Equine Deworming & Parasite Control

Protecting your horse from internal parasites

All horses have internal parasites. A horse that has excessive internal parasites often has a dull coat, dull attitude, pot belly, persistent winter coat, more frequent episodes of colic, and is repeatedly depressed or “off” in performance.  When a parasite-infested horse is fed, the resident parasite population grabs its share first and the “wormy” horse soon becomes debilitated.  The most common deworming products are found in the following forms:

Paste:

• Paste in a syringe-type tube is the most common form available to horse owners.  We recommend deworming your horses with a paste wormer every 8 weeks to break the reproductive and developmental cycle of common internal parasites.  Alternate the type of paste wormer every other worming between an Ivermectin compound (EquellÔ, EqvalanÔ, etc.) and a non-Ivermectin wormer such as Pyrantel (StrongidÔ) or Fenbendazole (PanacurÔ).  Some horses can be uncooperative or have food in their mouth and significant amounts can end up on the ground.  For best results, rinse your horse’s mouth with water (using a large syringe hose).  Administer the paste dewormer once the water has dripped out of the horse’s mouth.

Foals under one year of age and very old horses are more susceptible to heavy parasite infestation.  We recommend deworming foals at one month of age, and then every month until weaning. After weaning, then every eight weeks.  Threadworms can also be a problem for foals under six months of age. Ivermectin and oxibendazole (a benzimidazole) are effective on threadworms.

To effectively evaluate  your deworming program a fecal egg count can be performed.  This test is performed prior to deworming  to guide which product to use and also to compare to a post deworming fecal egg count.  This can expose parasite resistance or improper application of deworming agents.  Contact your veterinarian to design a parasite control program adequate for your horses.

Daily Dewormer:

• Pellets are designed to be fed daily mixed with grain.  Products such as Strongid C (4.8 oz per 1200# horse) or Strongid C 2X (2.4 oz per 1200# horse) are daily dewormers that are designed to be fed daily to prevent parasite infestation.  If your horses are getting a daily dewormer, we also recommend that Ivermectin paste should also be given in the Spring and in the Fall.

Liquid Suspension:

• Liquid dewormers are designed to be administered orally with a large syringe.

 

Parasite Control

Keeping manure stored away from horses and cleaning stalls regularly as well as using one or more of these products is the most effective way to keep the fly population around your horses under control:

Spray or rub-on products -  Usually these products contain Pyrethrin or Permethrin, which are natural or synthetic substances, derived from flowers and are natural repellants.  These products work well and safe to apply to your horses, but usually only last for several hours to a few days.

Spot-on or Pour-on products – These concentrated Pyrethrins are applied to strategic areas on the horse and seem to be very efficacious.  These products are usually applied every 10 – 14 days to 4-6 places on the horse and are absorbed into the skin and help repel flies.  They provide longer-acting protection than spray products.

Fly traps – These products help catch flies congregating around horses.  Most tubs today have a pheromone that attracts flies and then keeps them from escaping with one-way entrances.

Fly Predators - Fly predators stop pest flies by “taking over” the fly’s cocoon and this kills the immature fly.  By keeping the good fly predator population elevated, the “bad” pest fly population can be nearly eradicated.