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Discussion on Equitrol???? | |
Author | Message |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2004 - 10:59 am: Saw this Dr. O....If I can't feed equitrol, what can I do to keep the flies down????Santa Ana, CA, March 25, 2004 -- The jury in Wrather v. Farnam Companies returned a verdict of $1,007,500 in favor of plaintiffs Charlotte Wrather, Christopher Wrather and Lori Araki. The jury found that Farnam's product Equitrol®, a feed-through fly control product, was defectively designed (not safe when used in the intended manner) and that it had caused harm to plaintiffs' thoroughbred racehorses and thoroughbred and warmblood sport horses. Mr. and Mrs. Wrather are the owners of Cottonwood Ranch in Los Alamos, California, a thoroughbred breeding and training farm. Ms. Arakimanager and trainer at Cottonwood Ranch. Equitrol® works in the manure to kill fly larvae before they mature. Its active ingredient is the organophosphate insecticide tetrachlorvinphos, a cholinesterase inhibitor and neurotoxin which is also known by the trade name Rabon®. Feed-through fly control products containing Rabon® are widely used in beef and dairy cattle and other livestock industries, as well as in horses. Farnam has advertised that Equitrol® is designed to pass quickly through the horse's gastrointestinal tract without being digested, and that it is safe for all horses including pregnant and lactating mares and their foals. The Wrathers and Ms. Araki claimed that they fed Equitrol® as directed, that the organophosphate in it was absorbed into their horses' systems, and that this caused or exacerbated a variety of health problems in the horses including reproductive problems and birth defects, stunted and retarded growth, hyperexcitability and other neurological dysfunctions, laminitis, immunosuppression evidenced by unusual or unusually severe infections, low thyroid, diarrhea, colic and more. Testifying as an expert witness for plaintiffs was Dr. John Madigan, D.V.M., professor in the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology and chief of the Equine Section at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Madigan last summer conducted a pilot study of the effects of feeding Equitrol®. In his study (forthcoming in the veterinary literature), the group of test horses fed Equitrol® experienced a sharp DrOp in their whole blood cholinesterase to levels consistent with organophosphate intoxification. The study also revealed statistically significant differences in behavior while on Equitrol® as compared with the control group. In a series of behavioral tests, the horses fed Equitrol® exhibited heightened or intensified flight response, that is, they were "spookier" or more easily startled or frightened. Also testifying for the plaintiffs were Drs. Mark Rick, D.V.M. and Greg Parks, D.V.M., both of the well known Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California; Dr. David Jensen, D.V.M., who practices privately as San Marcos Equine Practice in Los Alamos, California; and Dr. Warren Porter, Professor of Environmental Toxicology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The Wrathers and Ms. Araki had also alleged that Farnam knew at least since 1981 that 10% to 30% of the organophosphate in Equitrol® was absorbed, so that the advertising and marketing for Equitrol® contained negligent and intentional misrepresentations and omissions. The jury did not find that this had been proved by a preponderance of the evidence. 1 Charlotte Wrather et al v. Farnam Companies, Inc., United States District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana Civil No. 03-967 JVS(RCx)(March 25, 2004) |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2004 - 12:04 pm: I actually heard Dr. Madigan speak on his studies on Equitrol this past December Aileen and reported it briefly in the Dec 18th newsletter. None of the above ill effects were mentioned. However he did measure the DrOp in acetylcholinesterase levels and Dr. Madigan considered the DrOp acceptable with the possible exception of pregnant mares. Hmmm...the above looks like sensational reporting to me and I am not surprised at the courts results but will watch for his published paper and let you know if we find out differently. I have known many to use the product without ill effects but I do warn them about the possible cumulative effect if used with other o-p or carbamate products.If you want an alternative Dr Madigan said he has had very good results with the wasps on