Anti-Bite: When Your Horse Chews Bandages, Rugs and Wooden Surfaces
If your horse will not leave bandages, rugs or stable walls alone, a bitter taste helps to break the chewing habit. Here you will find spray and paste for it.
%
Pharmakas AKS Paste Anti-Chewing Protection for Horses, 200 ml
Content: 0.2 Litre (€60.45 / 1 Litre)
Sale price: €12.09 Regular price: €12.99 (6.93% saved)
Leovet Anti-Bite Spray for Horses, Chew Deterrent 550 ml
Content: 0.55 Litre (€32.49 / 1 Litre)
Regular price: €17.87
Anti-Bite: an end to chewing
Horses explore their surroundings with their mouths, and some get stuck on things that should not be chewed. An anti-bite product has a bitter taste that stops your horse gnawing at dressings, bandages, rugs or wooden parts of the stable. Nibbling at a field companion's mane and tail can often be reduced this way too. As a spray or paste, the protection is applied in no time.
Spray or paste?
A spray is quick to apply over a large area, for example on rugs, bandages or boots. A paste stays put on a specific spot for longer and works well on wood, stable edges or fence rails. Test the product on an inconspicuous area first, particularly on fabrics and with sensitive horses. Reapply as soon as the taste fades, for example after rain or when your horse has licked the area.
Do not forget the causes
An anti-bite product helps against chewing, but not against the reason for it. Wood chewing is often caused by boredom or too little forage. Plenty of hay spread over the day, contact with other horses and enough exercise are therefore the most important basis. If your horse chews a bandage over a wound or suddenly shows unusual behaviour, talk to your vet.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my horse chew the stable wall?
Often there is a lack of things to do or of forage, as horses are designed to eat for many hours a day. Stress or boredom in the stable also play a part. More hay, longer eating times and turnout usually help more than any product.
Can I spray anti-bite onto a bandage?
Yes, on dressings and bandages a spray is a good help to make your horse leave them alone. However, do not spray directly into open wounds or onto mucous membranes. If there is a wound, it is best to discuss its care with your vet.
Does anti-bite help against crib-biting?
Crib-biting is a stereotypic behaviour in which the horse grips a surface with its teeth and gulps air. A bitter taste can make the spot less attractive, but it usually does not stop crib-biting. It is best to look at management, feeding and activity together with your vet.
A bitter taste that stops the chewing
Whether it is a freshly applied bandage, a new winter rug or the wooden edge of the stable, some horses simply will not leave anything alone. An anti-bite product tastes bitter and makes the affected area uninteresting for your horse. As a spray, it is quick to apply to fabric, bandages and larger surfaces. The paste holds well on wood and on edges your horse keeps nibbling. Reapply the protection regularly, especially after rain. But also think about the cause: many horses gnaw out of boredom or because they lack forage. More hay, company and exercise make the real difference, and the anti-bite product helps you in the meantime. If there is a wound under the bandage or your horse behaves unusually, your vet is always the right person to ask.