9 August 2023 | Product and Promotions Guide
Supplementation can help
with fly control
Getting a head start on fly season provides the most
effective control to prevent immature flies from developing
into adults.
Once temperatures rise above 50 F, flies begin emerging.
Depending on where your clients live, that could be
between February and April. In mild climates, house and
stable flies may breed year-round, with peak populations
occurring during humid months.
About one month before fly season begins, horse owners
may want to consider feeding Solitude
®
IGR, an insect
growth regulator that prevents the production of chitin.
Explain to clients that chitin is a natural compound that
house and stable flies need to develop their exoskeletons.
So fly larvae exposed to Solitude IGR in the horse's manure
are unlikely to develop into adult flies—they simply die off.
This pelleted supplement can be given after the fly season
has started, but it takes a few weeks to "catch up" to
the existing fly population. For maximum effectiveness,
encourage clients to start these control efforts before the
beginning of fly season and continue treating all horses on
the property daily throughout the fly season. Solitude IGR
can also be given every other day at double the daily dose
but adding it to feed at a daily cadence seems to be easier
for clients to remember.
Help clients choose a dewormer
With so many products available, horse owners may not
know which active ingredients effectively control the major
parasites of concern. Some excellent parasite control
guidelines have been outlined by the American Association
of Equine Practitioners (AAEP):
• The AAEP recommends making deworming decisions
based on a horse's age, egg shedding levels and the
length of the grazing season in your area.
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• Moxidectin, the active ingredient in Quest
®
Gel
(moxidectin) and Quest
®
Plus Gel (moxidectin/
praziquantel) dewormers, works to kill stomach worms
that produce eggs capable of developing into larvae
and eventually contributing to the development of
summer sores.
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