How to Protect a Horse From Botflies

Botflies are a member of the Oestridae family. Easily recognizable by their short, brown, hairy bodies, they are sometimes thought to resemble bumblebees because of their similar appearance and annoying buzzing sound. When botfly infestations are left untreated they can pose a health threat to your horse, as once the larvae hatch they crawl upwards to enter the horse's mouth and work to attach themselves to the stomach or small intestine. Although it is impossible to completely eliminate botflies from your pasture, there are ways to help protect your horse and keep botfly infestations to a minimum.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse dewormer
  • Botfly comb
  • Baby oil
  • Wash cloth
  • Petroleum jelly
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Instructions

    • 1

      Treat your horse with a dewormer. Horse dewormers typically come in plastic tubes and the dewormer is squirted into the horse's mouth in the form of a paste. Read the manufacturer's directions on the packaging to ensure proper dosage requirements for the weight and age of your horse.

    • 2

      Inspect the horse's hair for signs of infestation. The female botfly lays small, yellow oval-shaped eggs that attach to the individual hairs of the horse. Check under the chin, on legs and around the head area for evidence of botfly eggs.

    • 3

      Use a botfly comb to remove the botfly eggs before they hatch. A botfly comb is similar to a flea comb, but has sharp razor-like teeth that help strip the botfly from the horse's hair.

    • 4

      Smother the botfly eggs with baby oil or petroleum jelly. Pour a small amount of baby oil on a wash cloth and wipe down the horse's legs to cover botfly eggs and block the air flow to the larvae inside. Use petroleum jelly for smaller areas of infestation such as under the chin.