Over the years, veterinarians and horse owners have gotten into the habit of deworming too frequently, without considering the negative consequences. The chemicals are hard on your horse's gut (they damage beneficial bacteria) and their overuse has created chemically-resistant parasites. Some veterinarians call them super worms.
Obtaining a fecal egg count from manure will ensure that you deworm only when necessary. A fecal egg count is a simple test that can be performed in a few different ways. The easiest and most common method is called the flotation method. A small amount of fresh manure is mixed with a saline solution and allowed to sit for a period of time. Then a small sample of the manure/saline solution is placed on a slide and viewed under a microscope. Generally, if there are more than 2 or 3 eggs on a slide, deworming should be done.* A fecal egg count is recommended about four times per year for adult horses and more often for younger horses. Most adult horses with good, healthy immune systems build up a fairly strong resistance to parasites.
If, like me, you prefer to be self-sufficient, you can purchase a fecal egg count kit and perform the test yourself. By observing your horse's overall condition and knowing what to look for, you can manage your horse's parasite loads quite well. Here are some signs that may indicate your horse needs to be dewormed:
- A distended belly
- An unthrifty or dull coat
- Tail rubbing
- Bad breath
- Depression or lethargy
- Recurrent colic
- Weight loss and/or inability to maintain a healthy weight
- Diarrhea (may be intermittent)
- Poor hoof condition
- Chronic cough and/or nasal discharge
By obtaining this simple test and making sure you're employing good pasture management, you can be sure you're doing your part in helping keep the worms from becoming super worms!
(Originally published November 2013)
