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Horse Fecal Testing & Deworming

Control of intestinal parasites is critical for the long term health and well-being of all your horses. Horses with internal parasites can suffer from unthriftiness, weight loss, poor weight gain and growth, intestinal impactions, and colic. Because these internal parasites are spread by ingestion (primarily on pasture, but the eggs and larvae are also in dirt, hay, and other types of feeds), they are very difficult to eliminate entirely. Instead, good control is achieved with fecal testing and routinely scheduled dewormings of all horses.

To develop a deworming protocol, it is suggested that a laboratory procedure called a fecal flotation be performed. To do this, manure samples can be dropped off at the veterinary hospital. There, the technicians will examine the samples under a microscope to identify the eggs of the intestinal parasites bothering your horses. After this, Dr. Ridlen can help you create a schedule of deworming. The deworming with be done at monthly, bimonthly, or longer intervals, using rotating products to kill the parasites and prevent resistance to the medications. In addition, Dr. Ridlen can discuss management techniques designed to help control intestinal parasites, such as rotation of pastures.

Annual fecal flotation testing, along with a scheduled deworming, rotating medications, and farm management can significantly reduce the parasites bothering your horses.