Insect control supplements?

[jumper27]

Has anyone had any success with insect control supplements (BugCheck, SmartBug-Off, Buggzo, etc.)? Are they worth trying?
Thanks!

[deltawave]

No luck with those, but the feed-through fly control stuff (Simplifly, Solitude, etc.) is excellent, IME. You need to start it very early, though, like before the ground thaws, and all the horses on a place need to be on it.

[Peg]

Solitude works beautifully for me. Peg

[CB/TB]

I use Equitrol II and this year I added Bug Check in April just to see if I could REPEL the flies the feed thru didn't take care of. I really don't think I see as much "swishing" this year. BUT, we had a cool, rainy spring so I'll have to wait to see what happens when( if!) summer arrives at all this year. So far we're on the second FULL day of sun and it's going to be in teh high 70s/low 80s(f), so we'll see. And yes , the trick with any of these products is to start early and have all horses on the feed thrus. The Bug Check, Buggzo, etc would probably be great for people in a boarding situation, just to keep flies off THEIR horses. These products do have some killing properties that can't do any harm and anything that can decrease the bug population can't be all bad. And , my horse does not smell like a Pizza Hut!

[jumper27]

CB/TB: I am in a boarding situation and am trying to help my horse out. So, should I go more in the direction of BugCheck if I decide to try this?

I am not sure, but I think that my horse is developing a mild sweet itch and am trying to keep the bugs away from him. Right now, I am using an apple cider vinegar rinse everyday. I have heard that you could feed them ACV for the flies, but he has a history of ulcers and I am afraid to put an acidic substance into his stomach.

[deltawave]

The amount of acid in a cupful of vinegar is equivalent to about a tenth of a teaspoon of stomach acid. :) Whether it does anything vs. flies is also questionable, but it's highly unlikely to do him any harm ulcer-wise.

[jumper27]

I actually have noticed him being less bothered by flies with just the vinegar rinse (about as much as a good fly spray). Thanks for the insight deltawave, I tend to be the paranoid mother! :) Not wanting to feed him the vinegar is why I was looking into these supplements.

[deltawave]

People credit ACV with all sorts of superpowers. :). It's highly unlikely to make flies avoid a horse when ingested, but at least it's cheap and probably harmless.

[CB/TB]

I'd give the Bug Check, Bugg off, or whatever garlic supplement you'd like a try. I think it's the Thiamine in it that works. If it's going to work, even later is better than not at all. The dosage ( of garlic)in any of them is probably not enough to give problems. It's also pretty inexpensive as supplements go. Some just get the Costco, BJ's, Sam's garlic granules and use that; not sure of the dosage there. I've been reading on these boards that Listerine( the original yellow) seems to repel bugs- applied, not fed! It's been warm and sunny here for 3 whole days! Still, I'd rather have this than 85+ degrees anyday. Good luck finding something to help .