Blog posts of '2022' 'September'

I remember being so intrigued by bot eggs on my little gymkhana horse: plainly evident on the darkened, wet hair during grooming and bathing. I would gaze at them and search for more, thinking about how amazing and adaptive parasites can be. The contrast between the black hair and the creamy nits made them easy to find; they would stand out like coconut on a chocolate cupcake. Yuck. No, thank you. Lovely, yet disappointing and unacceptable. Even back in the early 1980’s it was common knowledge that washing the nits with warm soapy water would trick them into hatching, only to be swept away, never to enter my horse’s mouth.

Spring is here and with blue skies and warm, sunny days it is the perfect time to spend more time outdoors! Although most are harmless, Australia is home to some nasty ticks that can be fatal to your pets. As we approach September, it is important to be vigilant and take extra precautions against tick-borne diseases during this period. Paralysis ticks are much more than a nuisance and pose a serious threat to the health (and life) of your pets.