INTESTINAL PARASITE CONTROL - DEWORMING

Establishing a deworming schedule requires a veterinary consultation to evaluate housing, feeding and environmental conditions. As a general rule, horses should be dewormed every 2-3 months starting at 1-2 months of age.

The total life cycle of internal parasites takes 28 days. It involves the adult laying eggs which are passed through feces. The egg hatches and becomes larvae and is eaten by a grazing horse. It then migrates through the horse’s body and then back into the digestive tract to become an adult. Parasites from an infected horse are passed to an uninfected horse. Parasites can live in the environment for many years and are NOT killed during winters.

The more horses are turned out in a pasture the greater the potential parasite load will be. Parasite eggs are very resilient and can survive from year to year creating a greater exposure for infestation each year. Internal parasites can also build up a resistance to dewormers; which is why a rotation of deworming products is necessary.

Basic Wormers

• Ivermectin
• Pyrantel
• Benzimadoles
• Tapeworms

Other Wormers

• Eqvalan, Zirmectin, Quest, Equell
• Strongid (daily wormer)
• Panacur Anthelcide
• Eqvalan Gold

Regardless of the success that has been achieved in previous years with a deworming parasite control program, it is necessary to check fecal samples at lease once per year to determine parasite loads and monitor the parasite control program.

Further steps that should be taken…

• Do not over graze pastures
• Rotate pastures if possible
• Keep pastures as clear of feces as possible
• Plow and reseed pastures regularly
• Deworm horses frequently - every 2-3 months as needed
• Rotate active ingredient of wormer - Based on fecal exam
• Isolate new horses and deworm them before turning them into pastures or paddocks used by other horses
• Haul manure as soon as is possible
• Remove manure regularly from stalls and small paddocks-they are a source of parasite eggs and recurring exposure for horses mules and donkeys
• CHECK FECAL SAMPLES ANNUALLY

Every farm or stable is different and requires individual parasite control measures. Please contact us if you have any questions about your parasite control program.