Deworming Guides
Deworming your Horses
Routine Fecal Egg Counts are a vital part of a well managed de-worming program. Fecals should be collected an appropriate amount of time after the last de-wormer has been administered. This period of time varies with the de-wormer used. Please see the table below to determine the appropriate time to take a sample. We recommend collecting a fresh sample just before de-worming. You can bring the fecal sample into our clinic and it will be processed at our in-house lab. Fecal samples need to be brought to the clinic same day as collected and labeled with your horse's name. We do not accept fecal samples Fridays after noon.
There are many de-wormers out there with many different main ingredients. Here is a table that groups the brand names of common de-wormers by their main ingredient.
Fecal Egg Counts, Shedding, and Deworming Protocols
Re-check FEC every Spring
(250-500 EPG)
Re-check FEC every Spring
(>500 EPG)
Re-check FEC every 6 months
* The November dose should be given after the 1st hard frost of the year if possible. In 2024 the last frost is predicted to be April 9th and the first October 30th.
** Quest should not be given to horses <2 years old, miniature horses, donkeys or thin horses unless specified otherwise by your veterinarian. If in doubt, please substitute an ivermectin product for Quest or call our office for assistance.
*** Miniature horses, donkeys, ponies and foals should be dosed by weight. Please let us know if you are not sure of your animal’s weight and we will assist. The safest way to dose smaller horses and ponies is to transfer the appropriate weight dose to a separate syringe prior to administration to prevent accidental overdose.
Please remember most horses do not change their shedding profile once they become adults. Having a high shedder is not generally a sign of poor management, but rather a reflection of that horse’s genetics and immunity to parasites. We are not trying to make all of your horses low shedders. We are trying to identify which horses on your farm require treatment the most to maximize your parasite control program and limit parasite resistance on your property.
There are many resources regarding deworming your equine partners, here are just a few we use:
https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/13-guidelines-to-follow-when-deworming-horses/
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