Lice in horses

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Lice: are small, wingless insects that can infect a large number of animals. However, they spread easily between horses. A biting louse or sucking that clings to a host's hair and eats skin debris and secretions.

Clinical symptoms associated with lice can vary in severity and may be limited to skin problems. Clinical symptoms may include the following:

• Scratching, rubbing and biting
• Hair loss
• A rough coat and sparse appearance
• Stress due to restlessness and irritability
• Skin wounds and rough spots (from self-trauma)
• A rough coat and sparse appearance

If a horse is heavily infested with blood-sucking lice, the parasites can drink enough blood to cause anaemia. In some cases, horses can also become very stressed and irritated by lice, leading to weight loss and contributing to an unkempt, shabby appearance.

Horses usually get lice when they come into contact with other horses that are infected. Sick, old or weakened horses are also more likely to get infected. Horses in crowded environments can spread the parasites to each other very easily. Lice can also be transmitted by fomites: objects such as combs, brushes or blankets that, if shared, can help spread lice from horse to horse.

Lice infestations in horses are more common in winter and spring. Moreover, longer hair during cold weather gives lice an excellent place to hide, allowing them to thrive and sometimes go unnoticed.

The good news is that lice can only live in the environment for a very short time. Since transmission usually occurs through direct contact between horses, this provides an opportunity to control/eradicate the parasite from your yard. The spring and summer months are a good time to try to treat or eradicate lice from your horses, as lice are more exposed to the elements due to hair loss and warmer weather!