Share your Ingenious Solutions to Everyday HorseKeeping...

[ToveroMom]

I love this topic

I use the liquid Ivermectrin wormer-1 ml per 100 lbs. Pop it into their grain and they self worm-no muss no tubes.
Easy with me having horses,minis and a colt

[divinemisselle]

drgnm5, Permaguard---is that made for horses? And is the dosage you gave for purge worming or daily?

Toveromom, the liquid ivermectin, is that the one they make for cattle?

I have 4 that cannot be wormed the "normal" way, and we pay more than $12.00 for the pelleted stuff, and two won't even eat that !

[ToveroMom]

Well the formulation is the same but you cannot inject horses like cattle
It used to be an off label thing but now they have liquid Ivernectrin for horses..
Check out www.Heartlandvetsupply.com
they are by far the cheapest at 38.99 for 200 mls[0r 20 wormings for 1,000 lb horses

YOU DO NEED A VET PRESCRIPTION for this but my Vet signed the form for free
the RX form is downloadable from there.
They have great prices-I get all my vet supplies from here now

[drgnm5]

DME- I know the guy at the feedstore recommends it for horses so I looked on the web and this is what I found.

http://www.invisiblegardener.com/mag...ges/de_tip.htm

If you read closely it says it is safe for dogs, cats, and horses. It explains the whole thing in detail, what it is how it works, ect.

I hope this is helpful. Also the 1/8-1/4 cup dose is daily deworming dose, if I really want to blast them (especially with young horses, to avoid colic issues) I feed the 1/8 cup permaguard for a week or two and then hit them with the ivermectin paste and then continue with the permaguard daily. Otherwise if they aren't too heavily infested (major parisites, very obvious in droppings) I just use the permaguard and it gradually reduces the numbers and keeps things in balance.

Heather

[ToveroMom]

Oh,diatomaceous earth-it is the shells of microscopic ancient sea creatures-supposed to scrub the worms off the walls of the vessels and organs.

I use regular wormers but DE for pools makes a nice absorber for pee spots in stall. Sucks it right up-neat

[TXCowGrl82]

I don't know how ingenious this is, but... We get our laundry detergent in those big tubs, and we keep them to put misc things in them. Brushes, misc leather pieces that are broken, but we may find a use for, etc.

[ToveroMom]

Oh another thing-the heavy duty milk crates-nailed to the wall-will just comfortably hold a 5 gallon water bucket

[TXCowGrl82]

Where can you get those? Other than illegally?

[ron]

Originally Posted by divinemisselle

Toveromom, the liquid ivermectin, is that the one they make for cattle?

Yes, it is the same but just can not use as injectible. It is exactly the same chemical as in the paste wormer but without the white paste carrier.

IVOMEC is one brand name. But be sure not to get the Ivomec plus.
The plus has extra ingrediant for liver flukes and this chemical is not good for horse. So check the label for anything other than IVOMEC. Around here it is 40 dollars for 100 ml bottle. But as Toveromom said, we can get it for the same price but for twice the size bottle via mail order.

[QuarterCowGirl]

Here a few off the top of my head here...

In the house.....
*Apply WD-40 to insect bites, or areas where you have bad arthritis, supposed to work like a charm.
*Apparently mayo will kill lice.
*If you have a wart, put duct tape on it!
*Hiccups? A tablespoon of vingar will cure that!

In the barn.....
*Used oil will get rid of Ring worm in cattle. Just apply it generously and often.
*To prevent hairballs in rabbits (yes, no mistake there, they get hairballs too!) give your bunny a piece of banana every so often!
*If you have an animal who is severly matted, sprinkle cornstrach on the area and pull the hair apart with you fingers, starting from the bottom and working you way up.
*Does you dog have fleas? Crush half a clove of garlic and put it in his/her food. Good-bye fleas!

Wow, this really let the true red neck in me shine through!

[divinemisselle]

Thanks, all of you for the info! I plan to check out what my mill has to offer on Saturday.


Would definitely make things easier.

[version1955]

Removing stains - hydrogen peroxide, it mixes with ANY organic material (blood, grass, manure, etc) and bubbles it off.

It works on laundry as well as your teeth! However, if you have grass or manure stains on your teeth, you have OTHER problems... seriously though, coffee or tobacco stains (shame on you!)

Those laundry stain prespotters are basically hydrogen peroxide and soap. You need to be careful not to leave it on colored fabrics for too long or it will also remove the color!

[WalkerboundKC]

What a great thread!

In the winter I keep dryer sheets in my caddy so I don't shock the bejeezus out of my horse when putting on or removing his pad. I also keep one in my pocket b/c I'm like a walking electric shock in the winter I swear! (great for static in the hair as well!)

Those dryer sheets work for everything! Put one in your vaccum filter and your entire house will smell great when your done!

I'm frugile when it comes to buying food for my family. With the kids I never buy indiviual size anything! I buy a few packs of the Gladware individual containers and seperate myself! Makes kids lunches easier.

