Blister Bug Poisoning

Sad to say this past weekend I had a horse die. We are not sure what happened but we went through a spell a few months ago where blister bugs were very very thick.

[1]

If a blister bug were to get into hay or feed and be eaten by an animal it could be a silent assassin [2]. There are a few ways to find out what happened but to spend that kind of money on a deceased horse isn’t worth the trouble or the expense.

[3]

When the animal eats the insect it can cause very intense ulcers in the stomach and intestines and will cause the animal not to eat; not eating will cause a rapid weight lose so if the animal were to recover from the insect  full recovery would be years down the road. If the animal is weighing less than it should other illnesses will set in and make the road to recovery even more vigorous. So the owner is pretty much in a no win situation. A few signs we had in this case was rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, and a combination of handing head on inactiveness.

A few tips [4] when feeding your animals; check your feeds you provide and check the hay you put out. A lot of times you will get a cut off hay during the thick movement off blister bugs, and when the hay is baled up, usually the bug will be swept up a baled. I think this was how my horse ingested the bug.  Also when you are feeding in any sort of trough, be sure to check for the bug. It is very easy to dump the feed and go on about your business, but if you animal gets a blister bug [5] you will wish you had paid attention.

 [1] Candee, Mary. "Close up bug shot." Photo. N.A. October 26, 2010. Retrieved form: http://brp-journal.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-adventures-with-texas-snowbell.html

[2]http://microvet.arizona.edu/AzVDL/infoAlerts/blisterBeetle.html

[3]

[4]http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef102.asp

[5]http://www.petmd.com/horse/conditions/digestive/c_hr_blister_beetle_poisoning

 [6]
N.A. “Danger symbol”Photo. Feb 15, 2006. October 26, 2010. Retrieved:

 http://www.sxc.hu/photo/468735