his farm. Actually we have tried both (at different times) for several years and felt we got good results for awhile but in both cases experienced long term failures. Talking sith the wasp folks they feel perhaps we may have received several bad batchs of wasp eggs the second year. DrO |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2004 - 12:16 pm: Thanks Dr. O,What are o-p or carbamate products? I'm now feeding him Reitsport by Horsetech, here are the ingredients, does it contain any of the o-p or carbamate products? Nutrient Product Analysis Provided per four-ounce serving (Reduced Serving Rate)*** Provided per six-ounce serving Suggested* Serving Rate Crude Protein (Min) 16.00% 18.2 g 27.3 g Crude Fat--Natural Flax Oil (Min) 22.00% 22.5 g 37.5 g Alpha Linolenic Acid--Omega-3 (Min) 12.35% 12.6 g 21.0 g Crude Fiber 20.00% 23.2 g 38.5 g Biotin (Min) 80 mg/lb 20 mg** 30 mg** Methionine (Min) 3.81% 4,300 mg 6,500 mg Glucosamine HCL (Min) 16,000 mg/lb 4,000 mg 6,000 mg MSM (OptiMSM Made in USA) 26.7 g/lb 6.67 grams 10 grams ChonDrOitin Sulfate 5,340 mg/lb. 1,320 mg 2,000 mg Probiotics Complete Package Complete Package Complete Package Vitamin C (Min) 12,000 mg/lb 3,000 mg 4,500 mg Vitamin E (Min) 800 IU/lb 200 IU 300 IU Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio 1.3:1 1.3:1 1.3:1 Ingredients Full-Fat Milled Flaxseed (Food-Grade), Yeast Culture, Methylsolfonylmethane (OptiMSM® brand of MSM), Glucosamine HCL, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Biotin Supplement, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Pyridoxine HyDrOchloride (B6), Niacinamide, Riboflavin Supplement (B2), Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine HyDrOchloride (B1), Zinc Amino Acid Complex1, Manganese Amino Acid Complex1, Copper Amino Acid Complex1, Cobalt Glucoheptonate1, Dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, Dried Bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, Dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Whey, Calcium Carbonate 1 Supplied by Zinpro® Availa-4® Zinpro® is a registered trademark of ZINPRO® Corp. OptiMSM® is a Registered Trademark of Cardinal Nutrition, Inc. Thanks again. |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2004 - 12:26 pm: Not sure if I want to deal with the wasps....lazy, yup.I think I'll try Bug Check instead...since it's natural...just to be safe??? |
Member: Lala |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2004 - 12:57 pm: Dear Aileen,What is bugcheck? Is it a feed through? I also saw in The Horse magazine (not to be confused with Horse Journal) a report on successful experimental use with catnip as a timed release sprayer in barn, run-in situations. Dr. O and Aileen, I used wasps for first time last year. They worked wonderfully and am going to double my order this year to increase the area covered by them. I shall also be on guard for bad batches and immmediately contact my supplier for replacements. So far they have been a wonderful company to deal with, good administation tips, etc. Aileen, I am very lazy myself but find putting out the wasps takes less than five minutes and is very satisfying way to wage war on pests -- plus I just don't want the chemicals to worry about either natural or manufactured -- tho' am tempted to find out more about the catnip -- it goes after mosquitoes which wasps do not. Welcome to bug season everybody! Fiona |
Member: Liliana |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2004 - 4:47 pm: Hi there,Have you ever tried giving your horses some ¼ to 1oz of powdered garlic? It works well preventing larvae in the gut and no flies! My hob amongst others did not believe in garlic until Sir William came to the yard, he is a flea bitten gray gelding who hated garlic, he actually boomeranged his bowl back to me together with one of those how dare you?!!look hence he was the only one covered in flies. We have introduced the garlic gradually in Williams feed and he’s a happy horse now The good news is that ´being inexpensive and no side effects makes a good option. |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Monday, Mar 29, 2004 - 5:42 pm: Catnip??? Really? I'd be interested in that as well.Yes, bug check is a feed thru, I believe. But Fiona, don't the wasps fly around you? Ick...Guess I'd better look into it more. Hello Lilliana, yes I've tried the garlic...but I didn't see a difference in the fly population -- but yes, it worked well as far as him not having SO MANY flies on him. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 7:01 am: Garlic has been a often reported treatment on these pages and most find it is not helpful. More important research has found no benefit as a repellant.Aileen o-p is an abbreviation for organophosphate, the type of insecticide in the Equitrol and carbamate is a closely related insecticide. I do not see either in the ingredients you list above. DrO |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 10:19 am: Thanks Dr. O! |
