Controlling Parasites in Your Horse

Fecal egg count reduction tests are used to gauge parasite resistance to dewormers on your property.  Resistance occurs when the same amount of the same dewormer you used to use, does not control the same parasites at the same time of year as it used to (try saying that fast three time.)Finding out if the parasites you are targeting to control have developed resistance to the dewormer you are usin

Ivermectin as an over-the-counter (OTC) chemical dewormer indicated for controlling parasites in horses. Left untreated, parasites cause inflammation, ulcers and damage your horse’s intestinal lining. Also, certain types of parasites are thought to contribute to colic, anemia, and nutritional deficiencies.

FDA has requested that drug companies add information about antiparasitic resistance to both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription dewormers (e.g., ivermectin). The OTC label must have adequate directions for use that are written in such a way that a non-veterinarian can use the drug safely and effectively.

Equine fecal egg count test tells you what type and how many parasites are potentially inside your horse’s digestive tract. Horse fecal egg count tests are reported in eggs per gram which can be used to classify horses into low, medium and high shedders.