As for my horse I avoid the highend products when something simple will work just as good. Love all the ideas for detangler, I spend $1 on the target brand detangler and it works like a charm.

Baby oil is a godsend as well, great for chapped mouths as well as everything else mentioned.

Cut empty milk jugs off at an angle to make perfect FREE scoops! (Can you ever have enough scoops?)

they also make a great substitute for "jolly balls" Why spend $ on toys when you can just take a little of your recycling and let them have fun.

And finally instead of driving the car to work just take your horse, that's bound to save you a fortune in gas! LOL!

[Lady_MCSE]

This thread has been great, and since I'm a brand new first-time horse owner, I have nothing horse-wise to offer up. But I did work for six years in a couple of different pet stores, and I started writing my own book about Pet Care which is still unfinished to this day.

But I had a section in it for money saving tips. It would drive me nuts when poeple would pay $8 for some stupid dog toy that I knew was exactly the same as a children's toy sold for $4. (But the pet store was paying my bills, so of course I just went ahead with the sale.)

I'm assuming most of you folks out there would be dog and cat owners as well as horse people, so perhaps you might enjoy these.

========
Cats
• Odor Eliminator. If your feline has an "accident" outside of the litterbox, a mixture of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 warm water will provide a good odor neutralizer. However, it is important to clean the soiled area as soon as possible
• Use human hair-brushes to groom your cat. If you have a short- to medium- haired cat, you should be able to groom him/her well with a baby-brush or other soft human hairbrush. Cat brushes from pet stores can run three- to four- times as expensive as a human counterpart. However, long-haired cats may need brushes designed just for them.
• Use a (human) baby shampoo on those occasions you find it necessary to wash your cat. This will be much less expensive than “Cat� shampoos. Tearless is preferred.
• Fleas? For some reason, the pet industry gets away with charging cat owners more for flea treatments for cats than for dogs. However, the important thing is the ingredients, which are oftentimes exactly the same for cats and dogs. If you take the time to read labels, you may find that a bottle of “Puppy� shampoo has exactly the same strength of active ingredient as a “kitten� shampoo, which costs $2-3 more. Start by looking at what’s safe for a cat, and see if you can match it in the dog-section for less money.
• Catnip. You've probably heard about catnip and seen your cat react to it. While it is great, the pet stores charge an awful lot for the stuff. Look into growing your own. There are some kits at pet stores, which should get you started. You might also find catnip available at health food stores (for tea) at a much cheaper price than a pet store. In some cases, the catnip found at a health food store may even be fresher than the pet store variety.
• Cat toys. Cats love toys, even ones not made just for them. Take the plastic ring from around the cap of a plastic Milk jug, and throw it across the room for your tabby. It has just enough spring in it to keep acting “alive� to keep his/her interest.
• One of the simplest cat toys is a wad of paper and string. Try wadding up a piece of paper with your cat watching, just to pique his interest, then tie a piece of string about three feet long to that wad of paper. You can then pull that wad behind you, but beware, a cat might come attached to it!
• Some cats go crazy over paper bags. Next time you’re at the grocery store, ask for paper. When your cat is around, place the bag on its side on the floor, so that the opening is facing the cat. If he’s not curious enough to go in right away, just scratch the bottom of the bag a few times. He just might be willing to explore inside to find the noisy creature that appears to be in it.
• Other Cat Toys? While some of the suggestions made so far can be excellent ideas for home-made toys, keep in mind that some "toys" can be dangerous. Twine and thin cotton string should be safe when making up a toy, provided pieces cannot come off that can be digested. Do not use knitting yarn. The chances of your feline getting a claw stuck in the knitting yarn are much higher.


