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Dosing

Strategies for management

Use the chart below to assess the risk to your horse, to help determine the right individual dosing strategy required

Targeted strategic dosing **

To suppress pasture contamination use a broad-spectrum anthelmintic treatment, administered at critical times of the year.

A Worm Egg Count (WEC) is performed prior to dosing and results are expressed as eggs per gram (epg) of faeces. If the count is greater than 200 epg, anthelmintic treatment is required. Worm Egg Counts should be performed every 8 – 10 weeks.

Diagnostic limitations means that negative Worm Egg Counts do not guarantee a horse is parasite- free as, for example, a horse may be harbouring immature parasites which have not yet started to produce eggs. Also, mucosal larval parasites (small redworms) cannot be detected by this method.
Tapeworms are not detected by routine Worm Egg Counts, so a tapeworm antibody ELISA test should be carried out in Spring and Autumn.    

 

Strategic dosing

Administer broad-spectrum anthelmintic treatment at specific times of year to disrupt the seasonal cycle and transmission of parasites by reducing parasite egg output by horses – thus preventing the build-up of larvae on the pasture.

Given the seasonality of horse parasites, dosing in the Spring, in the middle of the grazing season and again in the Autumn should be effective at reducing the levels of infection.

Problems can arise as a result of abnormal weather patterns. For example, wet, warm summers can lead to early or late peak pasture larval burdens. Worm Egg Counts can help determine the need to treat.   

 

Interval dosing

Administer broad-spectrum anthelmintic treatment at set intervals throughout the year.

During Spring administer a single dose of EQVALAN® Duo in March to target routine worms and tapeworms.

For Summer routine worming, give a single dose of EQVALAN® in May and another single dose in July.

In Autumn administer a single dose of EQVALAN® Duo during October to treat for routine worms and tapeworms.

For Winter, treat routine worms and bots with a single dose of EQVALAN® in December. If needed also treat for encysted small redworms.

Remember to use Worm Egg Counts as part of your programme to help determine and re-assess the need to treat.

 

* Poor body condition may be an indication of a high worm burden
** Consider the risk of encysted small redworms and bots

The information given is for guidance only. Merial Animal Health Ltd accepts no responsibility for worming programmes undertaken as a result of this guidance. A Worm Egg Count is desirable for determining the parasitic threat to a given horse. Ask your veterinary surgeon or SQP for further information.