How Absorbine FlyShield® Technology Works

Flies do not find horses by chance. They use sensory cues, including smell, to locate a potential host and move in to land. That makes an insect’s homing system an important part of the biting process and a valuable target for effective fly protection.

Absorbine FlyShield® Technology is a proprietary blend of three bio-based fatty acids: octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, and decanoic acid. These fatty acids interfere with insects’ olfactory receptors, or smell receptors, disrupting the sensory signals bugs use to home in on a horse. They also signal that the treated area should be avoided. In simple terms, Absorbine FlyShield® Technology helps make the horse harder for bugs to find, helping stop them before they land and bite.

This approach differs from the way many traditional fly-spray ingredients work. Flies have taste receptors on their legs, so some repellents depend on a fly landing on a treated horse before detecting the product and moving away. Absorbine FlyShield® Technology acts earlier in the process by disrupting the insect’s ability to locate and approach the horse.

A key part of UltraShield® Gold, Absorbine FlyShield® fits perfectly into the broader formula. Its three fatty acids complement permethrin and pyrethrins, which repel and kill insects through effects on their central nervous systems. Pyrethrins act quickly, while permethrin provides longer-lasting activity. Piperonyl butoxide functions as a synergist that enhances the efficacy of those ingredients.

Each part of the formula therefore has a distinct role. Absorbine FlyShield® Technology interferes with the bugs’ homing systems, while the formula’s other active ingredients provide additional repelling and insect-control activity. Together, these complementary modes of action help UltraShield Gold protect horses from more than 100 insect species listed on the label, including flies, mosquitoes, and ticks.

UltraShield® Gold should be used according to label directions as part of a complete insect-management routine that includes grooming, manure management, and reducing insect breeding areas around barns and pastures.

This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult your veterinarian or animal health professional for advice.