Horse owners should select deworming products containing praziquantel, which is effective at killing tapeworms. | Photo: iStock

Before horses start grazing on the green grass this spring, remember to check with your veterinarian to ensure your deworming program includes tapeworm control.

Tapeworms are transmitted by an intermediate host—the oribatid mite—which lives on pastures. While grazing, horses can ingest the mite and become infected. Once infected, it takes the tapeworm about two to four months to mature inside the horse.

“Spring is a perfect time for transmission of the tapeworm,” said Hoyt Cheramie, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, senior equine professional service veterinarian for Boehringer Ingelheim. “As horses begin to get out and graze, they may become infected with tapeworms, which can lead to colic