BOT fly eggs/ Ticks (need advice, totally clueless)

[Team Chaos]

So, we've got a nice old horse that lives on the farm. She doesn't belong to us, but the folks that brought her out have been absent for a years and we like her company. Anyway, tonite she was really trying to scratch the curve of her belly, in front of her hip. I went over to scratch and I discovered her belly is COVERED in tiny red ticks... and she's got hard abscesses w/ cheesy yellow goo (like big pimples). I was picking off the ticks when I noticed the tiny yellow eggs coating her legs and belly- they've got to be bot eggs.
My questions:

1. I was touching her, the eggs and the abscesses w/ my bare hands. Now I have the heeby jeebies. Am I at risk?

2. My sheep share the barn and pasture with her. Are the bots a risk to them??

3. I'm assuming we'll spend tomorrow w/ bot knives- cleaning her off far from the common areas. Any hints?

4. I assumed the abscesses were from ticks growing in to the swelling, is it more likely they are bot larvae?? Do I have to cut them out?

5. I read about the importance of worming the horse w/ an appropriate wormer after the first hard frost to eliminate the likelihood of them surviving 'til spring, any advice on a brand?

Oh man, my skin is crawling. UGH!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

If the horse hasn't been de-wormed in years you might want to start with a gentle deworming agent such as Strongid C2X pellet in the horses feed. Strongid will NOT kill bots, but the problem with worming a horse that hasn't been on a schedule is the possible kill-off of too many parasites at once.

Rather than try to explain - I'm going to post a link.

The one thing my veterinarian disagrees with in this article is the use of Moxidectin paste. He would rather tube the horse or use an ivermectin product.

http://www.moniteausaddleclub.com/deworming.htm#Implementing A Horse Worming Schedule

Good luck!

 

[Denim Deb]

As far as I know, bots are specific to horses. Another thing you might try is a slicker stone. They also remove bot eggs.

As for worming, there's a lot of disagreement now as to what you should do about worming. B4 spending the money on a wormer, it might be wise to have a vet do a fecal. Then, let them tell you what, if anything, you should use.

And, I doubt very much that your at risk for any disease. As long as none of the ticks have gotten on you, you should be fine. Most diseases are species specific.

 

[pinkfox]

have you thought about doing a permethrin or ivermectin topical on her?

any of the 10% permethrin horse fly sprays SHOULD kill any ticks...im not sure about bots, but when i had my flea issue in the house i bought a permethrin house spray an not only did the fleas die like mass genocide but the random ticks that came in on the cats didnt stand a chance!
i also know that standard ivermectin when used by putting it on the coat on dogs and cats (just like you woudl with a tube of frontline) kill fleas ticks, mites and im sure anything else that acts as a parisite...i just dont know how much youd use in that situation for horses.

http://www.horseswithamie.com/horsehealth/botfly.html