How to Prevent Ticks in Horses Ears

Ticks can bother your horse's ears if not watched carefully.

Horses can become extremely ear shy when they have ticks or flies in their ears and this can continue long after the tick has been removed. Prevention will help keep your horse more comfortable and will help protect your horse from diseases transmitted through ticks.

Instructions

1. Check the ears often. Get your horse used to his ears being gently handled. That way if he does get a tick in his ear, he will let you remove it.

2. Trim the hairs growing from the ears. It's not necessary to remove hair deep inside the horse's ears. In fact, the hair is there to protect the ear. Simply take clippers or scissors and remove whatever has grown out of the ear. This will help you see inside the ear and check for ticks and lesions.

3. Keep the flies down. Wipe the ears with fly spray daily during the spring, summer and fall or whenever flies are present.

4. Spray the inside of the ear with Frontline spray or something similar that kills and repels ticks. Note that some flea medications are not effective against ticks, however.

5. Treat any injuries promptly and cover to avoid infection.

References

• Doctors Foster and Smith Ticks on Horses: How to Identify and Control