jeudi 28 novembre 2013

Tips On Using Horse Wormers

By Angela Briggs


Every owner and barn manager should understand the importance of using good quality horse wormers throughout the year. Horses are very beautiful animals who have a lot of self preservation instincts. However, once they are domesticated and live in barns and paddocks they often loose a lot of their ability to fend for themselves.

Living in close proximity to other horses presents a number of health challenges. Horses are naturally infected with worms because they are grazers. They eat the short juicy grass closest to the ground. As a result of this they naturally ingest small amounts of dirt and soil. If this soil is contaminated with worm larvae they quickly make their way into the animals intestines and begin their life cycle all over again.

Although it is impossible to eliminate worms from the horses life altogether it is possible to minimize their risk and infection rates. Good stable management practices are essential. This includes keeping the stalls, feed pans and water buckets clean at all times. All turn out areas and paddocks must be cleaned on a daily basis too. The horses are infected when they graze close to the feces of their stablemates.

In the wild horses instinctively know not to eat close to dung. But once they are kept in barns they are forced to eat in contaminated paddocks that are often over used and lack enough grass. In these cases a very stringent worming program is vital. Horses should be treated with a different product every six to eight weeks.

Each type of worm treatment product contains a different active ingredient. Most wormers are sold under common brand names that people become familiar with. It is important to understand the the ingredients treat a specific type of worm and it is vital to rotate the treatment for the best effect. There has been a lot of scientific research done in the past few years that show owner how to keep their horses healthy and avoid problems associated with over or under use of worm treatment products.

Rotating the products is the key to effective treatment. Each active chemical treats a different type of worm. Some are more active at certain times of the year. A typical horse needs to be treated every six to eight weeks depending on their level of risk. Using a different product each time is essential not only to treat the different parasites but also to prevent immunity building up.

Owners are well advised to clean their stalls and paddocks every day. This prevents the animals form coming into contact with the eggs and larvae. Many people also practice rotation grazing that allows the ground to rest. In summer the heat and dry conditions will often kill the larvae and eggs.

It does not take a lot of time or money to keep up to date with a worming schedule. Many companies sell a years supply of horse wormers that is both handy and economical. The owner just needs to keep track of when each dose was given and their animals will be in the best of health.




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