Very Common
You also might be observing
Observation
What you see. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation.
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Bot Flies, Bee-Like Insect Buzzing around, Laying Eggs on Horse
Summary
Bot flies are bee-like insects that lay their tiny, pale eggs on the limbs and body of horses in the fall season. They are highly irritating to horses and can even cause herds to stampede.
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Code Green
Contact Your Vet to Obtain Useful Advice & Resources
your role
What To Do
Learn to recognize bot flies, eggs and larvae when you see them. They are not thought to cause serious health problems for horses but the adults can be annoying pests. The eggs are ingested by horses and hatch in the stomach, where the larvae attach to the stomach wall during development.The most important point is to take bots into account in your horse's de-worming program. Bot flies will lay their eggs, horses will ingest them over a period of weeks. Consider 1-2 dewormer applications after several hard frosts in the fall to kill the larvae in the stomach. You can remove eggs with a specially shaped bot egg knife.
Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
Very Common
your vet's role
Your vet can help you design a de-worming program tailored to your needs and that takes bots into account.
Questions Your Vet Might Ask:
- What does the insect look like?
- Are there white specks on the hair of the forearms (bot eggs)?
Diagnostics Your Vet May Perform
Figuring out the cause of the problem. These are tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what’s wrong.
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Very Common
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
