{"id":13752,"date":"2022-09-07T13:40:02","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T17:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=13752"},"modified":"2022-09-07T14:26:21","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T18:26:21","slug":"horse-lice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/horse-lice\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Complete Guide to\u00a0Horse\u00a0Lice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lice. No one likes them, no one wants them, and when you find them on your horse, they’re lousy! Lice make your horse itch to the point of rubbing off its hair<\/a> and ruining its appearance, as well as making your horse uncomfortable. You want to get rid of lice the moment you see them on your horse so as to prevent their transmission to other horses in the herd and barn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horses get lice from their pasture-mates and sometimes from being groomed with brushes that have lice on them. Fortunately for horse owners, horse lice can’t make their homes on people. The species of louse that infests horses can’t thrive on humans<\/a>, and there is no possibility of transmission. Breathe easy as you handle a horse with lice and provide\u00a0treatment for horse lice\u00a0with confidence as you’re not at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following guide to horse lice will help you understand what a horse louse is, how a horse gets them, and what steps you should take after discovering lice on your horse.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). All of our recommendations are honest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Types of Lice on Horses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are two types of lice that are found on horses<\/strong>. The most common type of lice is known as Haematopinus asini, a bloodsucking louse. They look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Haematopinus<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Haematopinus<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The other kind is called Bovicola equi, which is a biting or chewing louse. These ones look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Bovicola<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The biting louse feeds on skin secretions and skin cells, and the bloodsucking louse pierces the hair root in the same manner as a mosquito. Both lice prefer to infest different parts of a horse’s body, with the biting louse preferring the finer hair on the neck, flank, and base of the tail. The bloodsucking louse infests the roots of the mane, forelock, the base of the tail, and the feathering around the hoof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A lice infestation is known as pediculosis<\/em>. You may hear this term or see it written down as part of a veterinary diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When it comes to spotting lice, it’s easier to see chewing lice because they move faster than the sucking lice. You may see them moving around as they look for their next meal, but keep in mind that lice have a tendency to stay in place regardless of species. Lice are incapable of flight and can’t jump, which means they spend their entire lifecycle on the same horse and won’t move far from their feeding grounds. Their diminutive size also makes it difficult to see them\u2014the chewing lice are less than a tenth of an inch in length, and the sucking lice are about an eighth of an inch in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As you can see from the photos above, both types of lice have a distinctive appearance, although they are similar in their build. The chewing louse has a narrow, pointed head with six large legs in between its oval-shaped thorax, while the sucking louse has a round head, small legs behind its head, and an elongated lozenge-shaped thorax. Horse lice differ in color from human lice and are yellowish-brown instead of white. Eggs are white in color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    An infestation is most likely to occur in the late winter and early spring, but lice can be observed on a horse outside of these seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lice can live their entire lifecycle on a horse after an initial infestation, and both types of lice have a similar lifecycle. The female lays her eggs, known as nits, on the hair shaft of the horse. A natural adhesive on the egg case enables it to attach to the hair shaft. After five to 20 days, nymphs emerge from the eggs and begin to feed immediately after hatching. It takes anywhere from two to four weeks for a nymph to reach full maturity and begin the lifecycle once again. The entire lifespan of the louse is anywhere from 20 to 40 days total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Symptoms That Indicate Your Horse Has Lice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Horse lice symptoms mimic other skin issues <\/a>and you may overlook the appearance of lice if the infestation is minor. As you search for the cause of your horse’s discomfort, look closely for the telltale signs of nits on hair follicles<\/strong> to determine if your horse has a lice infestation. Look under the mane and forelock, and pull the hair aside on the tail dock. Also check the hair coat in the areas where your horse is showing signs of irritation for nits and insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Horse lice symptoms include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n