Horse IQ

As a responsible horse owner, you work hard to protect your horse against external predators. But the biggest threat to your horse’s health might be internal predator. One you can’t even see. Horse worms live, eat, and reproduce inside your horse. And if you don’t kill them, they can wreak havoc on a horse’s health, causing everything from colic to respiratory and digestive problems.

But the worst part is this: these horse parasites can inflict heavy damage on your horse before you even realize they’re there. You can’t see them. You can’t hear them. And until your horse comes down with a life-threatening illness, you have no reason to suspect a problem…unless you know what to look for. So how do you know your horse might have a worm problem? Here’s how…

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), along with Bayer Corporation (yep, the same folks that make the aspirin) publishes a pamphlet called “Parasite Control.” Inside, they give us 9 suggestions to help rid your horse of worms before they can do any damage.

1. Pick up and dispose of manure droppings in the pasture 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 or cattle, 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 hair coat to prevent ingestion.
8. Rotate deworming agents, not just brand names, to prevent chemical resistance.
9. Consult your veterinarian to set up an effective and regular deworming schedule.

There’s even more the good news in the fight against horse worms. Deworming agents are very effective in ridding your horse of these deadly little beasts. And you don’t have to be a veterinarian to use them. Any horse owner can. You’ll want to consult your veterinarian before you start a deworming plan. But once you put one in place, you’ll be miles ahead in the fight against horse worms.

I’ll talk more about deworming agents in a future horse health article. So keep your news reader pointing right here to Horse IQ.

Yours for Better Horse Health,

Sierra Lynch

Tags: Horse Parasites

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