This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I have used Spot-On (6 mL per dose, 65% permethrin) and another product
called Brute.
Brute is item #25167 at http://www.valleyvet.com and is $17.49 for 16
ounces (943 mL). It contains 10% permethrin. You apply Brute at 3-6 mL
per 200 pounds of animal every 14 days. I applied the Brute every two
weeks at the lower 3 mL per 200 pounds rate -- about 15-20 mL per horse.
In my experience, I liked both products, but Brute appears to work as
well as Spot-On and is LOTS less expensive to use. Brute is about $0.40
per animal per application, compared with Spot-On at $5.50 per animal
per application.
You can apply Brute as a pour-on like the Spot-On, but I found the
horses, especially Duncan, my thin-skinned paint, hated that method
(with either product, by the way). Duncan acted as if it almost burned
him. So I started to use a wipe-on method with the Brute -- works just
fine for all. Because the Spot-On dose is so small, it is not really
practical to apply it using a wipe-on method.
Now, the rest of my message is an urgent warning NOT to use these
concentrated, potent pesticides without proper information and
education. I used to work as an engineer in an agricultural chemicals
production plant, and I KNOW what overdosing on pesticides can do to a body.
Please, please READ THE PRODUCT DIRECTIONS AND FOLLOW THEM CAREFULLY.
Don't assume anything about what are safe practices! It is your horse's
health you are making assumptions about. If you don't understand the
directions, check with the manufacturer -- do NOT rely on hearsay and
supposition!
I would NEVER, ever use other fly sprays or feed-through fly products in
addition to either Spot-On or Brute -- unless the Spot-On or Brute usage
directions ~~specifically~~ permit this practice.
You may be OVERDOSING your animal if you use a second permethrin based
flyspray! Even another non-permethrin type of pesticide may interact
with Spot-On or Brute and cause severe health problems.
And don't forget about properly disposing of the product containers --
small animals and children can become severely ill from exposure to
pesticides, especially concentrated ones such as these.
Use care to also protect yourself when applying these products -- even
we big humans can get really sick from pesticides. Wash hands carefully
with lots of soap and water after using these products, even if you
don't think you got any pesticide on you.
A final observation: Give these products a little time to work -- don't
go reaching so fast for another flyspray! Whether you choose Spot-On or
Brute, they do take a few days to become fully effective -- but the
better approach is to dose with Spot-On or Brute at the beginning of fly
season and perhaps to use a fly mask, if you horse will wear one.
DeeAnna
