Equine Parasites!

Wage War on Equine Parasites

Internal parasites are silent killers. They can cause extensive internal damage, and you may not even realize your horses are heavily infected. At the very least, parasites can lower disease resistance, rob the horse of valuable nutrients, and cause gastrointestinal irritation and unthriftiness. At their worst, they can lead to colic, intestinal ruptures, and death.

Using deworming agents on a regular schedule in combination with good management procedures is critical to relieving your horse of most parasites. Since parasites are primarily transferred through manure, good manure management is key. Establishing a parasite control program is probably second only to supplying the horse with clean, plentiful water and high quality feed.

To get rid of intestinal parasites before they attack your horse, follow these suggestions from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP):

1. Pick up and dispose of manure in pastures at least twice weekly.

2. Mow and harrow pastures regularly to break up manure piles and expose parasite eggs and larvae to the elements.

3. Rotate pastures by allowing other livestock, such as sheep, cattle, or chickens to graze them, thereby interrupting the life cycles of parasites.

4. Group horses by age to reduce exposure to certain parasites and maximize the deworming program geared to that group.

5. Keep the number of horses per acre to a minimum to prevent overgrazing and reduce the fecal contamination per acre.

6. Use a feeder for hay and grain rather than feeding on the ground.

7. Remove bot eggs quickly and regularly from the horse’s haircoat to prevent ingestion.

8. Perform regular Fecal Egg Counts to monitor your horse for internal parasites and help plan an effective deworming schedule.

9. Consult your veterinarian to set up an effective and regular deworming schedule.

Establishing an effective deworming program based around regular Fecal Egg Counts is easy. Discuss a plan with your veterinarian and implement it without delay. A good parasite control program will go a long way toward maximizing your horse’s appearance, performance and comfort. The net result will be an animal that is as healthy on the inside as it appears on the outside.

Sections reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.