The world of horse dewormers is truly confusing. Not only do you need to figure out what wormers you need and when you should use them, but there are also so many horse wormers on the market that it can sometimes be difficult to navigate.
There are many horse dewormers on the market that help control internal parasites. There are a number of different worms that can cause problems for horses: Red worms (small and large), large roundworms, tapeworms, tapeworms, and pinworms.
All worms have cycles and that is why many manufacturers of horse dewormers not only advise on the deworming interval but also on what product to administer and when to treat which worm. During the winter the horses are treated against encysted small redworm larvae and bots, in the spring and fall they are treated against tapeworm, and during the summer pasture season, they are treated against roundworms and large and small red worms.
How do I know which horse dewormers to use?
All horse dewormers contain active ingredients that treat a problem. It is important to ensure that your horse is treated with different active ingredients (at the correct times of the year), otherwise, you risk treating your horse for the same internal parasite with different products.
However, manufacturers usually produce a range of products that cover the horse all year round. Fort Dodge, for example, offers Equest and Equest Promax. These products both have a 13-week dosing interval, and together they contain the active ingredients needed to treat a range of internal parasites. The person best able to advise you on what and when to give your horse is a veterinarian, a Qualified Person (SQP), or a dewormer manufacturer.
Horse wormers usually come in tubes of paste, granules, or liquids, but paste is the most common. To administer the dewormer, weigh the horse using a scale tape, then adjust the syringe to the required weight using the scale.
Then tie the horse up and make sure its mouth is empty of food. Insert the syringe into the corner of the horse's mouth and, when in the correct position, gently depress the plunger. Once the intended amount of dewormer has been introduced into the horse's mouth, remove the syringe and gently raise the horse's head in the air until he has swallowed the product.
Pellets and liquids are easier to administer as they can usually be placed in the horse's feed. Some horses are able to recognize a different taste in their food and in this case it may be necessary to use ingredients such as molasses to mask the product. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Before giving a horse a dewormer, it is important to read the packaging carefully and, if you have any doubts about your horse's health, always contact your veterinarian. Deworming a sick horse can lead to problems, so veterinary advice is essential. Likewise, if you have any doubts or questions about the horse dewormer you are using (e.g. can I deworm my young horse? Can I use it to deworm my pregnant mare? Etc) it is essential to contact a veterinarian, the SQP, or the product manufacturer for advice.