Last Updated on August 22, 2022
Some horses are very difficult to worm, especially if you are using an oral paste. In this situation, a feed through horse wormer can be a simple and effective solution. Let’s find out how to use a feed through horse wormer to keep your horse safe from worms!
What Is A Feed Through Horse Wormer?
Worms in horses can be a big problem and it is important that all horse owners follow a targeted worming strategy to keep them to a minimum. To decide if and when your horse needs worming, you should consult with your veterinary clinic or a specialist laboratory. They will advise you if the right time to carry out a fecal analysis which will help you decide if your horse needs worming or not
If the fecal tests show that your horse has a worm burden then you will be advised to administer a specific type of wormer to eliminate these worms. There are many different types of wormers available for horses, and it is important that the right one is given at the right time to try and reduce wormer resistance in our herds.
Many wormers come in two different forms, either an oral paste or a feed through horse wormer. Oral pastes are given directly into the horse’s mouth via a syringe. This is a quick and simple way to worm a horse, but some horses resent being wormed in this manner and it will be incredibly difficult to ensure they get the full dose.
If your horse is one that does not accept being wormed with an oral paste, then a feed through horse wormer can be a great alternative. These can come in pellet, powder, or liquid form and are normally added to your horse’s feed.
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How To Administer A Feed Through Horse Wormer
There are two ways in which a feed through horse wormer can be administered. The first option is to administer a low dose every day during the period your horse is at risk of worms. The second option is to give a larger dose as a one-off treatment or over a period of a few days, to eliminate all worms in one go.
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To decide which method is suitable for your horse, it is best to consult with a veterinary professional. Administering small doses of wormers over a long period of time may contribute to wormer resistance and make the worm problem in your herd worse rather than better. In the vast majority of cases, it is better to give a one-off larger dose that will eradicate the majority of the worms in one go.
There are some situations where the trickle feeding of smaller doses of wormer over a very long period of time is preferable. This may be a better option for particularly young, old, or debilitated animals, or those that are very underweight or have a high worm burden. However, we would always advise that you speak with your veterinarian first before opting for a specific worm control strategy.
To give a feed through horse wormer to your horse, you will first need to accurately assess the body weight of your horse. If you have a weight scale in your yard or in a local veterinary clinic, this can help you get an accurate weight measurement. If not, you can use a weigh tape to guesstimate the weight of your horse.
Once you have the weight of your horse, you will need to calculate the daily amount of feed through horse wormer that your horse needs. This can then be added to the horse’s feed, but we would suggest that you take some steps to disguise the taste. Horses are very sensitive to unusual flavors and may refuse to eat the feed if they think it contains wormer.
Good strategies to disguise wormer in the horses’ feed are to add soft, sweet, juicy ingredients such as sugar beet pulp, grated apple, or molasses. It is important to separate your horse from the rest of the herd when feeding a dewormer to make sure your horse receives the entire dose.
Summary
So, as we have learned, a feed through horse wormer is a great alternative to oral paste wormers, particularly for horses that do not like being wormed. Feed through horse wormers come in pellet, powder, or liquid form, and are normally added to your horses feed. You will need to make sure that the feed is particularly palatable to make sure that your horse does not detect the presence of the wormer.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on giving horses a feed through horse wormer! Do you always deworm your horses by adding wormer to the feed, or do you prefer to give an oral paste instead? Perhaps you’ve encountered problems with wormer resistance in your horses and have some questions about the best product to use? Leave a comment below and we will get back to you!
FAQ’s
Should I worm my horse before or after feeding?
It doesn't matter if you give wormer to your horse before or after feeding, but it is a good idea to make sure that the mouth is empty of food first. Horses are very talented at storing food in their cheeks, and will spit this out along with the wormer when an oral paste is administered!
How long after worming horse are worms expelled?
Depending on the type of worms and the type of wormer used, horses may expel worms in their droppings for three to four days after worming. You should monitor your horses droppings after worming to give a good idea of the level of worm burden.
Can you put horse wormer in grain?
Liquid or powdered feed through horse wormers can be put in grain and fed to your horse. You will need to make sure this feed is as palatable as possible so that your horse does not suspect that it contains wormer.
What time of year should I worm my horse?
In recent years, wormer resistance has become a huge problem, and you should no longer worm at specific times of year. Instead, you should implement a targeted worming strategy in conjunction with regular faecal worm egg count analysis.
Kate Chalmers is a qualified veterinary nurse who has specialized in horse care for the vast majority of her career. She has been around horses since she was a child, starting out riding ponies and helping out at the local stables before going on to college to study Horse Care & Management. She has backed and trained many horses during her lifetime and competed in various equestrian sports at different levels.
After Kate qualified as a veterinary nurse, she provided nursing care to the patients of a large equine veterinary hospital for many years. She then wenton to teach horse care and veterinary nursing at one of the top colleges in the country. This has led to an in-depth knowledge of the care needs of horses and their various medical ailments, as well as a life-long passion for educating horse owners on how to provide the best possible care for their four-legged friends.
Kate Chalmers BSc (Hons) CVN, Dip AVN (Equine) Dip HE CVN EVN VN A1 PGCE
