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Sulfur blocks for tick control
Posted by kevin at 2007-05-15 15:33:32
I had a customer come into the feed mill saying she read a horse magazine from 1997. Said there was an article about using sulfur blocks to control ticks on horses. She also said to mix sulfur with vaseline and put it on the ears to control flies. Has anyone ever heard of this ? I haven't.
Response by sharon anderson - AWESOME ASS ACRES - Etowah, TN at 2007-05-15 23:29:12
I've never used sulphur on my horses or mules, but I would definitely consider it because I've used it with my dogs now for about 25 years. We mix a tablespoon (per dog) in their feed about twice a month and we've never had trouble with fleas or ticks. Their coats are also beautiful, healthy and shiny. We started this after having a German shepherd lose ALL of his hair from his rib cage to the tip of his tail. His skin looked similar to having the mange, but after trying several remedies from the vet, an old black neighbor told us to start adding sulphur to his feed. Within weeks, the hair grew back much thicker than his original and we never had that problem again. My 81 yr. old mom said that every spring, her mother would dose each one of her 12 children with sulphur for about 3 weeks to "purify" the blood and they lived through it. After this post, I think I'm going to try it with my mules and horses. Good luck!
Response by NoraWI at 2007-05-15 23:29:34
I never heard of this either. I have used sulfur blocks for ringworm on cattle.
Response by hammerhead at 2007-05-15 23:36:03
No, I heard it toughens the hooves. I just gave them a fresh one this spring and they took to gnawing on it right away.
ed
Response by Jonathan Shively at 2007-05-16 10:31:09
Used to always put Vaseline on my 'coon dog's ears so flies would quit biting them and so they could stay healed.
Response by Rob at 2007-05-16 12:10:35
Where do you get sulfur? Are there differant grades?
Response by BA in NC at 2007-05-16 13:07:02
There was an article in Western Horseman some years
back. It was by a lady in Florida telling of how
well the sulphur block worked in keeping ticks
off. I tried and found it very beneficial.
Response by Neil A at 2007-05-16 13:10:02
Yes, I started using them a couple of years ago. They work for flies also.
Response by ken P. at 2007-05-16 13:55:36
Sulfur is an antibiotic. It is not as good as penicillin, but it works.
It was used in both powder form (sprinkled on the wound) and in pill form, during and after WW1. My sister had it prescribed for her as a kid. She was allergic to penicillin. The dr. told Dad that anyone in the family could use it, if needed. At times we did.

ken P.
Response by Tony Clapier at 2007-05-16 18:07:23
It is commen practice to put range sheep on sulfurized salt blocks to combat tick infestation. The sulfur in the blood stream makes the ticks look for another host. It works on other livestock as well.
Response by Dale Wagner at 2007-05-17 01:36:09
Sulfur in not an antibiotic. There are some meds that have sulfur in them. Don't get these confused.
Response by Mary Beth at 2007-05-17 10:59:50
Sounds like something I would like to try. Like Rob, I would like to know where you get sulfur for dogs. Is there a certain grade and where do you get it? I will also be trying the sulfur block for the horses and cattle.
Response by grady at 2007-05-17 15:25:39
I keep a container of sulfur and bacon grease all the time. I get the sulfur I use from the drugstore, as I do not need big quanities. I put this on raw spots and cuts when they occur. It helps healing a great deal. When I was a kid lots of old folks used this on their animals. Also I was given sulfur drugs in the early and midddle forties, along with other things, as a treatment for ailments. I was also given kerosene in very small quantities, mixed with brown sugar, for something I don't remember. It was strange tasting. Was given a cough syrup made with white liquor and hard candy and stuff. I liked that. My aunt Dora was a Cherokee medicine woman. She knew lots of old natural remedies I wish I now knew. Garlic pills will keep ticks off you, too.
Response by Brenda at 2007-05-18 15:22:05
Could only remember little bits, so I googled "sulfur" and first up was the following:

sulfur /sul·fur/ (sul´fer) [L.] a chemical element, at. no. 16, symbol S; it is a laxative and diaphoretic and is used in diseases of the skin.

sul·fur or sul·phur (slfr)
n. Symbol S1
A yellow nonmetallic element occurring widely in nature in several free and combined allotropic forms and used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and many sulfur compounds, especially sulfuric acid. Atomic number 16.

precipitated sulfur a topical scabicide, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antifungal, and keratolytic.
sublimed sulfur a topical scabicide and antiparasitic.

I was confusing it with "sulpha" drugs - (and googled them too) and discovered that although they sound a lot alike, sulpha drugs have no base in sulphur -

Sulpha is a short form of Sulfonamides and are prepared by the reaction of a sulfonyl chloride with ammonia or an amine. Certain sulfonamides (sulfadiazine or sulfamethoxazole) are sometimes mixed with the drug trimethoprim, which acts against dihydrofolate reductase. Also known as Sulfa Powder. Used largely in WWII to treat any wound.