Member: Bethyg2 |
Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2004 - 11:19 am: Hi- i recently stopped the equitrol in my barn (1 large horse, 2 minis) and have experienced a MASSIVE increase in flies- you can hear them around the manure pile. Sounds like a small spaceship is landing. Anyway, am I a victim of sensational reporting, or is equitrol really not proven safe? I noticed some excitability in my horse over the past year, which may or not be related- certainly could relate to different hay, temperature, etc. I never did feed it to my new 8 month old foal as I just didn't get a sense that it was safe for him. But what to do about the flys? The FLORIDA FLYS! They are so bad that I am considering going back to equitrol. Life was so simple- maybe 10 flys in he stable at one time. Now there are thousands. Say what you will about Farnam, they made an effective product. Now I started Spalding Labs FLY PREDATORS. From what I could tell they do not look like wasps, but tiny ants with wings. We are suffering through the first 30 days to see if they have any effect. My farrier- who didn't see my note- sprayed a cloud of fly spray in the stable so I hope that one time didn't kill my predators.I spread them all over the outside of the barn also, and by the manure pile. All of the equitrol manure should be removed so that the little guys can do their work. Until then, there are clouds of flys...the jugs with attractant don't work, sprays are off limits for the moment- does anyone have any suggestions? I may go crazy from all these flys.-Beth Gordon |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2004 - 12:48 pm: Hi Beth,I'm trying Bug Check. There weren't any flies yesterday - it was 85 degrees - I'll keep you posted. |
Member: Patj |
Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2004 - 1:08 pm: Hi Beth,I've used the fly preditors for about 15 years and love them. Once you put them out you never know they're there. It takes them a while to get a handle on the fly situation so don't get discouraged. We do, however, have flies that migrate from neighbors who have horses but no fly control program, so I also use solar fly traps from Arbico. (I get my preditors from them also). Traps are round perferated metal with a screen top, and funnel that comes up the middle, with a bait dish under the funnel. They're similar to the plastic ones you get at the feed store but I've found they work a whole lot better. The flies fly up but can't come back down. When the trap fills up I use a little fly killer to kill the flies that are still alive, take the top off, and dump the dead flies out. These traps are pretty pricy, about $75, but I've had one for 15 years which still works great. I've also made my own out of screen material that did work but didn't last very long. The bait, yeast and some kind of baking powder, (not the kind from the grocery store but I think it's something bakers use)is $6. I use about 5 a year. After it ferments for about a week it smells like something died so you don't want the trap where you spend a lot of time. My third method is pretty gross but very effective. I have an old bathtub in the pasture where I put whatever dead animals (raccoon, possum, ground hogs) the dogs get, or neighbors shoot. (yes, when no one else is being productive, I've even picked up roadkill). The flies themselves, dead and alive, also attract more flies, and when all else fails I've used the above yeast bait. I sprinkle a little Golden Malrin on top of everything every couple of days. By the end of the fly season this tub is about 3/4 full of dead flies. I do put mesh over the tub so that other animals don't steal my "bait" and aren't poisoned by the Golden Malrin. I remember when I was growing up the method we used was to sprinkel a mixture of sugar and Golden Malrin (remember when it was yellow?) on burlap and wet it. It worked pretty well. Good Luck! |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 - 8:10 am: Hello Beth,As long as you are giving the predators a chance your options are limited. For immediate relief in the barn aisle you might try large fans. DrO |