Worming

Chiltern Equine Clinic 2022 Worming Programme

Parasitic worms can negatively affect the health of horses, ponies and donkeys of all ages and breeds. Internal parasites can do irreversible damage to the gut and other organs leading to poor body condition, immunosuppression, colic and, in the most serious cases, death. The importance of an appropriate deworming programme for your horse should not be underestimated.

Targeted Worming Programme

Targeted strategic dosing based on the result of the faecal egg count is the most effective way to minimise unnecessary treatment for your horse and help combat the ever growing problem of anthelmintic resistance.

A faecal sample is sent to our laboratory and an egg count is performed prior to potential dosing. If the worm egg count is high a specific wormer will be advised by your vet depending on the time of year and your horse’s worming history.

Faecal egg counts are not an accurate method of measuring tapeworm burden. Combining a tapeworm antibody ELISA twice yearly with targeted worming is an effective way to monitor and control your horse’s tapeworm burden. Alternatively, if you do not wish to take blood for a tapeworm ELISA twice yearly, we advise worming against tapeworm in spring and autumn with praziquantel.

Interval dosing

This strategy involves using specific anthelmintic treatments at pre-determined intervals throughout the year. An example of such a protocol is outlined in the above table.

The biggest disadvantage of this strategy is that your horse may be dosed unnecessarily thus contributing to the development of anthelmintic resistance.

You may need a specific programme targeted to your yard, please speak to your vet if you would like to organise this.

Foal De-Worming / Vaccination Programme.

Mare: Pre Foaling

• The pregnant mare should be vaccinated for Influenza / Tetanus at approximately 30 days before her due date (Average gestation 345 days). Antibodies will peak at around 30 days coinciding with foaling so her colostrum will have maximal antibody concentration.
• De-worm the mare approximately 30 days before her due date with an Ivermectin product (eg Eqvalan, Noromectin). This will reduce the pasture worm burden.

Foal: Day of foaling.

• If the mare has not been vaccinated within the last 6 months for Influenza or Tetanus, the foal should be given a Tetanus anti-toxin at the post foaling check.

Foal: De-worming

From 12 months of age the foal can now be wormed as per the young stock worming programme.

*If the foal is over 2 months of age and has no de-worming history, de-worm at half the regular dose per body weight with Ivermectin and repeat at full body dose 2 weeks later. This decreases the worm burden slowly in a foal that may be heavily infected and reduces the risk of colic and bowel damage.

FOR DOSAGE ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND ENSURE THE FOAL IS WEIGHED ACCURATELY

Foal: Vaccinations

• The foal can start their vaccination course for Influenza and Tetanus (and EHV 1, 4 if required) at 5 months of age.