Keeping your horse healthy and free from parasites is crucial for their overall well-being. Worms are one of the most common parasites affecting horses, leading to various health issues if left untreated. This comprehensive guide will help you understand how to identify, treat, and prevent horse worms, ensuring your horse stays healthy and happy.
Understanding Horse Worms
Horse worms are internal parasites that can cause significant health problems in horses. These parasites live in the horse's internal organs, such as their body cavities, tissues and intestines. The parasites will then feed on the horse’s ingested nutrients and cause various health issues. Worms are particularly dangerous because they can go undetected for long periods, leading to severe damage to the horse's internal systems.
Common types of horse worms include roundworms, tapeworms, pinworms, and bots. Each type of worm can cause different symptoms and complications, making it essential to understand and identify them. Worm infestations can lead to weight loss, colic, poor coat condition, and even death in severe cases. Regular worming is critical to keep these parasites under control and ensure your horse remains healthy.
Signs of Worms in Horses
Recognising the signs of worm infestation is crucial for early treatment. Watch out for the following symptoms:
• Unexplained weight loss
• Poor coat condition
• Colic symptoms
• Diarrhoea
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy
• Tail rubbing
• Visible worms or eggs in their manure
Identifying Horse Worms
Understanding the different types of worms that can infest horses is essential for effective treatment. Here are the common horse worms found in Australia:
Large Strongyles (Bloodworms)
These are among the most dangerous worms, causing severe damage to the horse’s blood vessels.
Small Strongyles (Cyathostomes)
Common in horses, these worms can cause colic and diarrhoea.
Roundworms (Ascarids)
Particularly a problem in young horses, causing intestinal blockages and respiratory issues.
Tapeworms
These worms can cause colic and are often found in the intestines.
Pinworms in Horses
These cause tail rubbing and irritation around the anus.
Bots in Horses
These are larvae of bot flies and can cause stomach ulcers.
Horse Worm Identification Chart
| Worm Type | Unique Identifiers | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Large Strongyles | Large, reddish worms | Damage blood vessels, cause colic |
| Small Strongyles | Smaller, numerous | Cause colic, diarrhoea |
| Roundworms | Large, white, up to 40 cm long | Affect young horses, cause blockages |
| Tapeworms | Segmented, can be several feet long | Cause colic, found in intestines |
| Pinworms | Small, white, cause irritation around the horse’s bottom | Cause tail rubbing |
| Bots | Yellow larvae found in the stomach | Cause stomach ulcers |
Horse Worm Egg Identification Chart
| Worm Egg Type | Unique Identifiers | Where to Look |
|---|---|---|
| Large Strongyles | Large, reddish eggs | Manure |
| Small Strongyles | Small, numerous eggs | Manure |
| Roundworms | Large, spherical eggs | Manure (particularly in young horses) |
| Tapeworms | Segmented eggs | Manure, intestines |
| Pinworms | Small, sticky eggs | Manure, around their bottom |
| Bots | Yellow, sticky eggs | On their legs, on their coat |
Effective Horse Worming Schedule Australia
Establishing a regular worming schedule is vital to maintain your horse's health. A consistent schedule helps prevent severe infestations and reduces the risk of developing worm resistance to treatments. Regular worming ensures that your horse remains healthy and performs at its best.
Horse Worming Chart
An effective worming schedule is crucial to keeping horses healthy and free from parasitic infestations. The suggested chart follows a strategic approach to target different types of worms throughout the year, ensuring comprehensive coverage and preventing the development of resistance.
| Season | Worming Treatment |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Ivermectin |
| Spring | Pyrantel |
Autumn: Ivermectin
Purpose: Ivermectin is highly effective against a wide range of internal parasites, including large strongyles, small strongyles, and bots.
Timing: Administering it in Autmn (March, April or May) helps to eliminate any worms that may have been picked up during the late spring and summer months.
Spring: Pyrantel
Purpose: Pyrantel is effective against roundworms and tapeworms.
Timing: Pyrantel utilises a different active ingredient to combat worms and helps prevent resistance by alternating with ivermectin. Administering it in spring (September, October or November) helps to target worms that may have been acquired during winter, maintaining effective parasite control.
Key Points
Rotation of Active Ingredients: Rotating between different classes of dewormers (ivermectin, and pyrantel) helps to prevent the development of drug-resistant worms.
Comprehensive Coverage: The schedule ensures that all major types of internal parasites are targeted at different times of the year, providing comprehensive protection.
Seasonal Considerations: The timing of treatments considers the life cycles of various parasites and the seasonal patterns of worm infestations, ensuring optimal effectiveness.
