oh yeah, he was wormed with Ivermectin too. He is with two other younger donkeys, one of which had a few lice which disappeared after a couple of powders, and the other one doesn't have any noticeable lice.

Any ideas?

[moharefarms]

You need to treat lice systemically with Ivermectin or a generic brand, either shots or pour on. Dosage: For the treatment of an existing infestation, repeat doses are required often weekly three times. Powders aren’t that effective, you might feel better that you did something.. but it doesn't eradicate the problem. All animals living with the old guy should be treated too.

[Tamara]

Thanks moharefarms. I did treat all the donkeys once with Ivermectin but I don't have any more. From what I have read equine lice do not transfer to any other animal. I did read about dosing them regularly, but never as often as three times a week. Have you done that before?
Or did I read that wrong and you meant once a week, for three weeks?

The wormer doesn't actually say it does anything for lice - it only states for internal worms etc. How does it work on external lice?

[Tamara]

PS. I gave them the Ivermectin in paste form. I just saw you said shots or pour on but I could only buy the oral paste. Is there a difference?

[moharefarms]

I have never used the paste on any of the animals.. years ago I used the injectable, but the pour-on is so much easier, less invasive. When I meant other animals that were with the old guy.. I meant equine, donkey.. not chickens or other types. The lice is species specific.

I haven't had a infestation in many years, but the trick is to follow through and repeat the dosage so you get any critters you missed. I don't think it matters whether it is goat, chicken, rabbit, pig whatever..

[Tamara]

Yikes, the pour-on is expensive... so far I haven't found it in smaller quantities.

I'm thinking he might have come with the lice. We've had the donkeys for less than a year and none of our other animals have any lice. Unless they jumped off a neighbour's horse I know old and unwell animals are more prone to infestations - Toby, the donkey, has been dropping some weight lately with the drought and he's definitely an oldie.

[Jenn]

Sulfur, like for the garden. Topically and let him eat it if desired.

Jenn

[Tamara]

Thank you Jenn! So sulfur... just like any brand/type for the garden? Eg. www.petandgarden.com.au/sulphur-dust-powder-1-kg-bag.html
It shouldn't be diluted in any way?

Have you known this to work well with a heavy infestation? I don't mean to be dubious, I just really want to fix him, preferably without spending too much on expensive products that don't work as we're in a bit of a tight spot at the moment

[Tamara]

This one is supposed to be poisonous, so I'm guessing lime sulfur is not the same as sulfur?
www.yates.com.au/products/disease-control/concentrates/yates-lime-sulphur-spray-fungicide/

[Jenn]

Miss Swiss came with lice. We would get them in the milk, crawling on our heads and arms after milking etc. I tried other stuff first. No change at all. After treating with the dust, it was totally gone in about 2 weeks. I just put it down her back and put some out to eat. There were a few licks, mostly from a calf that we had at the same time. I think the first link is closest to what I used. You can also get flowers of sulfur. This was a few years ago and the same $3.00 is still mostly full. I think I may have used it for potatoes one year. It was 5 lbs to start with.

It should be fairly easy to get from any garden supply, I would hate to pay shipping on it. You don't need very much at all, but it keeps.
-Jenn

[Tamara]

Thank you so much I will definitely try it out then. I read that the lice powder only needs to be dusted down the back and the lice will eventually crawl through it as they move around the body, but I can't for the life of me see any movement from these lice There are so so many eggs too. There are bunches on his shoulders, so much it literally creates a thick mass. The poor guy looks miserable. I can't believe I didn't see them sooner

We don't have a local garden supply and the drive to find one would probably cost the same in petrol as the shipping. I can see if the hardware or feed store has any, they do have small gardening sections.

[Tamara]

Oh yeah, one more question Jenn - is it safe for other animals to eat? If I put some out, there are cows, goats, a sheep, and alpacas in the same paddock who could get to it.

[haecklers]

Putting out kelp powder or granules will increase the health of his skin and coat dramatically (well, it usually does). That might help him fight them off with the help of your powder.

Be careful with the sulphur, someone was saying it can cause copper deficiency in goats.

There is a blue powder, copper sulphate, that is sometimes used as a copper supplement in goat licks or for poultry, but I haven't found anything about it killing lice.

[moharefarms]

Sept 29, 2014 0:27:00 GMT -5 Tamara said:

Yikes, the pour-on is expensive... so far I haven't found it in smaller quantities.

I'm thinking he might have come with the lice. We've had the donkeys for less than a year and none of our other animals have any lice. Unless they jumped off a neighbour's horse I know old and unwell animals are more prone to infestations - Toby, the donkey, has been dropping some weight lately with the drought and he's definitely an oldie.

