Fly season heightens the risk for summer sores in horses. Use Quest® Gel and Solitude® IGR, a two-pronged approach to help protect horses.

Flies are a nuisance in the house, but the dangers they pose in the barn can become dangerous and expensive. Beyond increasing the risk of strangles and pigeon fever, flies can produce time-consuming and costly summer sores — chronic, nonhealing wounds that often rapidly progress and enlarge.

This frustrating condition frequently makes horses unable to ride or compete, and medical treatment can be extensive or even require surgical care.

“Two stomach worm species, specifically Habronema and Draschia, cause summer sores,” said Dr. Amy Poulin, Equine Technical Services veterinarian with Zoetis. “And when Habronema and houseflies are present, it’s a potential problem for any horse in a warm, humid climate.”

“When infective Habronema larvae are shed in horse feces, house flies can later pick up the larvae and deposit it into open wounds as well as the mouth, lip, eye and groin areas of horses. The inflammatory reaction results in summer sores,” Dr. Poulin said. “If fly larvae develop in manure infected with Habronema larvae, any horse within the fly’s quarter-mile migration radius becomes at risk for infection