In the world of human medicine, scientists have warned us about bacteria becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Each time a person takes an antibiotic, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant germs are left to grow and multiply, ultimately creating a population of super bugs that don't respond to traditional antibiotics.
Ridding horses of parasites
Parasites have developed resistance to commonly used anthelmintic classes meaning that horses may have parasites that are resistant to deworming products currently being used.
Some of these super bugs have become deadly, especially in hospital settings, leading to deaths of patients that have had successful procedures.
Veterinarians know that parasites have developed resistance to commonly used anthelmintic classes meaning that horses may have parasites that are resistant to some of the deworming products currently being used.
What does that mean for horse owners? Their horses may have parasites that are resistant to some of the deworming products they may be currently using.
Horse owners around the country are asking how this can happen when they have adhered to the decades-old recommended practice of rotational deworming.
The answer is simple: Parasites have responded to the anthelmintic challenge by developing resistance. In the case of small strongyles, identified as the most prevalent parasite in adult horses today, there is evidence of their widespread resistance to two of the three major dewormer classes: benzimidazoles and pyrantels. The common practice of rotation has not done anything to slow this down.
How does a horse owner create a strategic deworming plan?
- Stop treating every horse the same. Only 20 to 30 percent of horses in a herd shed about 80 percent of the worm eggs. It doesnât make financial or medical sense to treat every horse with the same eight-week frequency.
- Start working with your veterinarian to establish a more effective parasite control program. Have a fecal egg count test run for each horse to identify which parasites are present and whether that horse is a high, medium or low shedder.
- Develop a plan with your veterinarian for each horse based on the results of the fecal egg test, the horseâs environment and the climate.
- Follow up with fecal egg count reduction tests to determine whether specific products are still effective against the parasites on your farm.
- Discontinue using any of the products previously on your schedule that are not effective against the parasites on your farm.
Managing all parasites, including tapeworms, through a strategic deworming program may help save money in the long run and help protect effective products as youâll no longer be treating blindly. Strategic deworming might also be easier than you think.