Horse Deworming Tips and Information
You know you've got to do it - deworm your horse. But what to deworm with?
Why are there so many choices in horse wormers? And which wormer to use, and
when to use it?
Here is a handy horse dewormer reference that you can tack up in your tack room.
The five most common dewormer ingredients found in horse wormers are:
Febendazole, Ivermectin, Moxidectin, Praziquantel, and Pyrantel.
Febendazole controls large strongyles, encysted early- and
late-third-stage and fourth-stage cyathostome larvae, small strongyles, pinworms,
and ascarids. Horse dewormers that contain Febendazole include:
Ivermectin controls large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids,
hairworms, large-mouth stomach worms, bots, lungworms, and intestinal threadworms. Horse
dewormers that contain Ivermectin include:
Moxidectin controls large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids,
encysted cyanthostomes, hairworms, large-mouth stomach worms, and bots. Horse dewormers
that contain Moxidectin include:
Praziquantel controls tapeworms. Horse dewormers that contain Praziquantel include:
Pyrantel Pamoate and Tartrate control large strongyles,
small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids, and tapeworms when double-dosed. Horse dewormers that
contain Pyrantel Pamoate and Tartrate include:
Pyrantel Tartrate is the ingredient in daily horse dewormers. Horse
dewormers that contain Pyrantel Tartrate include:
Why are there so many choices of horse dewormers when each one does about the same thing?
Parasites develop a resistance to some deworming chemicals over a period of time. Researchers are
constantly developing new horse deworming products that are more effective and control worms at
different stages of maturity.
To know which horse dewormer to use, consult your veterinarian.
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A fecal test can help determine
the worms your horse carries. Click here to
request an at-home fecal test for your horse(s).
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Your veterinarian will also want to know if your horse is old, very young, and if your horse
has been on a regular deworming program.
Here are some very general guidelines for your horse deworming program:
- Ascarids, also known as roundworms, most often affect horses under 15
months of age. Most veterinarians recommend a foal be dewormed 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 dewormer can be administered, and then a second
dose can be given a week later. After that, some vets advise the foal be
dewormed every two months until 2 years of age. Older horses gradually
develop immunity to ascarids.
- DO NOT GIVE MOXIDECTIN TO FOALS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OF AGE.
If you purchase a new horse, especially a young one, consult a veterinarian and conduct
a fecal test.
Click here to request a home fecal test kit.
Horses with a history of colic may benefit from the use of a daily dewormer.
It has been documented that horses with chronic colic episodes may show improvement when
started on these products. A horse dewormer product which kills bots should be used at least twice a year.
DEWORMING BY ELEANOR RICHARDS, NUTRITION SPECIALIST AND INSTRUCTOR FOR
NUTRITION FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE, AN ONLINE EQUINE STUDY COURSE.
To learn more about providing the best care and training for your horses visit:
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