When it comes to deworming horses, the message has been confusing. After all, for more than four decades, horse owners heard the same one: rotate.1 But now, rotating is old news. Now Merial has a new message. What’s the new message? Be strategic about your deworming.
The latest information about deworming horses
Horse owners may wonder, how can a rotating deworming strategy contribute to resistance, but over the years, parasites have developed resistance, much like bacteria in humans have developed resistance to certain antibiotics.
That new message is just one in a three-video series now available at RethinkDeworming.com. Called “Still Rotating? Why You Should Stop Now,” the video helps debunk the theories long recommended by veterinarians and followed by horse owners.
Why change after all this time? Turns out, that like many things from the 1970s and 80s, new information means new recommendations. “There have been a lot of advancements in equine parasitology since scientists originally recommended rotating dewormers,” says Hoyt Cheramie, DMV, MS, equine specialist, Merial’s Large Animal Veterinary Services.
“The most important message is that if you’re rotating, you may actually be contributing to resistance, which is why it’s important to start following the new recommendations.”
Horse owners may wonder, how can rotating contribute to resistance? The video helps explain it in detail, but over the years, parasites have developed resistance, much like bacteria in humans have developed resistance to certain antibiotics.2
In the case of small strongyles, identified as the most prevalent parasite in adult horses today,3 there is evidence of their widespread resistance to two of the three major dewormer classes – benzimidazoles and pyrantels.4-6
Another episode in the online educational video series addresses tapeworm control and another, the need for a dewormer that handles a broad spectrum of parasites.
“Until very recently, tapeworms weren’t considered to be a significant problem in horses,” says Dr. Cheramie. “But we now know that tapeworms can be an important cause of intestinal disease, such as colic, in the horse.3 Every horse owner knows how serious, even life-threatening, colic can be, so controlling for tapeworms is critical.”
Resistant parasites and tapeworms aren’t the only concerns for horse owners, as there are dozens of species of parasites and it is imperative to use a product that controls for a broad spectrum like Merial’s ZIMECTERIN® Gold, which contains ivermectin and praziquantel. Together, the two ingredients control more species and stages of parasites than any other dewormer.6
“Changes in protocols can be confusing,” says Dr. Cheramie. “I encourage horse owners to watch the videos and discuss best deworming practices with their veterinarians.”
To view the videos, go to:
http://rethinkdeworming.com/video
ZIMECTERIN® Gold
Important safety information:
Not for use in humans. Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children. In horses, there have been rare reports of swelling and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue following administration of ZIMECTERIN Gold. These reactions have been transitory in nature. Do not use in other animal species as severe adverse reactions, including fatalities in dogs, may result.
®ZIMECTERIN is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2013 Merial Limited. Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. EQUIZIM1311 (07/13)
1Kaplan RM. These ain’t your father’s parasites: Dewormer Resistance and New Strategies for Parasite Control in Horses. In: Proceedings 2009. Florida Equine Institute. Gainesville, Fla.
2Centers for Disease Control. Antibiotic Resistance Questions & Answers. Available at: heep://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance-faqs.html#e. Accessed July 24, 2013.
3Kaplan RM, et al. Prevalence of anthelmintic-resistant cyathostomes on horse farms. JAVMA. 2004;225(6):903-910.
4Kaplan RM. Anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of horses. Vet Res. 2002(33):491-507.
5Woods TF, Lane TS, Zeng QY, Courtney CH. Anthelmintic resistance on pleasure horse farms in north central Florida. In: Proceedings 42nd Annual Meeting of the AAVP;1997:88.
6ZIMECTERIN Gold label.