Treating equine internal parasites
From 'Straight from the Horse's Mouth' - March 2008
Article reprinted courtesy of The Organic Equine Magazine, New Zealand, Australia and California.
Internal parasites in horses are well recognised as a problem that we need to ensure we treat effectively and regularly. However, we also do not want to over treat this problem.
Good pasture management and treatment with an effective dewormer is paramount if we want to ensure our horse's health and well being. The usual protocol was to treat your horses with a dewormer once every 6-8 weeks. That was until moxidectin became available as an active ingredient in the dewormer Equest Plus Tape.
Moxidectin has the unique benefit of long term persistent activity that is not shared by other worming products. This unique persistent activity has been demonstrated by a reduction in faecal egg counts (FEC) over considerable periods of time after a single treatment. Horses that have been dewormed using moxidectin during fi eld studies conducted in many countries have had FEC of nearly zero eggs per gram for 16 weeks or more.
There has been an important transformation in worm types present in horses, which has caused the frequency of treatment periods to be reconsidered to achieve effective control of internal parasites. S.vulgaris is now less important and less prevalent in horses enabling treatment intervals to be safely extended in the majority of horses. Cyathostomes or small strongyles are now more important.
Equest Plus Tape is effective against encysted stages of cyathostomes. A number of reports on the efficacy of moxidectin, the most recent from an Australian study1, indicates the treatment frequency for the control of cyathostomes to be between 12-16 weeks or possibly longer, even when horses are grazing heavily contaminated pasture.
Worming every 14-16 weeks does have its benefits, however, have you considered the cost saving per year for yourself? Take a look at the following formulas comparing Equest Plus Tape to other branded tape worm control:
Equest Plus Tape
3 x treatments every 14-16 weeks
= 42-48 weeks control
x 3 treatments @ $25.00 each (average price for each treatment)
= $75.00 every 42-48 weeks
Other internal parasite control including tape worm
6 x treatments every 6-8 weeks
= 36-48 weeks control
x 6 treatments @ $21.00 each (lowest price found on market*)
= $126.00 per 36-48 weeks
Savings = $51.00 per annum or 41%!
Consider the savings if you compare how many horses you worm over a period of up to 48 weeks. This could be considerable! Equest Plus Tape is effective for longer and works out cheaper over the long run. Remember too that Equest Plus Tape is the only wormer registered to control those deadly encysted small strongyle worms in a single dose^.
Head into your local RD1 store today and pick up your Equest Plus Tape for long term persistent activity against internal parasites and annual cost savings.
* Current as at 8th February 2008.
^ Based on comparison of registered label claims.
References: 1. Rolfe PF, Dawson KL and Holm Glass M. Efficacy of moxidectin against small and large strongyles in horses in comparison to commercially available anthelmintics. Aust Vet J. 1998 May; 76(5):332-4.
Some products may not be available in all stores but can be ordered on request. Disclaimer: Any views and comments expressed in this article are not necessarily the opinions of RD1 Limited nor associated agencies. This content is copyright of RD1 Limited.
