Winter parasite control ❄️ December - February
Every horse needs a winter protocol to manage parasite risk. There is one dangerous parasitic stage of the small redworm that we need to be particularly aware of at this time of year as it can have fatal consequences.
Winter is the season to consider how we tackle the possibility of encysted redworm. This means either blood testing or treating with an appropriate wormer.
Follow the steps in the information below to help determine what the best plan is for your horse.
✅ Work out your horse's parasite risk using the CANTER table
✅ Follow the Winter Protocol Flow Chart which will help you decide on your approach to encysted redworm
✅ Consider a reduction test if you need to treat; egg shedding stays high right through winter time and this is a useful way to check for any resistance.
✅ Consider whether testing and or treatment for tapeworm is required.
Step one: Please work out your horse's parasite risk level from the table below (click HERE to view a larger version as a .pdf). If you need help assessing the risk then please email us for help.
CANTER Risk Profile Tool
Step two: Now you know the risk, use the Winter Protocol flow chart below to work out the next steps (click HERE to view a larger version as a .pdf).
Winter Protocol Flow Chart
Low risk horses are recommended a blood test for small redworm. Medium and high risk horses are advised a proactive treatment with a larvicidal for the possibility of encysted redworm.
SMALL REDWORM BLOOD TEST
If your horse is classed as low risk with counts of less than 200epg over the last year, is in a closed herd with good paddock management and there is frequent poo picking, then chat to your vet further about this test. More information on the Small Redworm Blood test here.
Every horse that does not require a moxidectin dose is helping preserve to the chemical and delay resistance.
Horses with previous faecal egg count results of more than 200epg within the last year are considered high risk and may not be appropriate for this innovative new test, so should receive a routine treatment.
WHEN TO TREAT
This depends on your horses individual risk profile. The following is based on a low risk, healthy adult. If your horse is medium or high risk then greater consideration and expert advice is recommended, so please get in touch.
If you aren't doing the blood test for encysted redworm we advise putting one (or in exceptional cases, under SQP or vet advice, two) worming dose(s) into your annual parasite control programme. This is best done in the winter months between December and February. Ideally we aim to wait until the weather has turned before giving this dose.
You may have heard the advice to do your winter worming after the first frost - this will kill off any lingering bot flies and prevents any further bot eggs from being laid on the horse's coat where they may be ingested. We should not however rely on a frost alone, to determine when to target encysted redworm.
Small redworm activity slows considerably on pasture below 6 degrees Celsius so we are looking for the wintry weather and waiting for a few days where the daytime temperatures fall consecutively below this temperature. Worming after this time reduces the risk of reinfection and therefore many horses from needing a second treatment at the back end of the winter.
This is why as our weather gets milder and more unpredictable our encysted redworm treatment for healthy adult horses has got later in the year. If we have a mild winter and the temperatures never dip, worm regardless before the end of winter.
If you are subscribed to the All Seasons parasite control programme, then we will let you know when to treat and what with, based on your horses's tailor made programme and which season you have chosen to test for tapeworm.
CHOOSING a TREATMENT FOR ENCYSTED REDWORM
Only two chemicals, moxidectin (in Equest and Equest Pramox) and five day courses of fenbendazole (Panacur Equine Guard) are licenced for the treatment of these encysted stages of small redworm. Moxidectin is the preferred treatment in most cases, particularly if you are also looking to target bots at the same time, because of widespread resistance to fenbendazole.
Equest contains only moxidectin while Equest Pramox has the addition of praziquantel meaning it also treats tapeworm. We would recommend testing for tapeworm first with the EquiSal tapeworm test and only giving the combination drug if you need to. More than 77% of horses won't need that extra chemical!
Encsyted Redworm Treatment Options
Warning:
Moxidectin shouldn't be given to underweight horses, foals under 4 months old (6.5 months if also combined with praziquantel) and isn't licenced for donkeys. We also advise caution if using it in miniature Shetlands unless you can calculate dosage accurately. This is because the active ingredient is stored in body fat and these animals don't have sufficient stores to take up the drug.
There are circumstances where a 5 day course of fenbendazole is more appropriate such as where moxidectin is contra-indicated.
HAS THE TREATMENT BEEN EFFECTIVE?
Just because you give a wormer it doesn’t mean it’s done the job we intended it to do. Resistance problems are rising across the five chemicals we have licenced to treat parasites in horses. Whichever drug you choose the winter dose is an ideal time to add in a reduction test to your programme. If your winter worm egg count is positive, treat with the appropriate product and do a follow-up worm count 10-14 days after worming to ensure efficacy of the drug.
Results from previous winter reduction testing revealed that 40% of horses wormed for encysted redworm with fenbendazole and 2.8% of horses wormed with moxidectin had parasites that were showing some resistance to the wormer. Tests also showed 50% of horses with a positive redworm count that had been treated with moxidectin had been under-dosed, leaving those horses more susceptible to developing resistant strains of redworm.
is your horse a risk for Large Strongyles
Small redworm remain the most common parasitic threat to horses, but large redworm, Strongylus spp., should not be overlooked. Their ability to cause sudden, severe, and often fatal disease makes it critical to include specific testing for large strongyles as part of a responsible, targeted worming programme.
Annual testing is especially recommended for:
- Studs and breeding operations with youngstock
- Competition and sales yards with frequent international movement
- Properties with high stocking density or recent horse introductions
- Horses on minimal or selective worming schedules
For routine monitoring, larval culture is a practical and cost-effective method.
Samples can be submitted from individual horses or composite samples sent, made from up to four horses grouped by grazing or stable arrangements. Please allow two weeks from the sample’s arrival at the lab for culture and results.
Vet Carolyn Cummins commented: “It’s imperative that we get worming right for the health of our horses. A simple treat and test can help to pinpoint potential problems and offer peace of mind that these important issues are under control. Resistance and the challenge to keep horses disease free from parasites is a very real problem and one that we should all be vigilant for.
“Speak to your vet or SQP about which wormer to choose for your horse, know your horse’s weight and dose accordingly this winter. A worm count two weeks later is a very cost effective way to check efficacy and that your worm control programme is working.”
If you are subscribed to the All Seasons parasite control programme, then everything you need will be sent out to you at the right time with your winter plan in accordance with your horse's individual programme. Tailored advice with what to do and when for all the horses in your care over winter is also included.