Worming Your Horse

The Importance of Protecting Your Horse fromsuch as an ivermectin product twice a year is a good
Parasitespractice. Depending on your climate, April - May, just
Horses have worms. All of them do. The good newsbefore bot larvae leave a horse's stomach would be a
is they can be kept under control with propergood time to use the bot dewormer. Then again in late
management. Manure removal, practicing goodfall, after a killing frost and after all bot eggs have been
sanitation measures, bot egg removal, and keeping toremoved from the horse's coat, October - November
a regular deworming schedule are a must. Not doing(once again depending on your climate). The rest of
so can take a staggering toll on a horse's health, eventhe year you can choose other dewormers. Pay
death.attention to their effectiveness against strongles, which
Good programs should include deworming foris a big parasite threat to your horse's health.
strongles (bloodworms), ascarida (roundworms),Keeping your horse on a regular deworming schedule
Oxyuris equi (pinworms), and Gasterophilus (bots).will help your horse stay healthy and looking so. Make
Using paste wormers, adult horses should be wormedsure you follow the recommended guidelines for your
every 6 weeks but not to go longer than 2 monthshorse's weight. With some wormers it can be
YEAR ROUND. For foals, from one month of agedetrimental by not doing so. Do not use a product with
every month until they are weaned, then every 6the same ingredient every time you worm (only
weeks until they are 1 year old. After 1 year follow theexception is being afore mentioned with pregnant
adult program. Pregnant mares should follow the adultmares). The active product ingredient should be
program until 1 month from due date, at that time theyrotated.
should be wormed with an ivermectin product, andThis is an easy way to prevent many health problems
again with an ivermectin product the day she foals. Iffor your horse. It is relatively inexpensive compared to
you are feeding a daily wormer, check with yourthe costs if it is not done. It is also relatively easy to do.
veterinarian to make sure if any adjustments might beIt is part of good horse husbandry that should not be
needed for your area.overlooked.
Using something effective against all worms and bots