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Discussion on Bug Off Garlic | |
Author | Message |
Member: zarr |
Posted on Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 - 5:11 pm: Went back thru old posts and found no follow ups to Bug Off Garlic from Springtime.Just got an e-mail from a friend and she is thrilled with this stuff. Anyone use it and happy ??? I would love to stop using sprays. Thanks |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 - 5:40 pm: Cindy,There was a very recent thread on hear about fly sprays and Bug off Garlic was mentioned. I use it all the time, my horses are on it 365 days out of the year, I use it for other things besides the flies,( helps the immune system, and can be anti-inflamatory). If needed I bump it up to twice daily in the summer, I haven't totally gotten rid of fly sprays, but I have cut way down. If you are going to use it, you need to start as soon as possible since it takes 2-4 weeks to get into your horses tissues and become effective and when you do start, only start off with a little twice a day, its not so much the taste as it is the smell and some horses are put off by it. Leave the lid off for a day or two and most of the smell will leave. Rachelle |
Member: zarr |
Posted on Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 - 6:21 pm: Missed that part, sorry. But our flies are already here.The nasty blood sucking gnats aren't far behind.I've used the SS and Tri-tech with decent results but would love not to spray so much! If they would just make a sprayable swat I'd be thrilled ! Sounds like our barn will go Italian. |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 - 8:55 pm: Cindy,If I remember the consensus about the fly sprays, was one with Deet worked the best on variety of flies followed by Pyrranah ( Yellow and black sprayer bottle). I like the Pyrranah in the aerosol can better for my purposes, not sure why the aerosol works better for me but it does. I have a very thin-skinned horse at least she used to be, she got a reaction to everything I put on her ( which is why I went to garlic in the first place), but this winter she roughed it out in the field with only a run in shed, no blanket and I think she came back in much better and tougher than she went out. I am hoping the garlic does its magic again this year as I do not want to start spraying her and winding up with reactions to the fly spray. Its not to late to start now, even if you do have flies, give it a couple of months to really see a difference. Rachelle |
Member: pattiann |
Posted on Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 - 9:06 pm: Bug Off Garlic!!! It REALLY works. I only supplemented when going into the woods or at shows with lots of other horses, and I used Tritec, but didn't even go through a whole bottle for the entire season last year with 4 horses! An added bonus was the poop didn't smell and I literally had no flies,gnats or mosquitos feeding off the poop.....even with all the mosquito breeding rain we had this year!Springtime also sells Bug Off Garlic for dogs, but that doesn't work. According to my small animal vet, the reason it works so well with horses (and people) is we/they sweat. Dogs sweat through the pads on their feet so it's not effective theoretically. There is some benefit in that it helps with poop odor and flies on their poop. Poop is a funny word actually, but it sounds better to me than feces.....Sorry.... |
Member: gramsey1 |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 7:09 am: Just wondering about thishttps://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/feeding/feed/eqgarlic528/ https://www.animalherbery.com/catalog.php/ANIMALHERBERY/pg302 Any symptoms? |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 8:42 am: Guy,I am familiar with both of these articles and I believe there is a discussion about the first one somewhere on HA. However, both of these articles use extremely large amounts of garlic/onions in their studies over a very short period of time. In comparison, I use at most a tablespoon or two on a long term daily basis. I have had the opposite results, my horses immune systems are very strong, I have had my racemare blood tested at several points over the last 3 1/2 years that she has been on garlic with absolutely no signs of anemia. I in fact had her blood tested the first time I saw this information, just to make sure. I think there are many other things in a horses environment that are a lot more insidious than a tablespoon of garlic once or twice a day and I think the benefits in this particular case out weigh the risks. What I would really like to see is a followup study on garlic at a much lower, more long term rate of use. Because I believe that anything given to any animal in concentrated short term doses could be detrimental to their health and as the study says there have been no such studies as this, unless they have been done quite recently. Rachelle |
Member: gramsey1 |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 9:54 am: Four pounds of onion tops in the one study and one to five cups of garlic in the other . . . The other day I was watching our TB in the pasture. The wild onions are three - four inches tall. He got a clump in his mouth. If spit it all out. If he could have he would have wiped his mouth with his hoof. I hadn't noticed that part of the studies.Thanks for that insight. We used to feed garlic but quit because of these studies. I am glad to hear that you have your own results. I think we'll start again. He is such a baby about flies. |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 10:26 am: I used it for quite a while and it did appear that the biting insects would gravitate toward other horses more than mine when out in a group.I quit using it because of concerns about toxicity over long-term use, but I also thought the benefits of usage declined over time. Thing is, if using it cuts down on the amount of chemicals used, that is a good thing. |