Dogs
• Odor Eliminator. If your canine has an "accident" a mixture of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 warm water will provide a good odor neutralizer. It is important to clean the soiled area as soon as possible. Then, if the carpet is fairly light in color, the best course of action is to follow-up with a dusting of baking soda. Wait until the vinegar/water mixture has dried partially, and rub in a small amount of baking soda. In two to three hours, vacuum up, and the odor and stain should be virtually gone.
• Dog Toys. Children’s Toys are usually safe for dogs too. I have often seen at toy stores a children’s toy which is an exact match for a dog toy. However, the dog toy is more expensive because it’s packaged for a dog. If you don’t have children too, try shopping now and then in their toy section to find an inexpensive squeak-toy or stuffed toy. If it’s safe for a two-year-old human, it should be safe for your dog or puppy.
• Dog Grooming can be done at home with some investment and practice. If you wish to try grooming at home, you might want to look in the beauty section of any department store or grocery store. Electric clippers for humans are the same as those sold for dogs. The only difference is that a clipper sold with a dog might come with a wider variety of “ducks,� the little plastic guides which attach to the clipper. If you purchase one for humans, they often have mail-order forms for you to fill out to purchase additional attachments.
• Dog Bed. While dog beds are a great idea, and many dogs will use the expensive beds found in pet stores, you may want to try some alternatives first. Use a blanket and/or a cushion from an old piece of furniture. Chances are, if it was used by a human, your pet will be attracted to it because of the scent.
• Cedar Chips. Some dog beds advertise that they are pre-filled with cedar chips. Cedar is excellent for your pet because the smell of cedar keeps mites and ticks and fleas away. However, be aware that if you buy a pre-packaged dog bed with cedar chips, that bed may well have been sitting on the shelf so long that the cedar no longer has any scent. You are much better off buying a basic washable dog-bed without cedar, and buying yourself a small bag of cedar from the rodent section of your pet store. You do not need a lot, less than a pound in fact. If the bed is washable, it should have a slit which allows you to put the cedar chips into it.
• Fleas? If you happen to also have a cat, please be aware that the important thing with flea treatments is the ingredients, which are oftentimes exactly the same for cats and dogs. If you take the time to read labels, you may find that a bottle of “Puppy� shampoo has exactly the same strength of active ingredient as a “kitten� shampoo, which costs $2-3 more. Don’t feel you must have one bottle per animal.
• Tearless baby shampoo should be safe for your pet. There are many dog shampoos on the market, targeting everything from silky-soft fur to treatment for eczema. If your dog has no particular skin sensitivities or fur-problems, you should be able to use a tearless baby shampoo for him/her. This will cost far less than a similar sized bottle of shampoo “designed� for a dog. (Here again, check the active ingredients, and you should find them to be very similar.)
• Use a baby’s teething ring for puppies who are getting their teeth in. These can be found in any baby/toddler section of a toy-store or department store. They are usually a clear plastic filled with water and can be refrigerated. The baby (puppy) likes the cool feel on gums, and when it’s chewed through, it gets a little bit of cool water.
• Dog Toothbrush & Dog Toothpaste. In recent years, some pet supply companies have been offering special toothbrushes and toothpaste for dogs. If your dog is past a two years old, you have virtually no hope of training it to take a "tooth brushing." Don't waste the expense or the time trying.
• Make your own leashes and collars. This suggestion is only for the very ambitious. But it is possible to buy the “ingredients� for a nylon leashes or collar at your local hardware store or home improvement store. They should carry similar latching mechanisms, and sell the nylon by the foot. The overall cost may be cheaper, but keep in mind that you are investing time too.

[shyfilly78]

A few things that I don't think was covered:

For the bored horse that tends to be a nusiance, toss a few apples into the water trough, horses will spend hours "bobbing for apples"...

For horses that rub their tails (and have already been wormed) Put listerine on the tops of their tails once or twice a month!!! It works, I swear!

Dryer sheets----they are the bomb. Tie some to your saddle on trail rides---they keep bugs off!

Also If you have a problem with mice in your house and you don't want to use moth balls~ put a dryer sheet in your closet or under your plant...they'll leave'm alone.

[Orchid]

Got this tip from a vet - for a dog prone to ear infections and/or stinky ears, wash them out with a vinegar and water solution. The vinegar kills bacteria and cuts ear wax. I tried it on my basset's waxy ears and it worked great!

[crzyhorseranch]

*toothpaste dabbed on pimples over night gets rid of them

*2 capfuls of Apple Cider Vinegar in horse feed gets rid of parasites in tha tummy, repels flys, shines that coat and tastes good works for dogs too!

*Bay leaves in your house gets rid of ants

*Put some salt in some water in a bucket and and put your horses swollen ankle in the water for 15 mins and reduces the swelling

*baking powder mixed with water makin it a paste shines up silver


I found all the tips yall gave very useful now I have a notebook full of tips

[QuarterCowGirl]

I got some more....

- dab vanilla exract on your lip if you feel a cold sore coming on, it'll minimize it if not take it away completely
-peppermint leaves repel mice
-moth balls repel cats (works well in gardens)
-when bathing you horse, rinse him/her with white vinegar, this helps wash away the unwanted soap
-In the winter, smear vaseline in you horse's water bucket, this will make the ice much easier to remove
-mix a weak mixture of water abd lysol together and apply it to the places where cobwebs drive you crazy! This will discourage spiders and flies from landing in your barn. One washing should last all summer.

[kindredspiritsia]

Ok, a question to all of you have listed tips for aiding in the defense of MICE ...If I put dryer sheets, moth balls, and pepper mint leaves all over my house, will that make them stay away? I am TERRIFIED of mice and have yet to have a problem with them as I live in town, but will someday be back out in the country. Also, where I keep my horses, we have a big problem with them getting into the stored hay and tack room. It makes me very uneasy, to say the least, when I need to get into any of those places. Would it work to put that stuff in there? We have decon put all over the place, but for me, dead mice are just as scary as live ones. I would just like to keep them away all together. I know, not very realistic, but hey, worth a try.

[Range]

I'll let you know! I'm trying the mothball in babyfood jar technique in the feed room and the dryer sheets in the house. We have a terrible mouse problem since we live in the middle of "their" field.

I tried the vinegar and water thing for flies today and it didn't work...what did I do wrong?