How to Control Worms in Horses
Like any other pet animal, horses and ponies also get infected by a wide range of internal and external parasites in their life cycle. A horse’s health is largely unaffected by a low worm burden. However, if a high number of parasitic worms are left untreated, it might result in major health issues in horses.
This article will help you know about the types of worms in horses, the symptoms of infections, and the worm cycle. Here, you will understand how to control worms in horses and preventive measures to avoid their recurrence.
Types of Worms in Horses
To understand how worms affect horses, it is essential to learn about the different kinds of worms in horses. This will help you make an effective de-worming strategy to eliminate them. Following are the various types of worms in horses and ponies:
Large Redworms
Large Redworms cause bleeding and injury when they migrate through the intestinal blood vessels. This may result in diarrhea, surgical colic, and abrupt weight loss.
Small Redworms
They are the most common and dangerous worms to affect horses. They multiply in spring after completing the larval stage in winter and seriously impact the gut. When they grow in numbers, can become life-threatening for equines.
Roundworms
Roundworms’ larva reaches the liver and then to the lungs through the intestinal wall causing respiratory problems such as cough, runny nose, etc., and gut issues like weight loss, pot belly, etc.
Pinworms
Pinworms cause intense itching around the anus area which leads to discomfort, constant scratching, loss of hair, etc.
Threadworms
Through the mare’s milk, threadworms are passed on to young foals as foals are vulnerable to infection, making them prone to anemia and diarrhea.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms gather into clusters at the junction of the small and the large intestine. This may result in deadly blockages, colic, and other digestive problems.
Lungworms
Lungworms are common in horses that share a paddock with donkeys, the worms’ natural hosts. These worms cause respiratory issues in horses including severe coughing.
Bot Flies
Bot flies may cause swelling in the mouth and throat when horses swallow their eggs. Upon reaching the stomach, they can cause ulcers if left untreated.
Symptoms of Worms in Horses
The signs of worm infection in horses depend on the type and the level of worm infection. Here are some of the common symptoms of worm infections in horses:
- Loss of weight
- Colic
- Diarrhea and constipation
- Skin and coat damage
- Reduced growth
- Respiratory issues (runny nose, cough)
Also Read: Skin Disorders and Treatments in Horses
Worm Cycle in Horses
Following is the life cycle chart of worms in horses:
- Worm larvae exist in the pasture
- Upon ingestion of infected pasture, worm larvae mature inside the horse & wander to different parts
- When matured, they breed & lay eggs
- Worm eggs then pass in horse’s manure & the cycle begins again
- Eggs hatch into larvae & grow
- As the horse grazes, it consumes the larvae
Ways to Treat & Control Worms in Horses
Maintaining the cleanliness of your horse’s pasture and adopting a tailored deworming strategy is essential for controlling worms. Before de-worming, you should always test your horses for worm infection. To enable treatment for horses in need, the test estimates the number of eggs present and determines the sort of parasite eggs the horse sheds in its feces.
Below are the key points to remember for de-worming your horse and pony correctly:
- To ensure your horse receives the correct deworming dosage, weigh them. In case of any confusion, call a veterinarian for an appropriate dewormer recommendation.
- Ensure that all the wormers get down their throat properly to avoid re-dosing.
In addition, you can use any of these de-wormers after consulting with your vet to treat worm infections in horses:
Preventions for Worms in Horses
Managing pasture will help you to eliminate the worm burden. Therefore, follow the pointers given below for good pasture management:
- Try removing horse droppings at least two times a week, and avoid using horse dung as a fertilizer.
- Avoid overcrowding pastures; two horses per hectare or 1 – 1.5 acres per horse is recommended.
- Graze equines of similar ages together since young horses are more prone to a higher worm burden.
In Conclusion
Before administering any deworming treatment, know about the types of worms in horses, their symptoms, how to control them, and how to prevent them. Please give your veterinarian a call if you anticipate your horse may have a substantial worm infection or if they are exhibiting clinical indications.
