Page 20 - Parker Co. 4-H Connection September 2021

4 - H H O R S E P R O J E C T

THE SOLUTION

Prevention is key! Fecal egg counts should be performed by your veterinarian in the
spring and fall. If your barn has a history of heavy worm burdens, then submitting
fecal samples even more frequently may be required. The results of the fecal egg
count will determine whether your veterinarian recommends the administration of a
de-wormer. For horses that are shedding low numbers of worms (<200 eggs per
gram), your vet will most likely recommend de-worming only twice a year. For high-
shedding horses, de-worming more frequently may be required. It is important to be
aware that some worms do not always show up on a fecal egg count, such as
tapeworm, encysted small strongyles, pinworms, and bots. For bots, Ivermectin
should be administered before every winter. Praziquantel works best for tapeworms
and should also be administered annually.

It is also important to note that you do not necessarily want a fecal egg count of zero.
Even though it may seem counter-intuitive, it is important to keep low levels of
worms around that are susceptible to de-wormers. The development of resistance to
the various de-wormers has been studied and could cause serious issues for the
equine community if veterinarians and owners are not controlling worms
appropriately.

You can also help prevent your horse from becoming infested with parasites by
routinely picking up manure, rotating turnout, and maintaining good hygiene in the
barn. (Read an article on how to compost manure.) That means keeping water
buckets and troughs clean, keeping hay stored in appropriate, clean areas, and not
throwing hair onto places where horses frequently defecate.
Your horse will thank you!

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