Amazing what one can come up with over something like sulphur blocks for ticks!!!
Response by Wink at 2007-05-18 20:52:00
I've put out a sulfur block for years now. I was told by an old man that it helped with flies. Once the sulfur was in the horse's system it would come out in the sweat and keep the flies off. I guess it would work for ticks.
Response by Dale Wagner at 2007-05-19 10:25:41
It is the sulfur compounds in onions and garlic that give them their smell. Eat enough and ticks and other vermin will stay off, but so will everyone stay away.
Fed cull onions at the feedlot. Could hardly stand to drive the feedtruck down the manger. Talk about bad breath.
Response by grady at 2007-05-19 11:32:05
This is why I subscribe to Rural Heritage and read the forum every day. The things I learn on here are never ending. A big part of the answers come from been-there-done-that people. Even though there are varied answers, each answer is an alternative worth considering and each one has worked for somebody somewhere.
Response by goldpony at 2007-05-19 15:19:14
Back in the '50s an old man told me horses need sulfur. So for half-a-century I have given my horses sulfur blocks (not bad for a girl of 39). They eat 4 times the sulfur salt over their mineral or plain blocks. Now the scientists are saying that horses need sulfur; it's a building block of the cells, etc. My horses knew it from instinct all the time. I also feed probiotics and have seen them blossom from that fine-tuning too.
Response by Trace at 2007-05-21 09:40:16
So, do I just get a sulfur block from the feed store and put it out for free grazing, or would he get to much? Would sulfur help with mosquitos?
Or do I need to put it on his food measured out? If I need to measure it out, how much?
Thanks
Response by Dick Hutchinson at 2007-05-23 11:00:48
Canadian Sulfur Blocks: Does anyone up here know a source for these blocks? I called our feed store and was told that he knew Cargill, in the states, made a block that kept flies away from cattle but he couldn't import it.
Response by hammerhead at 2007-05-27 08:16:43
Trace, I'm a great believer in letting them self-medicate. I keep loose mineral salt and loose trace mineral with selenium out for them at all times, along with a white salt block (especially important in hot weather). They hardly touch the selenium, so I figure there's enough provided by my hay or pasture. That they gnawed on the sulfur block when I put it out instead of eating the loose salt tells me they needed sulfur. I have noticed less of a fly problem the last few years that could coincide with when I started putting out sulfur salt. Never found a tick on them. I wouldn't worry about leaving them a sulfur block. If I found loose sulfur salt I would give them that so they don't damage their front teeth. It seems to me that there's more danger of overmedicating if you add something to their feed. Salt naturally limits the dosage. You can always ask the vet on this site.
Response by Mary Beth at 2007-06-16 20:48:22
After reading this topic I put out sulfur salt blocks for both the cows and horses. I have seen a huge improvement with the cows and enough of an improvement with the horses that they seem comfortable. We have gone from flies seeming to blanket their backs and bellies to just a few here and there. Still have them at the house, so I know the fly numbers are still up. Tick season doesn't get into full swing here until late summer, so will have to wait and see on that. I was just wondering if any of you tried the sulfur and how it worked for you?
Response by kevin at 2007-06-18 16:56:08
I can't seem to find them anywhere locally.
Response by Susie at 2010-04-10 23:27:52
Not sure where you live, but our local feed store, and TSC has the salt sulfur blocks and they helped tremendously with flies and ticks last year on my horses. Was wondering if a vet might look at these posts to tell me if these salt sulfur blocks would make pregnant mares slip a colt or not?
Thanks
Response by Tracey at 2010-04-16 09:21:16
My guys won't touch a sulfur block but I would like to get a little in their system for tick season? Can I use the loose sulfur from the drug store?
Response by Judy at 2012-12-20 15:06:48
Just found this info on sulphur....hey can I use it on my goats? I live in Central Florida and we are the parasite capitol of just about anywhere--fleas, lice, ticks, barber pole worms, hookworms, heart worms--you name it. Would I put a sulphur block out or put it in their grain! Thanks for your help.
Response by virginia at 2013-04-12 19:48:19
My horses have never had ticks till i moved to TN.an now the flies an ticks are so bad i've tryed everything an nothing worked. the lady at my feed store told me about the sulfur block. so i will be tryin it tomorrow.an will let you all know how it goes. But i do have a question someone said it works on dogs an their skin an fur what about ferrets an their skin an fur i have one an he has lost almost all of his fur does anyone know if it would work on him?
Response by Carmel Vierow at 2013-11-14 02:45:58
A friend told me to give my dogs 1/4 teaspoon of
Sulphur on their dinner twice a week to keep Ticks away.
I have Labradors .
Response by jen at 2015-06-05 12:52:36
just got one to try in N.C.

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