Equine Preventative Medicine

1. Equine Preventative Medicine Ashley R. Berthelot, DVM

2. Equine Preventative Medicine Health maintenance, early detection of problems, good diagnostics, and high quality treatment translates to long-term savings for the owner. In addition, the overall well-being of the horse improves and the longevity of life and careercan be increased.

3. Parasite Control Establishing an effective parasite control program is probably second only to supplying the horse with clean, plentiful water and high quality feed.

4. Parasite Control Internal Parasites: Silent thieves and killers Cause extensive damage Effect the horse from a dull haircoat and unthriftiness to colic and death Can decrease resistance to infection Can rob a horse of valuable nutrients

5. Types of Internal Parasites Large strongyles Small strongyles Roundworms Tapeworms Lungworms Pinworms Threadworms Bots

7. The Big Four LargeStrongyles: • Penetrate lining of the bowel and migrate along the blood vessels that supply intestine • Cause unthriftiness, weight loss, poor growth in young horses, anemia, and colic

8. The Big Four SmallStrongyles : (cyathastomes) • Burrow into lining of intestine and become encysted • Cause severe damage to the lining of intestine • Can cause colic and diarrhea with heavy infections • Weight loss, slowed growth, poor coat, and lack of energy

9. The Big Four Roundworms (Ascarids): • Several inches long • Most often a young horse problem • In large numbers they can cause impactions • Migrate through the internal organs to the lungs, coughed up, swallowed back into the digestive tract to complete lifecycle. • Can cause coughing, poor body condition and growth, pot belly, rough haircoat and colic.

10. The Big Four Tapeworms: • Can cause mild to severe colic • Lifecycle involves a tiny mite as a host that horses ingest in the grass, grain or hay.

11. Signs of Parasites Dull, rough haircoat Decreased energy Unthriftiness, loss of condition Slow growth in young horses Colic “Pot-bellied” appearance Diarrhea

12. Dewormers Broad spectrum Safe No dewormers are 100% effective Not necessary to kill every worm to improve health, minimize risk of disease, reduce pasture contamination, and improve feed efficiency

13. Most Common Dewormers Ivermectin (aka Eqvalan) is effective against: • Large Strongyles • Small Strongyles, or cyathstomes, adult only • Pinworms, adult and L4 • Ascarids, adult • Hairworms • Large-mouth Stomach Worms • Bots • Lungworms • Intestinal Threadworms • Summer Sores caused by Habonema and Draschia spp.

14. Most Common Dewormers Ivermectin is not effective against: Encysted early third-stage cyathostome larvae Late third-stage cyathostome larvae Lumenallarvae and adult cyathostomes Tapeworms

15. Most Common Dewormers • Fenbendazole (aka Panacur, Safeguard) • Large strongyles • Small strongyles or cyathostomes • Encysted third stage cyathostome larvae • Pinworms • Ascarids

16. Most Common Dewormers • PyrantalPamoate(aka Strongid) • Large strongyles • Pinworms • Large roundworms • Small strongyles

17. Deworming Program 3 Basic Types of Deworming Programs: 1. Continuous 2. Interval 3. Strategic No deworming program suits all situations The ideal program depends on the type, number and ages of the horses, pasture management and location

18. Continuous Deworming Small quantity of dewormer daily Effectively prevents new infections picked up during grazing May not resolve existing infections Does not kill bots Need bi-annual supplemental deworming

19. Interval Deworming Systematic, seasonal deworming program Dewormhorses six times a year (every 60 days) Rotating different compounds based on seasonal parasite prevalence Rotating among the three main chemical classes of compounds available (ivermectin, fenbendazole and pyrantelpamoate) Combat the parasites that are prevalent in that season.

20. Sample IntervalDeworming Schedule January - Ivermectin/Praziquantel (Equimax) March - PyrantelPamoate (Strongid); fecal egg count preformed 10 days post deworming May - Ivermectin (Eqvalan) July - Ivermectin (Eqvalan) September - Double dose of Fenbendazole granules once a day for 5 straight days;fecal egg count preformed 10 days post deworming November - Ivermectin (Eqvalan) www.greenelewis.com

21. Strategic Deworming Deworming based fecal egg counts Aka: Test and Treat

22. Testing for Parasites Fecal Egg Counts Microscopic examination of fresh manure for parasite eggs Results expressed in EPG (eggs per gram) of manure Fecal egg count of less than 200 epg suggests light parasite load 500-1000 epg is moderate to heavy load Negative fecal count does not mean parasite free

23. Resistance Certain compounds combat specific parasites more effectively than others Repeat exposure can lead to resistance Correct seasonal compound selection can decrease resistance and increase protection

24. Solution for Resistance? • No great solution for preventing resistance • One way to try to avoid creating resistance is to: Test and Treat

25. Monitoring Important to perform fecal egg counts every 6 – 12 months to measure the effectiveness of your program.

26. Complete Management Program Prevent overgrazing Reduce pasture contamination Remove manure regularly Mow/harrow pastures periodically to expose parasites to heat/sunlight Rotate pastures with other livestock

27. Complete Management Program Keep foals and weanlings separate from yearlings and adults Use a feeder for hay and grain rather than feeding on the ground Consult your veterinarian to set up appropriate program Perform fecal egg counts to monitor effectiveness

28. Mankind's true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude toward those who are at its mercy, animals.Milan Kundera, 1929