Member: cmatexas |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 10:32 am: Will it interfere with fly predators? |
Member: zarr |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 10:39 am: Has anyone combined it with apple cider vinegar? as in water for acv and bug off in feed? As I said my worst problem is the tiny blood sucking gnats and fly predators don't work on them. Now I'm really thinking italian! |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 7:02 pm: Michelle,It should not affect the fly predators, it works completely differently. Cindy, Never combined it, but could work. I remember trying to find a flyspray that worked on gnats. I'll try to find the one I used, can't remember the name of it off hand. I've tried so many over the years. Guy, When you were using it did you notice a difference in your horse? It works a lot better if all your horses are on it. Any body use a feed thru fly control product other than garlic? |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 7:37 pm: I would like to use a feed through fly control product and also the fly predators, but too many cattle are kept on the lands all around my horse pastures to make either very effective. |
Member: sross |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 8:38 pm: I use the Springtime garlic for my dogs with good results. They are rarely bothered by ticks or fleas, and they're immune systems are strong. Very rarely do I need to use chemical flea treatment. One of the dogs is not so fond of the powder, but will eat the chewable tablets. |
Member: klowe |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2010 - 9:16 pm: On the subject of flies...we've got them already, as it has been a warm & wet winter by New Mexico standards. This will be my 3rd year using the Simplifly feed-thru fly control. Even with cows down the road, I find it has helped enormously, especially if I start it early. Now I have chickens for pest control as well. I checked with the company, and they didn't see it as being any problem for the chicks.Of course, the price has gone up... Kathy |
Member: gramsey1 |
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 - 9:38 pm: We used a product that weakened or killed the larva in the manure pile in a boarding barn, two barns back.The first year it didn't seem to do much. But, the second and third year is did work. Flies were reduced. |
Member: stek |
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 11:53 am: Rachelle if you remember the name of the spray that worked on gnats please post!! I have a mare that gets horrid sweet itch every year. Swat helps but does not completely control the problem.Is garlic effective for gnats too or just flies? |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Thursday, Apr 8, 2010 - 9:52 pm: Shannon,Sorry it took me so long to post back, I had to find the flyspray and then I couldn't find your post. The name of the product is called Liquid Net. www.liquidfence.com The gnats have been out in force where I am since the temps have been in the eighties, my two garlic horses have had a few buzzing around their ears but they don't seem to be bothering them anywhere else on their bodies. Rachelle |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Friday, Apr 9, 2010 - 7:26 am: The ingredients in the Liquid Net are close to what I use to make a home made fly spray. I use apple cider vinegar, citronella, cedarwood, lemongrass, and tea tree oil, and water. The Liquid Net ingredients are:Citronella oil Lemon grass oil Geraniol (harder to find) sodium lauryl sulfate peppermint oil eugenol (don't know that one) lime wintergreen water I think my home made spray works as well as any I can buy, with the exception of a Deet based product which I use if needed during heavy buggy days. Thanks for the link Rachelle, it does look like a good product. I am wondering about cooking up some garlic or soaking in oil? Garlic straight on skin can burn, but a small amount would go a long way smell wise, and in oil be safe I would think. |
Member: npo33901 |
Posted on Friday, Apr 9, 2010 - 9:31 am: Angie, I am squashing garlic into olive oil. Let it stand for a day or two and than with a cotton wool smearing it on the horses. I think it helps - but it is very messy .YES, fresh garlic burns. And they get garlic every meal. Thanks for the home made R. |
Member: stek |
Posted on Friday, Apr 9, 2010 - 10:47 am: Thanks Rachelle! The price on the liquid net isn't too bad. Think I will try that and garlic on my sweet itch mare this year... I feel like if I can get her through one year of regrowing her tail and mane (she has extremely thick hair) she'll have a little more natural protection from the bugs too. Maybe this will be our year =) |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2010 - 8:57 am: The article discusses the use of garlic briefly but just for clarity, critical research and many folks personal experience suggest garlic often not helpful to control biting flies.DrO |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2010 - 10:54 am: Dr. O,I think the garlic issue is going to be one of those issues, where until there is a definitive study using small amounts of garlic over a long period of time to either prove or disprove the hypothesis that garlic does indeed work, we are going to continue to have this discussion. While there may be many that seem to feel garlic is not helpful against controlling biting flies, there are many others that feel that it does and does other good things as well. As I've said in other posts there are a lot more insidious things we do to our horses that are a lot more dangerous than a tablespoon of garlic once a day. Just my thoughts Rachelle |
