SHOWDOWN :
Parasites vs. the Horse
Facts that every owner should know about deworming

A lil pamphlet by jenny

Recent studies have found that parasite resistance is on the increase…and there hasn’t been a new drug class discovered since 1981. It’s a scary thought, that one day we may be unable to kill off the parasites that take up residence in our horses’ intestines. Research is ongoing to discover new dewormers, but as of yet there is no easy answer in sight. The best way to keep resistance at bay is to keep owners educated and to formulate a program that is best for you and your horse.

It ‘s up to you to stamp out the resistance!
Keeping yourself Educated
The Facts

 Anthelmintic resistance is a worldwide problem for all drug classes and almost all major parasites-and it’s on the rise!
 ALL horses have parasites-it’s a natural phenomenon! It’s about keeping their parasite load under control.
 Large parasite loads and clinical disease is a management issue. This doesn’t mean that we don’t take care of our horses, it just means we keep them differently than they were made to be kept. SO, they need a little help…but we need to know how MUCH help each horse needs!
 There are low, moderate, and high egg shedders. Each horse is different. If your horse is a low shedder, he may only have to be dewormed a few times a year! They’re immune system seems to take care of the rest.
 If we deworm ALL horses every two months, then we will kill ALL of the non-resistant parasites. Once that happens, resistant parasites breed more resistant parasites, and then our dewormers will be useless. It is of ultimate importance that non-resistant parasites are allowed to stay in the population so our dewormers will continue to be effective for the high shedding horses that need the most help!

The Suggestions

Test to see if your horse is a low, moderate, or high shedder and test him several times a year.
* Test the efficacy of each
dewormer at least every two years to monitor resistance. (Perform FEC 14 days after each deworming-Larger farms can just test 6-10 horses)
* If you are on small acreage, keep your manure under control. Pick your paddocks so the horses aren’t grazing on top of their waste.
* Understand what you are putting in horse’s mouth and why… deworming is not preventative like vaccines. They only treat what is in the gut NOW.
* Get together with your veterinarian to come up with a plan for your horse or farm.
* Learn to be OK with the fact that it’s normal for a horse to have a small parasite load. We can’t-and don’t need to- kill them all!

Basic deworming protocol

SEPT – Have your vet come out to collect for a fecal egg count (FEC) on each horse. (It may seem overwhelming, but it can easily coincide with your routine vet calls. You can also submit feces to your vet yourself). This is a test that is performed under a microscope, so it may take a day or so to get your results. All horses may be dewormed with ivermectin or moxidectin plus praziquantel at this time.
NOV – Have a FEC done on all moderate to high shedders (above 150 eggs per gram). Moderate to high shedders may be dewormed with oxibendazole OR pyrantel pamoate.
DEC – Have another FEC done on all horses. All horses may be dewormed with ivermectin or moxidectin plus praziquantel at this time. Moxidectin should only be needed once a year. So, if you used it in September, use ivermectin in December.
MAR, APR – Have a FEC done on moderate to high shedders. For horses with a FEC greater than 150 eggs per gram, deworm with oxibendazole OR pyrantel pamoate.
MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG – It’s too hot in Georgia at this time for worms to survive and multiply. No need to deworm at this time.
This protocol is only a baseline. Depending on your horse’s needs and current level of resistant parasites you and your veterinarian can tailor a schedule for you and your farm!

The best way to stay on top of parasite control for your horse is to STAY INFORMED! Recommendations are ever-changing, so keep up with the newest suggestions from RELIABLE sources. Ask your veterinarian for the latest information on a yearly basis.

Help Educate others