Horse Worms – The Basics Of What You Should Know To Look After Your Horse Or Pony

Keeping any animal will be a demanding experience, and a horse is certainly no exception to that rule. A horse will require regular and thorough medical check-ups to ensure that it is in the best possible health. There are many medical problems from which you may find your horse suffering, but this article will focus on one in particular: worms. Parasitic worms can cause serious internal damage and even death to horses, and so it is vital that you do full research into horse wormers and how you can help prevent your horse from suffering. There are many types of worm which may affect horses. The British Horse Society provides a useful list which documents a number of notable varieties including small and large redworms, large roundworms, threadworms, lungworms, tapeworms and pinworms, alongside bot flies. Each has its own properties: for example, the large redworm causes blood clots, while the more common mall redworm can cause damage to the gut lining. In some cases the real harm is indirect - pinworms are prone to causing itching around the anus, which in turn may lead to open sores as the horse scratches itself. As the Blue Cross website notes, it is impossible to keep a horse truly free of worms - it is an unfortunate fact of life that some of these parasites will exist within the animal. However, with the aid of a sensible worming programme, you will be able to keep worms to a minimum. Chemical horse wormers can be purchased and administered orally; there are many types of wormer on the market and each will deal with a different set of parasites, so some combination of different wormers will be needed. Look for specialist advice from your vet and pay close attention to the directions on the wormers' packaging. If you need help in diagnosing a possible worm problem with your horse, it is a good idea to begin carrying out faecal egg counts: examining the dung of your horse for any worms or eggs. More information can be found on the website of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Another vital element of preventing worms is the process of pasture management. Again, the Blue Cross website covers the basics: essentially, the pastures should be kept clean and horse droppings removed quickly, along with weeds. Fertilisers should be used with caution, as they may have an adverse effect on the health of your horse. The danger posed to your horse by parasitic worms may seem harrowing at first, but with professional veterinary advice and a rigorous worming programme there should be little cause for concern.

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