Throughout the year you should conduct faecal egg counts to determine if your horse requires additional worming.
Faecal Egg Count Horse
A Faecal Egg Count (FEC) is a test used to measure the number of parasitic eggs in your horse's manure. This test helps determine the level of worm infestation and identifies the types of worms present. FECs are essential for effective parasite management, allowing for targeted deworming and ensuring your horse receives the appropriate treatment. By identifying the worm burden, FECs help prevent overuse of dewormers, reducing the risk of drug-resistant worms.
How to Do a Faecal Egg Count Horse?
1. Sample Collection: Fresh faecal samples are collected from the horse. It's important to collect samples from individual horses rather than pooled samples to get accurate results for each animal.
2. Laboratory Analysis: Take your horse’s sample to your vet. The samples are then sent to a lab where they are processed and examined under a microscope. The technician counts the number of eggs present in a measured amount of faeces to determine the eggs per gram.
3. Interpret Results: The results of your horse’s FEC will determine what worming they require. A low egg count (<200EPG) indicates that you can follow a standard Autumn and Spring schedule while regularly monitoring your horse. By contrast, a high egg count (>500 EGP) indicates a significant infestation and immediate deworming is needed. A moderate egg count (200-500 EPG) sits in the middle of the two readings and suggests that more worming is potentially needed. You would be best to discuss this with your vet.
Administering Worming Treatments
Preventing parasite infestations is critical for your horse's health. There are several types of worming treatments available, including pastes, gels, and tablets. Each type has its benefits, and choosing the right one depends on your horse's needs and preferences. Administering treatments correctly ensures their effectiveness and helps maintain a worm-free environment for your horse.
Horse Worming Paste
Horse worming paste is a popular and effective treatment for worm infestations. This paste is easy to administer directly into the horse's mouth, ensuring the horse receives the correct dosage. The paste is designed to target specific types of worms, making it an essential part of a comprehensive worming program.
The benefits of using worming paste include its ease of use and effectiveness in treating various types of worms. It is also convenient for horse owners, as it can be easily administered without the need for additional equipment. Regular use of worming paste as part of a worming schedule helps keep your horse healthy and free from parasites.
Horse Worming Granules
Horse worming granules are another effective option for treating worm infestations. These are designed to be mixed with feeds, making them easier to administer, especially for horses that are difficult to worm.
The benefits of using worming granules include their precise dosage and ease of administration. Granules are also less messy than pastes and gels, making them a preferred option for many horse owners. Regular use of worming granules helps maintain a healthy gut and overall well-being in horses.
Horse Worming Gel
Horse worming gel is another reliable and effective treatment option for worm infestations. This gel is formulated to be administered directly into the horse's mouth, ensuring precise dosage and effective distribution. The gel is designed to target specific types of worms, making it a vital component of a well-rounded worming regimen.
The benefits of using worming gel include its ease of administration and its effectiveness in treating a wide range of worms. The gel's texture and flavour are often designed to be palatable for horses, making it easier to administer, especially for those that may be picky or resistant to other forms of medication. Additionally, worming gel can be applied quickly and without the need for additional equipment, making it a convenient choice for horse owners.
Maintaining a Worm-Free Environment
Keeping your horse's environment clean and free from parasites is crucial. Here are the top tips to avoid worms in horses:
- Regularly clean stables and paddocks.
- Rotate grazing areas to prevent overgrazing and contamination.
- Remove manure from fields regularly.
- Always provide clean, fresh water.
- Use feed bins to prevent feed contamination.
- Regularly worm all horses on the property.
- Check your horse’s manure for worms or eggs.
- Quarantine new horses before introducing them to the herd.
- Maintain good pasture management practices.
- Keep feeding areas clean and free from manure.
FAQs for Horse Worming
How long after worming horse are worms expelled?
Worms are typically expelled within 24 to 48 hours after worming.
How often should you worm a horse?
Horses should be wormed every 6 to 8 weeks, depending on their age, health, and environment.
How to worm a horse who is difficult?
Use a palatable worming paste or tablets and consider mixing the treatment with their feed.
Can you over worm a horse?
Here ‘over worming’ relates to the number of times the horse is wormed – rather than indicating too high of a dosage. It is indeed possible to administer your house with too many worming treatments. Over-worming can lead to resistance to the medication (eventually causing immunity which will become an issue if your horse develops worms) and other health issues. Follow a recommended worming schedule.
How to worm a horse?
Administer worming paste or gel directly into the horse's mouth or mix tablets with their feed. Ensure the horse consumes the entire dose.
Which wormer kills pinworms in horses?
Pyrantel, Ivermectin, and Moxidectin are effective wormers for pinworms in horses.