By eHow Pets Editor
Rate: (12 Ratings)
Bot flies will lay eggs on your horse's legs in late summer. Because the eggs feel itchy, your horse will lick her legs. The eggs pass from the horse's tongue to the stomach lining. Next spring, the eggs will have turned into larvae and will be passed through the horse's stools. Bot larvae rob your horse of nutrients and can even cause stomach ulcers. Remove the eggs from the horse's legs before they are ingested.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Use kerosene. Apply it and wipe the eggs off. I would consider a bath afterword. I've been told this by several different people, from trainers to old cowboy types.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 This is a tip on how to remove bot eggs from your horse's coat FOREVER. This is only effective for horses who are stalled. After your horse has been stalled for the night, tape a few long sheets of plastic wrap along the cracks of the stall door (only for stalls that have one door on top and one on bottom) and 'paint' them with honey. The bot flies will be attracted to the honey and fly straight into it. WHAM! Dead bot flies. Dead bot flies mean no bot eggs!
Anonymous said
on 1/25/2006 Apply a small amount of nail polish remover. When it drys, use a bot knife and scrap the eggs off. Then take some petroleum jelly and wipe it over the area.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 When using a bot knife be sure that it does not become rusty! That way if the horse suddenly moves and gets cut there is less chance of infection.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Keeping manure out of the pasture will help prevent eggs. Don't use a bot knife on a nervous or skiddish horse, they might jump and hurt you or/and themselves.
Christine