He probably did come with it and they are sucking the life out of him.  At 30 yrs old he has less resistance and unable to recuperate as easily as a young animal that doesn't show the damage of parasites.

I use Ivomec because it will knock out a parasite in a very short time instead of dragging on the problem.  Sure it might be expensive to start, I don't know I buy the off brands of Ivermectin and there is a considerable price break. How much do you end up spending on a bunch of powders that don't work and in 6-9 months you still have the problem?  How much time does Toby have left? Poor guy. 

[haecklers]

The containers in quantities for a whole herd are pricey and wasteful but see if you can find this one for only around $20:

www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/iver-on-250-ml-cattle-pour-on-medication

[moharefarms]

I'm always dealing in large numbers, so I have never found it wasteful, in fact in my situation it is much more cost effective, and it doesn't rot.. but I can see the point of pricey for a couple of animals. I use it on my herd of angora goats, cows, chickens, geese, pigs, llama.

Years ago when I showed livestock, it was easy to bring home critters so the show animals got the pour on before the covers and loaded in the trailer to mitigate a problem and then isolation. Lice/mites can come from hay and bedding too. You never know what you bring home from shows. Since I no longer show I don't bring in any crud, the last time I had any issue with bugs was last Christmas time when I brought home my first pigs, it didn't dawn on me that they got the creepy crawlies and loaded with internal parasites. After using the pour on not only did it clear out all the lice/mites it also wormed the pigs.

I use the pour on every six months.. generally when the shearer comes. Trim hooves, shear, pour-on. Takes care of all issues and I only have to handle the animals once. The chickens will be getting it done next, with winter coming they are roosting longer and more susceptible to mite/lice infestations because they are roosting on wooden 2 inch poles. The nest boxes, poles and walls all get sprayed. The Geese get it too. To me, it is easier to take care of issues before they are a problem.

All the animals get worms and other parasites, I would rather be proactive.

[elia]

I get sulfur powder from the feed mill and include it in various animal feeds (for cows, goats, and horses).

I have not had to deal with lice before, but here is what Pat Coleby says about lice in her book "Natural Horse Care":


"These are caused by a lack of sulfur in the diet. The use of artificial fertilizers has, according to the CSIRO*, inhibited the uptake of sulfur almost totally. Normally it would be obtainable in most grains."

"If a horse arrives covered in lice, give it one tablespoon of sulfur daily. If the lice are very bad and causing irritation, give the animal a wash with a show shampoo the first day. Otherwise the addition of the sulfur to the diet will clear up the lice in about a week. Once they have all disappeared, feed as normal. Occasionally, if washing is not an option, sulfur rubbed well along the back line and under the mane will discourage "lodgers.""

In another section, she also says: "Sulfur can be added to feeds at any stage of the horse's development. For lice infestation, a heaped tablespoon administered every day for a few days will be necessary. A flat tablespoon of sulfur per horse per day is all that is needed for maintenance, and should be mixed in the feed daily. It also helps to put sulfur down the infested horse's back line."


This is powdered sulfur, not the granular stuff from the garden store. For a smaller equine, I presume you would give correspondingly less.


(*CSIRO = Commonwealth Scientific & Industry Research Organization)

[Jenn]

Sept 29, 2014 3:38:38 GMT -5 Tamara said:

Oh yeah, one more question Jenn - is it safe for other animals to eat? If I put some out, there are cows, goats, a sheep, and alpacas in the same paddock who could get to it.

Yes, it's fine, don't force feed it, but those that need it will probably partake and those that don't won't.  Just don't go putting any molasses in it or anything.

Now that I think about it, I did get mine at the feed store, in their small garden section.

As for the whole sulfur inhibiting copper thing.  I didn't see it in my goats.  Avoiding iron is MUCH more important with regards to copper needs.  Kelp can have some good nutrients, but it's benefits would manifest slower.  I would apply to his back and legs too.  

Just a thought....because you said there are visible eggs too....I have heard of people smothering people head lice with coconut oil.  You might try that as it would be soothing to any sores that poor guy has.  We used to use vinegar and a comb for removing eggs when I was a kid, but vinegar on sensitive skin would NOT be fun.

[AnnB (NE)]

Tea Tree shampoo eliminates lice on people, I would be very tempted to use it on him along with the sulpher added to the diet.

Ann B

[Bobbie]

Interesting. Can someone in the US take a picture of the sulfur product they use please. Thanks.