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Fall tapeworm control can help set horses up for a healthy new yearAs the fall and winter seasons approach and lush, green pastures turn brown, horse owners may think their horses' risk of tapeworm infection decreases. But veterinarians say that's not the case. "Even though pastures usually begin to die off as the weather gets cooler, grazing horses can still encounter the oribatid mites that transmit tapeworms," says Hoyt Cheramie, DVM, MS, manager, Merial Veterinary Services. "Because it takes tapeworms two to four months to mature inside the horse, animals infected during the fall season can carry the infection into the following year--continuing the life cycle of the parasite." It is important to include tapeworm control in any parasite control program as some research suggests that tapeworms, specifically Anoplocephala perfoliata, are associated with up to 80 percent of ileal impaction colic cases. What's more, tapeworms can cause many other kinds of problems in the digestive system. For instance, tapeworms attach to the ileocecal area and cause inflammation, ulceration and bowel obstruction. "Regardless of age or geographic area, tapeworm infections are common in grazing horses across the country," Cheramie says. "That's why, no matter where you live, tapeworms may be a problem for your horse." In fact, in a survey of horses across the country, more than half had tapeworms. Infection rates were as high as 95 percent in the upper Midwest. Infection rates in Southern states were still as high as 84.3 percent. While there is no reliable fecal diagnostic test for active tapeworm infection, there is for most other equine parasites. It's worthwhile to periodically determine if your parasite control program is working with a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and then make adjustments with your veterinarian's guidance, Cheramie says. Cheramie encourages owners to request a FECRT from their veterinarian to help determine which parasite control products are effective for their horse--considering many chemical classes of parasite control products may not control key parasite threats. Most dewormers are not effective against tapeworms. Horse owners should look for ingredients like praziquantel--found in broad-spectrum dewormers such as ZIMECTERIN Gold (ivermectin/praziquantel). ZIMECTERIN Gold, which is backed by a 100 percent product satisfaction guarantee, is approved to control more species and stages of equine parasites, including tapeworms, than any other brand. It is more than 99 percent effective against natural tapeworm infections. Plus, ZIMECTERIN Gold is approved for use in adult horses and foals as young as 2 months old. "Parasite control programs should be managed and maintained with the help of your veterinarian," Cheramie says. "Give your parasite control program a checkup this fall to determine if you're getting effective control to help break the life cycle of the parasites and to set horses up for a healthy new year." For more information, please see www.merial.com.
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