There are many products out there used to worm horses.  We cannot tell you which horse dewormer is best for you or your horse.  What we can do, however, is tell you how to use them.

There are two methods used for deworming horses. The first method is to administer paste dewormer routinely throughout the year.  Depending on the parasite load, this is done 2 to 6 times a year. The second method is to keep the horse on a daily dewormer and paste deworm twice a year.

1. Intermittent Deworming Protocol:

This schedule is suggested for horses not on a continuous daily deworming program.  The program can be modified based on the worm burden in the pasture or the particular horse.  Ask us about manure testing to determine your horse's parasite load.  Some horses need deworming less often; others seem to need monthly deworming:

We recommend Ivermectin (Eqvalan®) or fenbendazole (Panacur®) for routine deworming.

Ivermectin/praziquantel combination (Equimax®) is recommended at least once a year to eliminate tapeworms.

** We do recommend deworming at least 1 month after a killing frost in the fall/winter to clear out any parasites which may be in the horses for the winter.

**We recommend deworming foals with the foal dose of fenbendazole (Panacur®) at 7 days of age, then monthly until they are 6 months of age.  After this time, they can be dewormed with ivermectin or fenbendazole.  The foal dose of fenbendazole is two times the adult horse dose (look at the plunger).

**Horses suspected of being "wormy" may benefit from the use of 5 day treatment with fenbendazole at double dose to kill encysted small strongyles (Panacur Power Pack®)

**Deworming pregnant mares 30 days prior to foaling and on the day of foaling may reduce foal heat diarrhea.

 

2. Daily Deworming Protocol

Deworm in December and June with Ivermectin/praziquantel combination (Equimax®) and keep horse on a daily pelleted dewormer such as pyrantel pamoate (Strongid C 2X). Before starting the continuous deworming program, deworm with Equimax® or a Panacur Power Pack®.