Member: mari1yn |
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2010 - 3:11 pm: Rachelle,My thoughts exactly. Thank you for stating it so eloquently. Marilyn |
Member: npo33901 |
Posted on Saturday, Jun 12, 2010 - 8:26 am: Angie, above post April 9, you are giving ingredients for a homemade spray. Can you please enlarge on it, what quantities and form of products is needed. For example. Sodium lauryl sulfate - liquid, oil or powder ?. Wintergreen, lime - juice of lime ? Eugenol ( I know it is used in dentistry , anti inflamatory ).My concotion of squashed garlic and feeding fresh garlic is not working . Deed and Swat - please, tell me WHERE/which shop you buy those . And what name you get ? Thank you, AM. |
Member: npo33901 |
Posted on Saturday, Jun 12, 2010 - 4:51 pm: Eugenol oil is made of cloves . Is antiinflametory and antibacteria . Is used in dentistry . |
Member: lilo |
Posted on Saturday, Jun 12, 2010 - 6:06 pm: Anna-Maria - DEET is an ingredient in many human bug sprays, such as Deep Woods Off. I do not know if you can get that in Portugal.Swat is an ointment that is sold in horsey feed stores here in the US. It used to be a horrible pink color, but now comes in clear. Again - no idea if it is sold in Europe. Lilo |
Member: gramsey1 |
Posted on Saturday, Jun 12, 2010 - 9:27 pm: We tried liquid fence and are fans.I would like to try Angie's recipe. Details? |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Saturday, Jun 12, 2010 - 11:20 pm: Guy,I am not much of a chemist! I haven't made any yet this year, but it seems like I used Dawn dish soap, ACV, and some of each of the following: Tea tree oil, cintronella, eucalyptus, and I'll have to look and see what else is in the tackroom! I plop about 20 DrOps of each in the spray bottle. I think I tried lemon grass, cedar wood, maybe some others, but it seems to be the first 3 that matter. Not sure the Dawn does anything except make the spray stick, sodium lauryl sulfate is like soap. I'll try to remember to look tomorrow. |
Member: npo33901 |
Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 7:51 am: Lilo, I cannot get it in Portugal - BUT - my sister in law will try to send it ( if customs allow it through - as it is chemical and we have had already bad experience) or bring it .Deep wood - do you get it in Wallgreens or any other store ? |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 9:57 am: Most of our drug stores, supermarkets or big box stores like Wal Mart carry Deep Woods Off.There are various DEET containing sprays and the higher the percentage of DEET, the more effective. One caution though is that some horses are super-sensitive to DEET, especially if it is sprayed on areas that are already sweaty. It caused skin peeling and temporary skin color change (to very bright pink) on my gray Arab Lance. I don't use it on my horses having had this experience more than once. One of my horses is also very allergic to Citronella and breaks out in hives from this or Skin-so-Soft. Dawn is a very strong detergent, which causes irritation for some of us. I wouldn't want to leave that on a horse's skin. Sodium laureth sulfate is a surfacant that causes the sudsing action in soaps and not a product that I would choose to leave on a horse's skin as I am sure it would cause problems for some individuals. Personally, I try to avoid human products that contain this ingredient. It is banned in some countries due to toxicity. Be cautious with the homemade remedies or any not previously and successfully used products, testing it on a smaller area first (such as the side of neck or area on chest) rather than applying all over the horse. |
Member: zarr |
Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 10:00 am: Put my horses on high ;) grade human garlic from health food store. Of the 4 the mustang turned into an Italian horse Loves the stuff !Can't get enough of it, the mares are Ok with it and the arab gelding refuses to let it touch his lips.So I have a mini experiment going! So far the mustang is almost bug free! Wonder now if mother natures guides them to wild garlic?? The flies do not like the garlic horses however my big guy is still being sprayed maybe he will change his mind ? They get a tsp a day?! |
Member: cometrdr |
Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2010 - 6:35 pm: I have been using the Bugg off Garlic from Spring time now for over 6 weeks - yes some noticably less bugg instances. but this is our first year at this new Horse Location - these are the first horses here. I am adamant about Poop - grind it if not2 times a day three times - break the balls make dust out of them. Arizona is a very dry climate. so the bug population is low. With that said My big guy - Comet has gotten welts all over him from bug bites (i presume) and a pad reaction to some bug sprays. the garlic has seemed to help that to be all but totally gone now - so perhaps it is working - he is about 1300 so he gets a full scoop two tines a day now. About twice what they recommended as the dose. My Arab only gets one scoop a day and he is doing fine as well. so I think its working - but I have not priors here to base it on. they look great - I would recommend the garlic in their diet. |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2010 - 7:12 pm: The garlic does seem to send the biting flies to horses not on it over those eating it, but over a longer term I did not find that I could justify that it was very effective. |