Veterinarians from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) are worried because fever ticks (Boophilus microplus) capable of carrying and transmitting deadly cattle “tick fever” protozoans Babesia bigemina or Babesia bovis,
Kentucky researchers report that roundworms and small strongyles, two common equine intestinal parasites, are developing resistance against most of the commercially available worming products. What’s worse, no new drugs against either of these
Everyone wants their horses to be healthy. Ticks are carriers of Lyme disease, for which there is no currently licensed equine vaccine available. Pay careful attention to your horses and monitor them for ticks. Lyme disease can also occur in humans,
Further complicating the debate regarding whether or not the equine tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata causes colic in horses, Canadian researchers did not find evidence of a significant association between A. perfoliata infection and
Controlling the flies around you and your horses is very important, not just because of the irritating bites, but
Researchers in Central Kentucky have suggested that small strongyles might be developing resistance to ivermectin (a commonly administered broad spectrum anti-parasitic drug). The scientists found that the number of parasite eggs in study
Fire ants deliver a simultaneous bite and sting that are very painful and give them their infamous name. The threat of fire ants to healthy, ambulatory adult animals is fairly minimal. However, fire ants can be a significant threat to recumbent
How do the worm infestations of horses and domestic pets, such as dogs and cats, correspond with each other, if at all?
Take more than 1,000 veterinarians and veterinary students from around the globe, some armed with presentations representing thousands of hours worth of equine research, and add to it some tartan, bagpipes, and Scottish fare. Drop it all into a
New recommendations for worm control in horses are based on treating some horses more and others less. A “selective” deworming program will result in fewer treatments given (leading to less drug resistance), but if used properly will still result in better overall parasite control.
The horse’s environment is a critical elements to consider when constructing an effective anti-parasite strategy. The key to exploiting environmental events is understanding when and how Mother Nature works in our perpetual battle against worms.
All dewormers are highly effective when first introduced, but over time parasites develope resistance to many dewormers. Are your horses the ones at risk? The product labels reflect results of studies performed before the worms developed resistance.
Are there other things you could be doing in addition to using anthelmintics to minimize your horse’s parasite load? Not all strategies may be practical for your operation or circumstances, but some could have a place in your management routine.
After horses reach their second birthday, the medical picture changes dramatically, as large and small strongyles become the major focus of our parasite control programs. There are other parasites that are a concern in adult horses—bots and tapeworms, to name only two—but their impact is fairly minor in comparison to strongyles.
There’s always more to learn, but sometimes we forget to give ourselves credit for what we
For many horse owners and managers, a fecal egg count exam is just one part of the usual equine healthcare services provided by their veterinarians. This one simple, inexpensive test can provide a wealth of information about general health and
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