What are Feather Mites?

Feather mites are miniscule parasites found on the legs of feathered horses, living on the skin and feeding on the dead skin cells. They can also feed off the scabs formed through Mallenders & Sallenders so the two conditions often go hand in hand.  This leads to an irritated horse with very itchy skin with scabs forming and a cycle of inflammation and itching (caused by the horse rubbing, biting and stamping) which can be very hard to break, especially as the mites are easily transmitted. You can save on vet treatments which only work on the adult mites.  The shampoo helps to keep in control of feather mites week after week, leading to a happier horse and owner! Consider our Triple Pack with a handy Biosect Spray for quick leave-in mite control in between shampooing, as well as a pot of our famous Mallenders and Sallenders Cream to help soften away scabs which the mites feed off.

Directions of use:

The shampoo is a great way to begin acting against the mites, eradicating them on contact, and will clean at the same time. Massage well, down into the skin from the knee downwards to the heels and leave for at least 5 minutes then rinse thoroughly.

Farriers Biosect Spray is used to treat Feather Mites and should be reapplied 10 days after initial treatment to catch any newly hatched eggs. It is very important to ensure the solution gets right down to the skin where the Mites come into contact with it. Be generous in application and if your horse dislikes the spray sound, soak onto a sponge to apply, making sure the feathers are wettened and the skin is reached.

It must be noted that Feather Mites have a 42 day cycle and any attempt to successfully eliminate infestation must be continued well beyond this period. Even once you have successfully treated your horse, they are prone to re-infestation simply through contact with other horses, sharing or borrowing grooming kit and even from hay and bedding.

Cautions

• Protective vinyl or rubber gloves should be worn.
• Avoid contact with eyes – if contact should occur rinse immediately with plenty of water.
• Harmful if swallowed – do not induce vomiting, seek urgent medical attention showing product label.
• Dispose of empty packaging and any remaining product as household waste – do not recycle used containers.