Internal parasites are the biggest and most common threat to equine health. An animal that carries a large number of parasites cannot thrive and is susceptible to other diseases. Horse wormers are designed to help owners keep their animals free of parasitic infestation and reinfection. There are many to choose from, so it's important to know the options.
Although it's helpful to know all the organisms that infest horses, owners usually only have to confront a few of them. However, tapeworms, intestinal threadworms, large and small strongyles, ascarids or roundworms, bots, pinworms, lumgworms, hairworms, and large-mouth stomach worms are all potential problems. Fecal and blood tests identify which parasites are infecting a particular animal.
A horse with a heavy infestation of parasites will not thrive. Physical signs include rough coat, lethargy, scratching the tail, loss of weight or failure to gain weight, bouts of colic, and diarrhea. However, periodic checks should be done to make sure even horses of normal appearance are not infected. Younger animals are especially at risk.
Owners should know which worms are prevalent in their locality. These may change with the seasons. For example, bot flies lay their yellow eggs on legs, chest, and underbelly in the summer. The eggs are ingested by the horse when they scratch themselves, and the larvae hatch inside the stomach. This is not a problem that early spring worming needs to address. Overgrazed pastures lead to more reinfestation, so worming will have to be more frequent.
There are both chemical and non-chemical ways to keep animals healthy. Chemical wormers are targeted; in other words, they are effective against certain kinds of worms. Some broad-spectrum worming agents kill many species; Ivermectin is one generic name for a compound that combats many different parasites. It's important to read the labels or get a vet's advice when choosing a wormer; not all of them work against tapeworms, for example.
Alternative means include pasture management as well as herbal formulas and homeopathy. Rotating pasture is always helpful; it's best if horses are off a field for six months to give larvae a chance to die off. Mowing exposes larvae to predators, as does dragging to break up manure piles. The best way to keep pastures free of parasites is to pick up droppings. Of course, bot flies lay their eggs on the horse rather than in droppings, so you still need to be careful.
There are several natural worming products made for horses. Feeding diatomaeceous earth - mixing it in moistened grain - is another way to get many internal free-loaders. This method is good for very old animals who may become sensitive to chemical formulas. Commercial products include pastes, one-day pelletized formulas, and daily worming pellets to sprinkle on feed (to prevent reinfection as well as address actual infestation).
Even if droppings are quickly picked up and worming is not necessary on a regular basis, a fecal check is recommended twice yearly. Keeping animals parasite-free is part of the owner's responsibility. Owners can depend on their vet's advice or establish their own schedule.
It's important to know why, when, and how to worm animals. Parasites are the most common problem for horses, but they are also easy to control with proper procedures and effective products.
Although it's helpful to know all the organisms that infest horses, owners usually only have to confront a few of them. However, tapeworms, intestinal threadworms, large and small strongyles, ascarids or roundworms, bots, pinworms, lumgworms, hairworms, and large-mouth stomach worms are all potential problems. Fecal and blood tests identify which parasites are infecting a particular animal.
A horse with a heavy infestation of parasites will not thrive. Physical signs include rough coat, lethargy, scratching the tail, loss of weight or failure to gain weight, bouts of colic, and diarrhea. However, periodic checks should be done to make sure even horses of normal appearance are not infected. Younger animals are especially at risk.
Owners should know which worms are prevalent in their locality. These may change with the seasons. For example, bot flies lay their yellow eggs on legs, chest, and underbelly in the summer. The eggs are ingested by the horse when they scratch themselves, and the larvae hatch inside the stomach. This is not a problem that early spring worming needs to address. Overgrazed pastures lead to more reinfestation, so worming will have to be more frequent.
There are both chemical and non-chemical ways to keep animals healthy. Chemical wormers are targeted; in other words, they are effective against certain kinds of worms. Some broad-spectrum worming agents kill many species; Ivermectin is one generic name for a compound that combats many different parasites. It's important to read the labels or get a vet's advice when choosing a wormer; not all of them work against tapeworms, for example.
Alternative means include pasture management as well as herbal formulas and homeopathy. Rotating pasture is always helpful; it's best if horses are off a field for six months to give larvae a chance to die off. Mowing exposes larvae to predators, as does dragging to break up manure piles. The best way to keep pastures free of parasites is to pick up droppings. Of course, bot flies lay their eggs on the horse rather than in droppings, so you still need to be careful.
There are several natural worming products made for horses. Feeding diatomaeceous earth - mixing it in moistened grain - is another way to get many internal free-loaders. This method is good for very old animals who may become sensitive to chemical formulas. Commercial products include pastes, one-day pelletized formulas, and daily worming pellets to sprinkle on feed (to prevent reinfection as well as address actual infestation).
Even if droppings are quickly picked up and worming is not necessary on a regular basis, a fecal check is recommended twice yearly. Keeping animals parasite-free is part of the owner's responsibility. Owners can depend on their vet's advice or establish their own schedule.
It's important to know why, when, and how to worm animals. Parasites are the most common problem for horses, but they are also easy to control with proper procedures and effective products.
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