Neonate Safe Bug stuff--for Mare AND Midwife...

[pintopiaffe]

Help! I have never, ever been so eaten alive as I was last night--and that was just two night checks, not camping out or actually foaling.

I'm sure it's from all the rain/wet etc.

The poor mare is white with pink skin, and she has had bites up and down her sides too... her poor pink udder is a mess.

I'm hesitant about what to use on her... picturing a sweet little nose trying to latch on to elbows, knees, hocks etc. before finding the spigots--also don't want to make the smell of bug stuff overhwelm the milk stuff.

Then comes ME... I always scrub up and/or use sterile sleeves, but at some point bebe rubs against my clothes etc... ???

What is safe and WORKS???

Editing to add: I have slathered her poor udder and belly line with Bag Balm, which soothes and has a somewhat deterrent effect... but that's got to come off soon, that stuff is BITTER. I've used it for chapped lips before. It *works* but is bitter!

[seramisu]

I have a (mostly black) pinto mare with a (mostly white) pinto baby. They too are getting eaten alive. Their bay mare and foal pasturemates are hardly affected - the bugs must be attracted to all the white.

While I don't love the idea of slathering such a youngster with chemicals, I was desperate. The baby was miserable, polkadotted pink with tick bites. The vet recommended Frontline Spray, which helped a little but not as much as I would have liked. After experimenting with all sorts of sprays etc, I've found the best cocktail to be EquiSpot (a whole tube on the mare, half a tube on the baby - it's not labelled for use on foals under 12 weeks but I'm taking my chances) and Swat on the sensitive/bug prone bits (ears, armpits, mare's jaw and forelock, colt's poor pink rectum and sheath.)

I would recommend the EquiSpot wholeheartedly over any sprays. To be safe, you can use it just on the topline of the mare, not on the legs where the newborn could rub up against it. Or, you could put it on her legs too, let it soak in for 24 hours, then wash her legs thoroughly (if you think you have 24 hours before the baby comes).

[pintopiaffe]

Good point that Swat is safe... if it's safe enough for wounds, might be a good option...

The Equispot might have to wait until post-colostrum. I'm a little overly cautious when it comes to stuff that is actually absorbed. But will look into it after the first few days, at least for Mama.

I don't remember it ever being this bad around a foaling... But then I've watched the last few years from the comfort of my bedroom!