Guidelines On Giving Horse Wormers

By Cynthia Snyder


All domestic animals need to be dewormed from time to time to prevent worms from seriously affecting their health. However, there are very many worming products while they are growing resistance to a number of them. This may make it difficult for a farmer to pick the best horse wormers. This article provides you with guidelines for selecting and using the dewormers.

Start by checking the number of worms that have infested the animal. This is effortlessly carried out by a number of tests. The most common test is counting of eggs in the feces. It points out an approximation of adult egg-laying worms. It should be carried out after three or four months so as to determine those that have been greatly infected and require to be dewormed. The test is also useful in determining those that are resistant to the active element being utilized.

Other tests that can be done are blood and saliva tests. A blood test is able to identify tapeworm infections. A high positive outcome acquired is an indication that the animal is highly infected and should be treated right away. A lower positive outcome is an indication of lower infections hence giving dewormers is not necessary. Saliva tests may include, analyzing the saliva taken. This procedure is quite cheap and is able to effortlessly fit in the plan you are using.

It is recommended that you deworm only when necessary. This is because the animals have evolved with parasites hence a small burden is not harmful to their health. Exposing a small population to dewormers regularly may encourage resistance which will become a real problem after a while. Following a deworming plan is, therefore, necessary to avoid such problems.

The correct dosage ought to be given at all times. A low dosage only encourages resistance whereas a high dosage is not helpful. How much the animal weighs dictates the number of drugs to be administered. Make use of a weighbridge to know the weight of the animal before giving the drug. To add on this, instead of using the liquid dewormers, give tablets which prevent under-dosing because they cannot spit tablets out.

When rotating the drugs every season, make an effort of changing the active element instead of switching brand names. This will help more so if the animals have developed resistance. To add on this, remember to talk to your vet who will inform you if there is resistance to the active element you want to use in your location. This allows you to make the right choice.

It is important you reduce the usage of the drugs by worming less frequently. This is possible by using drugs that have longer dosing intervals and making use of fecal worm egg count which allows you to treat specific horses whose worm egg count have reached a given level. This normally two hundred eggs and above in a given gram.

Lastly, ensure pastures and shelters are clean by removing droppings. The droppings harbor worms which escaped treatment. The worms have the probability of growing resistance to the dewormer you are using. Getting rid of them denies them the opportunity of reinfecting your horses.




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