What do certain parasites do to your horse?
Parasite, the name is enough to give most people the shivers. Many different parasites can infect our horses, and if not treated they can cause significant health issues. While a low number of parasites may show no symptoms at all, high-level parasite infections can wreak havoc on your horse.
Common signs of parasitic or worm infections include:
- Weight loss
- Colic
- Potbelly
- Diarrhea, constipation, or impaction
- Lack of energy, decreased stamina, or lethargy
- Rough/dull hair coat
- Coughing
- Poor growth in foals
- Tail rubbing
- Respiratory problems
- Anemia
- Sores on the skin
Common Parasites/Worms:
Large Strongyles: These are often called redworms, palisade worms, and bloodworms. These larvae migrate and can cause issues such as arteritis (inflammation in the arteries), pancreas and liver lesions, and can affect blood flow to the kidneys. In large amounts, these parasites can cause anemia, weight loss, dehydration, weakness, electrolyte deficits, protein loss, and they can decrease the blood supply by large amounts causing severe colic, gut perforation, and could lead to death.
Small Strongyles: These parasitic nematodes not only cause unexplained weight loss and gastrointestinal distress but also can cause damage to the intestinal wall which in turn causes bleeding.
Large Roundworms (Ascarids): Mostly found in horses under 2 years old; infected horses show respiratory symptoms, lung damage, coughing, poor development, and in extreme cases death.
Pinworms: Pinworms can cause hair loss, itchiness, and wounds at the base of the tail.
Tapeworms: Infections caused by tapeworms can cause colic, anemia, ulcers, and weight loss.
Bots: Bots can cause damage to the horse’s mouth and they travel to the stomach where they damage the gut lining resulting in stomach ulcers, lesions, and colic.
Threadworms: Foals can ingest this larva through a mare’s milk when nursing. They rarely cause harm to adult horses but infected foals show symptoms of colic, failure to thrive, and diarrhea. Horses tend to build immunity to threadworms after several months of age but significant infestations can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, protein loss, and gastric upset.
Treatment and Prevention
While you can’t get rid of worms completely, you can create a program that helps you get them under control before it becomes a larger issue. If you have yet to treat your horse for parasites it is recommended that you start them on a 5-day dewormer such as Panacur (fenbendazole) and then follow with the recommended dewormer of that season. It’s best to speak with your veterinarian to see what will work best for your situation.
Many people choose to follow a rotational calendar where every couple of months they use a dewormer. Here’s an example of a common rotational deworming calendar.
January/February: Oxibendazole
Found in Anthelcide® EQ Paste
March/April: Pyrantel pamoate
Found in Strongid® Paste and First Companion Equistrength
May/June: Ivermectin/Praziquantel
Found in Equimaxâ„¢ and Zimecterin Gold Paste
July/August: Oxibendazole
Found in Anthelcide® EQ
September/October: Pyrantel pamoate
Found in Strongid® Paste and First Companion Equistrength
November/December: Ivermectin/Praziquantel
Found in Equimaxâ„¢ and Zimecterin Gold Paste
Here at South Texas Tack, we sell many equine dewormers, and other products in-store and online to help keep your horse healthy and help you and prevent these common parasites.
Written by: Ashley Smith
