An equine vet is urging horse owners to maintain a responsible worming program after the sudden death of a seemingly healthy horse that dropped dead in a field.
A post mortem examination found that the cause of death was a fatal blood clot caused by severe worm damage, known as ‘verminous thromboembolism' and that the large intestine was loaded with larvae.
Further checking revealed that worms had migrated into the arteries and liver, and the horse also had lesions in the small intestine.
The horse was kept in a large community boarding yard with around 40 horses and ponies owned by a number of individuals which made a coordinated deworming program difficult.
Following the horse’s sudden death, veterinarians carried out emergency deworming of all the horses in the yard and put together a worm control program to be used in the future.
Horse owners should be aware that Intestinal parasites of many varieties are ever-present in the horse's environment and are among the most serious and common health problems affecting horses.
With the horse as host to these parasites, the worms pass through the horse's system, damaging blood vessels, arteries, and organs, interfering with growth and development, creating nutritional deficiencies, and predisposing the horse to other diseases and conditions.
Prevention
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) makes the following suggestions regarding the best ways to rid horses and their environments of worms:
- Pick up and dispose of manure droppings in the pasture at least twice a week.
- Mow and harrow pastures regularly to break up manure piles and expose parasite eggs and larvae to the elements.
- Rotate pastures by allowing other livestock, such as sheep or cattle, to graze the pasture, thereby interrupting the life cycles of parasites.
- Group horses by age to reduce exposure to certain parasites and maximize the deworming program geared to that group.
- Keep the number of horses per acre to a minimum to prevent overgrazing and reduce fecal contamination per acre.
- Use a feeder for hay instead of feeding on the ground.
- Remove bot eggs quickly and regularly from the horse's coat to prevent ingestion.
- Rotate deworming agents, not just brand names, to prevent chemical resistance.
- Consult your veterinarian to set up an effective and regular deworming schedule
In addition, since this horse death occurred in community yard where a number of people boarded their horses, make sure that a good worm control program is systematically carried out if you board or stable your horse where other horses are kept.