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DEWORMING: Adults: Deworming frequency will vary according to the management of the animal and the product used. Rotation between products/classes of dewormers is NOT recommended. Rotating products does not reduce the development of resistance by the parasites to the dewormers. The type of dewormer to use may depend on the past deworming history and if there is a problem with parasite resistance. The following recommendations are made according to frequency of deworming, in horses that live in a high parasite load environment: - moxidectin (Quest, ComboCare): give according to weight every 3 months. DO NOT GIVE TO FOALS, MINIATURE HORSES, WEANLINGS AND GERIATRIC HORSES WITH HEALTH ISSUES. Administering this medication at 4 times the recommended dose may cause neurological signs and death. -
- Ivermectin (Zimecterin, Equimectrin): give according to weight every 2 months. Ivermectin and moxidectin belong to the same class of dewormers-resistance to one drug may result in parasites being resistant to the other drug.
- benzimidazoles (fenbendazole, oxbendazole): give according to weight every month.
- pyrantel pamoate (Strongid): give according to weight every month if using the paste or liquid. Use daily pyrantel (Strongid C or Strongid C2X) according to instructions. A double dose of pyrantel may be used to treat tapeworms twice a year. -
- praziquantel (found in ComboCare, QuestGold): used to treat tapeworms, twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
Foals: Deworm starting at 1 month of age. Ivermectin, benzimidazoles and pyrantel are appropriate for use. If foals have not been on a routine deworming program since 4 weeks of age, ivermectin should not be used until they are a year of age. Ivermectin is a quick kill drug; if a high roundworm parasite burden is present, using a quick kill drug can result in intestinal blockage from dead parasites. If a high parasite burden is suspected, based on deworming history, fecal egg count, or history, a benzimidazole or pyrantel is recommended. General Recommendations:Dose dewormers according to body weight. Weight tapes may be used to estimate the weight. Overestimate if needed to ensure that the horse does not receive a lower dose than necessary as this may result, over time, in parasite resistance to the drug. However, be cautious when using moxidectin! Administer dewormers orally through the mouth over the tongue. Make sure the mouth is empty of feed/hay or much of the dewormer will be spit out and wasted. If a high density of horses are present in a small area, daily feed additive dewormers such as pyrantel pamoate are highly recommended. In addition to the daily dewormer, using an ivermectin/moxidectin product with praziquantel twice a year is recommended to address bots and tapeworms. If you suspect that parasites are becoming resistance to the dewormers you commonly use, we recommend performing a fecal egg count just prior to deworming, then repeat a fecal egg count 7-10 days after deworming. Please note that resistance to the small strongyles (cyathastomes) is becoming more frequent in horses. These parasites may cause colic, diarrhea, weight loss, protein loss and inability to gain weight. If this is suspected, please contact your veterinarian. A double dose of fenbendazole for 5 days (Power Pack) is recommended. In a southern climate such as ours, the following program can be recommended. September is the start of the worm control cycle using ivermectin or moxidectin after performing a FEC. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME TO PERFORM A FEC! Horses can be categorized as low shedders (< 150 epg), moderate shedders (150-500 epg) and high shedders (> 500 epg) at this time. SEPTEMBER FEC, ivermectin or moxidectin NOVEMBER/DECEMBER Treat all horses with FEC > 150 epg with ivermectin (November) or moxidectin (December). CAVEAT: if oxibendazole and/or pyrantel are effective, use the combination to reduce the need to use an avermectin and reduce the risk of developing anthelmintic resistance. DECEMBER Larval buildup occurs during this month as well as tapeworm transmission. Add praziquantel to the above avermectin combination and perform FECs. FEBRUARY Ivermectin or oxibendazole/pyrantel MARCH Treat all horses with FEC > 150 epg with an effective anthelmintic APRIL Perform a FEC on all horses Treatments performed in September and December with an avermectin will control bots, large strongyles, Habronema, Draschia and Onchocerca. Deworming after this period is aimed at controlling small strongyles. Horses with low FECs need no other treatments. FECAL EGG COUNTS Performing fecal egg counts (FECs) after deworming will vary depending on the class of dewormer used. The expected egg reappearance period if anthelmintic resistance is a problem with benzimidazoles and pyrantel salts is 4 weeks, with ivermectin is 8 weeks and with moxidectin is 12 weeks after deworming. The strongyle contaminative period is 8 weeks with benzimidazoles, 12 weeks with ivermectin and 16 weeks with moxidectin. This will impact how soon to perform a fecal egg count after deworming. VACCINATION | Vaccine | Initial Dose | Booster 1 | Booster 2 | Annual Booster Frequency | | EEE, WEE | 5-6 mo | 6-7 mo | 8-9 mo | 4-6 mo in endemic areas, annual in non-endemic areas | | Tetanus Toxoid* | 5-6 mo | 6-7 mo | | 12 mo | | West Nile (Prevenile) | 5 mo | 6 mo | | 12 mo | | IN Strangles | 4-6 mo | 3-4 weeks later | | 6 mo | | Rabies | 5-6 mo | 6-7 mo | | 12 mo | | Rhinopneumonitis | 5-6 mo | 6-7 mo | 8-9 mo | 3-6 mo depending on risk of exposure | | IM Influenza | 8-11 mo | 9-12 mo | | 3-6 mo depending on risk of exposure | | Potomac Horse Fever | 5 mo | 6 mo | 12 mo | 6-12 mo depending on risk of exposure | | EVA** | 6-12 mo (colts for breeding) | | | 12 mo |
*If there is no history of vaccination and the horse is undergoing castration, has wounds, a foot abscess or the horse is a mare post-foaling, administer tetanus toxoid and tetanus antitoxin (administer one in the neck and the other in the semitendinosus/semimembranosus muscle).**Stallions and mares need to be tested for EVA prior to vaccinating. If seropositive, do not vaccinate. Mares that are seronegative and are to be bred to seropositive stallions should be vaccinated. Vaccinated animals will be seropositive. All vaccinated horses need to be isolated from other horses for 21 days as the virus may be shed in semen, urine and nasal secretions.FOR ADULT HORSES: DO NOT FOLLOW THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INITIAL DOSES: ADMINISTER ONE INITIAL DOSE AND ONLY ONE BOOSTER IS NEEDED (IF A KILLED VACCINE) 3-4 WEEKS LATER. Please contact us to set up a deworming and vaccination program for your farm.
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