Equus Wellness Issue 2022

Vaccines are the best way to protect your horse from disease. And with some forethought and planning, you can make sure his immunization schedule provides the highest level of protection for the longest time possible. Here are four simple guidelines for ensuring that your vaccination program provides maximum protection. 1. ADAPT TO CIRCUMSTANCES When a horse’s situation changes, his vaccine needs may, too. Here are the changes in circumstances that may call for rethinking your horse’s vaccination schedule: • Location: Certain diseases are more common in particular regions so relocating with your horse may change his risk profile. If you move your horse from Massachusetts to Georgia, for example, he’s going to be exposed to more mosquitoes and needs more frequent vaccination against the diseases they carry. A move to…

A good biosecurity program need not be complex or difficult to implement. In fact, your normal management practices are probably already covering most of the bases. Still, when you face the threat of infectious disease, review your routines to make sure you’re not leaving any gaps that put horses at risk. Here are tips for implementing key disease-control measures. ASSEMBLE A QUARANTINE KIT • Spare buckets, grooming tools, pitchforks, halters and leads, a thermometer and other equipment needed to take care of sick horses apart from the others. • Bleach or other disinfecting solutions, dish detergent, rubber gloves, scrub brushes and other supplies. • A large, shallow container that can be used for footbaths. A piece of AstroTurf or a rough-textured welcome mat that fits inside is useful for scrubbing…

For all the attention they receive, carbohydrates, proteins and fats may seem to be the most important ingredients in your horse’s diet. But vitamins and minerals also play a vital role in a wide variety of his body processes. These organic compounds are readily available from fresh and dried forage and, to a lesser extent, grains. As a result, most pleasure horses can meet their daily vitamin needs by consuming good quality grass or hay. On the other hand, broodmares, youngsters, elite equine athletes and horses recovering from illness or experiencing stress often require more vitamins than even the best hay can provide. For these horses, a commercial feed formulated for the appropriate stage of life or activity level will typically provide the needed additional vitamins, each in the appropriate…

Fecal egg count-based deworming, sometimes called surveillance deworming, not only saves money but also reduces the risk of resistance within the parasite population on your farm. The idea is to identify the horses in a herd who are shedding significant amounts of parasite eggs and treat only those horses with the appropriate products on a schedule dictated by their response to the treatment. Surveillance deworming is also fairly easy. Your veterinarian can help you establish your system, based on the following key steps. • Identify the high shedders. Research has shown that mature horses shed strongyle parasite eggs at different rates. In fact, in some herds, only a small number of horses may be responsible for most of the strongyle eggs that are shed onto the pasture. The only way…

Three major classes of deworming chemicals (anthelmintics) are used in horses: Avermectins and milbemycins are still largely effective against a wide range of parasites. However, resistance—especially in ascarids—is documented and growing. This class includes: • Ivermectin, which works against most of the common equine parasites except for tapeworms. It does not work against encysted small strongyles, however. • Moxidectin, which is similar to ivermectin but also acts against encysted small strongyles. Benzimidazoles are effective against many adult parasites, but their efficacy against larval stages is declining. This class includes: • Fenbendazole, which kills large strongyles, pinworms and ascarids. • Oxibendazole, which kills large strongyles, pinworms, ascarids and thread-worms. • Oxfendazole, which kills large strongyles, roundworms and pinworms. Pyrimidines, also called pyrantel salts, have several applications and are the only class…

Four species of internal parasites pose the most serious threat to your horse’s health. • Small strongyles (cyathostomins). These are the most prevalent parasites in horses and the focus of much of a deworming protocol. A few small strongyles do little harm to a horse, but in large numbers they can interfere with the absorption of nutrients, causing a horse to be unthrifty. These worms spend a portion of the life span encysted in the intestinal walls, where they may not be affected by certain classes of chemical dewormers. • Ascarids (Parascaris equorum). These worms mainly affect foals, with adult horses developing a natural immunity as they mature. Ascarids can cause slow growth, a dull coat and decreased energy. • Tapeworms. Infection with these segmented parasites can cause general unthriftiness…