Because tapeworms pose a threat to horses’ overall health and there is no reliable fecal diagnostic test for tapeworm infections like there are for other parasites, horse owners need to be vigilant about treating for them. And they should be sure to treat with a product that has been proven to be effective against tapeworms.
Choosing effective dewormers for your horse
To effectively manage tapeworms, horse owners need to incorporate a product such as one with praziquantel, such as ZIMECTERIN Gold which specifically controls tapeworms.
With the link between tapeworms, specifically Anoplocephala perfoliata, and spasmodic, impaction and intussusception-related colic, it’s critical horse owners use products in their deworming programs that control for tapeworms. Does the product you’re using control for tapeworms?
“To effectively manage tapeworms, horse owners need to incorporate a product such as one with praziquantel, which specifically controls that parasite,” says Hoyt Cheramie, DVM, MS, equine specialist for Merial’s Large Animal Services. Praziquantel is found in ZIMECTERIN® Gold (ivermectin/praziquantel). Although there are generic ivermectin dewormers, there are no generics that contain praziquantel to control tapeworms, which is critical because of the link between tapeworms and colic.”
The threat of anything that could be related to colic is something horse owners dread, and with good reason. Colic has been identified as one of the leading causes of death in horses. In one study, 80 percent of ileal impaction colic cases examined were associated with tapeworms. Other findings from that study showed 22 percent of spasmodic colic cases had concurrent tapeworm infections.
Besides their association with colic, tapeworms can also lead to recurring diarrhea, progressive weight loss and anemia. Understanding the tapeworm lifecycle, can help horse owners determine the best time to treat.
“General recommendations are to treat for tapeworms in the spring and the fall, but horse owners should consult their veterinarians for more specific treatment protocols, especially if the horse is on a selective deworming program,” says Dr. Cheramie.
More information about effective deworming strategies and ZIMECTERIN® Gold (ivermectin/praziquantel) can be found at www.rethinkdeworming.com.
About ZIMECTERIN Gold
ZIMECTERIN Gold combines ivermectin, a leading ingredient that controls a wide variety of parasites, and praziquantel, an ingredient that specifically controls tapeworms. Together, they provide excellent equine parasite control. ZIMECTERIN Gold is approved to control more species and stages of equine parasites than any other brand, including benzimidazole-resistant small strongyles.6 It controls 47 species and stages of equine parasites in all.
Important Safety Information
Warning: 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.