Worming Your Horse
Horse husbandry is a daily procedure but it's come to that time to worm your horse. But what do you do and what products do you use? Why are so many choices in horse wormers? Then make your decision on the correct wormer to use and more important when do you use it?
When you rotate your wormers make sure you choose a different ingredient, not just by choosing a different brand. You must develop an ef fective worming program on an annual basis using different wormers for tactical worming for specific parasites and rotating active ingredients during the grazing season, but each time you worm your horse. Products that are based solely on praziquantel have a role to play in tapeworm control but must be used in conjunction with other products based on the three main chemical groups.
- Macrocyclic Lactones - Ivermectin 7 Moxidetin
- Tetrahydropirimidines - Pyantel
- Benzimidazoles - Fenbendazole, - Mebendazole - Oxibendazole
This is a handy quick reference wormer guide for you to use. The five most common worming ingredients found in horse wormers are:
Moxidectin, Ivermectin, Febendazole & Mebendazole, Praziquantel and Pyrantel.
Moxidectin based wormers, have the ability to kill encysted developing cyathostome larvae (small redworm) in a single standard dose. Also effective against large redworm. lung worms, pinworms, and hairworms, and if treated in early winter after the first frosts bots. Do not give moxidectin to foals less than 6mths old.
Ivermectin based wormers to be used during the winter months it controls any new infestations, there is a 10 week interval between doses. It gives your horse an effective cover against both larval and adult stages of the important parasites of horses including small and large redworms, pinworms, ascarids, hairworms, large-mouth stomach worms, bots, lungworms, And intestinal threadworms. Horse wormers that we recomend containing Ivermectin include:.jpg)
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Equimectrin Paste (1.87% Ivermectin) Equine Dewormer 1 Oral Syringe
Equimax (Ivermectin 1.87%/Praziquantel 14.03%) Paste Anthelmintic And Boticide In An Oral Syringe
Febendazole & Mebendazole based products are used less and less nowadays as some parasites have a resistance to them. They still have a role to play in a rotational system but it is best to take expert advice before you rely on wormers that contain these products . Before using take a stool sample to ascertain whether your horse has worms. If using fenbendazole use the 5 day course between Oct and March, then small redworm encysted larvae will be removed. Repeat this procedure in February. This will also help reduce the levels of larvae in your pastures the following spring. Horse wormers that we recomend containing Febendazole include:
Panacur Powerpac Equine Dewormer 5-57g Tubes
Praziquantel based products is effective for three known species of tapeworm in a single dose if used twice a year. If your wormer contains ivermectin as well as praziquantel as the active ingredient it will give you the option of treating for tapeworm without treating for roundworm which will help reduce the risk of equine anathematic resistance building up. Although this should still be used as part of an annual worming program including other distinct chemical groups but you should take care with with regard to encysted small redworms larvae where a treatment using a 5 day course of a fenbendazole product or a moxidectin based product should be given some thought. Horse wormers that we recomned containing Praziquantel include:
Equimax (Ivermectin 1.87%/Praziquantel 14.03%) Paste Anthelmintic And Boticide In An Oral Syringe
Pyrantel Pamoate and Tartrate control large and small roundworms, pinworms, ascarids, and tapeworms when double-dosed. Horse wormers that we recomended containing Pyrantel Pamoate and Tartrate include:
Strongid (pyrantel pamoate) Paste Equine Dewormer 1 Oral Syringe
Pyrantel based products are effective against most adult roundworms so have a great role to play in rotational worming. You need to use twice the standard dose when administered for the treatment of tapeworm Depending on if your horse is stabled on straw or other products where mites persist then a double dose twice a year should be adequate to control tapeworms. Their lifecycle is 6mths so although treatment is once a year late Sept to early Oct may well be adequate for your horse but it is recommended that you treat twice a year. Horse wormers that we recomend that contain Pyrantel Tartrate include:
Strongid C 2X 10 lb. Feed Medication (pyrantel tartrate)
There are many different wormers available and they can be a bit confusing to say the least? All parasites will develop some sort of resistance to products. Plus the industry is always coming up with new worming products that can be more effective and kick in at different stages of their development.
If unsure you should always contact your Vet, they will be able to advise you on which one to use and when. They may ask you to take a faeces sample so they can test your horse. Your Vet will also need to know what programs you have used in the past and of course the age of your horse.
Some general tips for you when worming your horse
* Ascarids, also known as roundworms, most often affect horses under 15 months of age. Most Vets recommend a foal be wormed for the first time between 1 and 2 months of age. Extreme care must be observed because if large amounts of worms are killed, a blockage of the intestinal tract can occur. A half-dose of wormer can be administered, and then a second dose can be given a week later. After that, some vets advise the foal be wormed every two months until 2 years of age. Older horses gradually develop immunity to ascarids.
Controlling Parasites in Foals and Horses
If you purchase a new horse, especially a young one, consult a Vet and conduct a faeses test. Horses with a history of colic may benefit from the use of a daily wormer. It has been documented that horses with chronic colic episodes may show improvement when started on these products. Also don't forget those horrid bot flies so a horse wormer product which kills bots should be used at least twice a year. Tapeworms found recently to pose a risk to horses
Also rotate your grazing, If you are in a yard with other horse owners, try and get everyone on the same worming cycle, so that you all worm your horses together, that way you can move the horses at the same time on to new grazing, there by resting your pasture. Don't forget an important part of field maintenance you should always clear any droppings on a daily basis, don't leave it too long or it builds up and becomes a mammoth task.
But if you have a good Manager at your yard they should already be a good field management plan in action. If you have your own grazing and space allows it, then it is up to you to manage the different areas of grazing by using a new field or using electric fencing..
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