Horses Attacked by Mosquitoes
Published July 11th, 2012
By: Yaremi Farinas
Mosquitoes are out and they're not just attacking humans.
Many animals that are outside are under attack as well.
Some of those attacks can be deadly.
"I've never seen anything like it," said Morgan Silver, who is the executive director of Horse Protection Association of Florida.
Silver said her horses have huge welts form getting bit by mosquitoes and it's not just one horse getting attacked.
"They've getting bitten relentlessly. They've been coming in the mornings covered in welts. I mean covered from head to toe with huge welts," said Silver.
She told us she can hear the horses galloping throughout the night.
"They come in in the morning and eat breakfast and then lie down and go to sleep because they are so tired from being up all night," said Silver.
There are 74 horses on the property. Silver said some of them are allergic to bug bites, like one named Scarlet. She has to wear a fly sheet and fly leggings to avoid getting bit.
Dr. Chris Sanchez from the University of Florida's Large Animal Hospital said there are ways to tell if your horse is allergic to insect bites.
"If you see them scratching their manes, scratching their tails and stopping their feet are probably the three things that are most obvious. So if you have a horse that's showing those signs fans and fly spray can help decrease the area," said Sanchez.
She explained that horses should be vaccinated so that they don't suffer any viruses.
"In Florida Eastern Equine Encephalitis is by far in a way the most deadly mosquito born virus that affects horses," said Sanchez.
There have been four cases reported in North Central Florida so far this year.
Silver said she's not so worried about diseases since all the horses are vaccinated. She's more concerned about the pain and the itch.
"We are worried about them suffering through the night. Can you imagine being out all night with mosquitoes biting you relentlessly and there is nothing you can do to get away from it," said Silver.
The Horse Protection Association is located in Northern Marion County, where there has been no mosquito spraying.
Reporter:
Yaremi Farinas
