Can you tell us something about AbIver Plus™?
AbIver Plus™ is a horse wormer that contains the active ingredients, ivermectin and praziquantel. This drug combines the broad spectrum activity of ivermectin and tapeworm control from praziquantel. AbIver Plus™ provides excellent tapeworm control. It is approved for use in all breeds of horses, ponies, as well as foals that are as young as four weeks old, pregnant mares, and breeding stallions. AbIver Plus™ comes in granules for easy administration; helping to ensure the right dose will be given to the horse.
What is the ideal deworming schedule for AbIver Plus™?
AbIver Plus™ is typically used at least two times annually – during Spring (when grazing season starts), and Autumn (following the first frost), to control bot larvae, other common parasites and also tapeworms. The veterinarian can provide you with the best advice on what kind of parasite control program suits your horse’s requirements. An equine worming program will vary from one horse to another, as well as one region to another.
What can I do to slow down the development of resistance to AbIver Plus™?
There are several ways on how drug resistance can be avoided. One way is to use the right equine dewormer at the most appropriate time. Your veterinarian can help you find the worming program that best fits your horse’s requirements, so you are giving dewormers only when they are needed. Additionally, you also need to make sure that the right dose based on your horse’s weight is given and see to it that the drug has been completely consumed. Under-dosing your horse can contribute to parasite resistance. AbIver Plus™ comes in sachets that make it easier for dosing. Each sachet contains 60mg of ivermectin and 375mg of praziquantel and is enough to dose a 300kg (660lb) horse.
Are there any precautions I should know about before I use AbIver Plus™?
AbIver Plus™ is a combination deworming agent that can be used on all horses and ponies, foals 4 weeks old and up, pregnant and lactating mares, and breeding stallions. It is important to work closely with your veterinarian to come up with the most appropriate equine worming program. If you have a sick or weak horse, consult your veterinarian first before giving any types of anthelimintic drugs. AbIver Plus™ can be toxic to dogs even in small amounts and should be kept away from them.
AbIver Plus™ is a product from Abler. Choose Abler for all your deworming needs.
For many years, horse owners have been warned on the development of drug-resistant equine parasites. Small strongyles or small redworms are known to be resistant to benizmidazole anthelmintic drugs in certain regions. Large roundworms are also reported to have developed resistance to ivermectin-based wormers. It is important to slow down the development of drug resistance in parasites through responsible usage of equine dewormers. With each exposure to the dewormer, the risk for developing drug resistance increases.
There are many ways the horse owners can reduce the frequency at which equine dewormers are used without putting the horse in danger of severe parasite infestation. First is to remove horse manure from the pasture more frequently. Horse manure harbor parasitic eggs and larvae and can contaminate the pasture. While deworming is necessary, it is also required to get the fecal worm count to help you determine which equine dewormer is suitable to use. Parasites will always be part of the horse’s life. It is almost impossible for horses to be 100% parasite-free. You can also reduce drug resistance if you accept that low levels of parasite infestation do not immediately require treatment since it cannot harm your horse. When deworming, always enlist the aid of your veterinarian and discuss the dosing instructions very carefully. Do not give your horse dewormers more frequently than what is recommended.
If wormers are used less frequently, drug resistance in parasites develops rather slowly. It’s fortunate enough that Abler is the one place that caters to horse owners in providing effective and affordable equine dewormers in easy-to-administer granules and using these medications should be done sensibly to ensure maintenance of the drug efficacy as much as possible.
Apart from reducing the frequency of dewormer use, more and more horse owners recognize the need for veterinary assistance. Horse worming is a complex subject that only a veterinarian is in the right position to give you educated advice on how to come up with an effective worming program. Horse worming programs should be designed according to the needs of the horse, the parasite concerned, and also the environmental conditions. There are several guidelines on horse worming that one can find but nothing beats a personalized parasite control program. Apart from using dewormers, vets also recommend good pasture management practices and periodic fecal analysis. Getting professional help is an effective approach in combating resistance and will certainly be lighter on your pocket in the long run.
Summer should be a great time not only for humans but for horses as well. However, most horse owners need to deal with annoying insect pests that are found to be dominant in summer. These pests may be part of the life of horses but they are not just a nuisance; these pests can actually bring health problems to your horses.
The common fly is one of those summer pests. These flies can carry stomach worm larvae. When the larvae are deposited on abraded skin of the horse, skin lesions may result and are now commonly referred to as equine summer sores.
Equine summer sores heal faster during winter, but they can recur during summer months when climates are warm, hence they are called such. Summer sores can be intensely itchy that horses tend to scratch and bite at them, worsening the lesions. In some instances, secondary infections may result.
Topical antibiotics may not be so effective in dealing with summer sores in horses. They may respond to such treatment but lesions tend to come back. When horses bite and scratch on the lesion to relieve itching, the lesions can turn bloody and become unsightly. In this case, the focus should be directed on the causative agent – stomach worm larvae. Anthelmintic drugs are most helpful in this case.
Prevention is the key to the management of summer sores in horses. Here are a few steps you can take to control this problem:
- Deworming: The best way to prevent equine summer sores is to control stomach worms. Stomach worms thrive in the stomach of your horse and their larvae are released into the digestive tract. These larvae are passed via manure and fly larvae ingest it. Once these fly larvae mature into adult flies, they deposit stomach worm larvae onto the wounded skin of your horse, and the lifecycle continues. You can break this cycle by deworming your horse with at least two annual treatments using ivermectin for horses, AbIver™. AbIver works effectively against stomach worms and their larvae.
- Fly control: Flies serve as secondary hosts for stomach worm larvae; therefore, controlling flies is also important. To control flies, you may use topical sprays or insect repellants, or set up a perimeter trap. Fly sheets and masks to protect your horse’s ears, mouth, eyes, and etc. also work since these flies like to deposit the larvae in moist areas of the body.
- Care for your horse’s wounds: The main entry point of stomach worm larvae is through an open skin, such as cuts, wounds, and abrasions. Horses often obtain scratches and cuts in their daily routine. However, you can speed up the healing process by cleaning and dressing the wounds immediately. In addition, cleaning your horse, especially in moist areas, will also lessen chances of getting infected.
Keeping your horse in good health is an all-year round exercise. In previous articles, we have mentioned some tips on how to deworm your horse for different seasons, and this article will give you tips on what to do during summer.
During the hot months of summer, the weather conditions are conducive for roundworm egg hatching. Once these eggs in the pasture hatch, the worm larvae mature fast and your horse can get infected as he grazes in the field. The life-cycle goes on 3-4 times during this season, which means that any disease related to roundworms may be experienced by your horse.
Worm infections cause many problems like diarrhea, weight loss, poor performance, and colic. It is necessary to have a routine roundworm treatment for your horse in the summer months to prevent such health problems. This is also necessary especially if your horse shares the pasture with other horses. Keep in mind that the more time your horse spends out in the grazing field, the higher the risk for parasite exposure.
Horse Worming in the Summer
During the hot summer months, adult roundworms in horses are considered as a major health threat. The goal of horse worming during this particular season is to reduce the population of adult roundworms inside your horse’s intestines. This helps prevent re-infection by eliminating egg-laying adults; if adults are eliminated, worm eggs cannot be passed on through manure and subsequent re-infection can be avoided.
Ideal equine dewormers for roundworm treatment include ivermectin and pyrantel based dewormers; Abler’s, AbIver and AbPyran. It is best to consult your veterinarian for the proper dosing intervals that best suits your horse. Dosing intervals may be based on the result of fecal egg counts provided.
Summer sores also occur during this season. These are itchy lesions caused by stomach worm larvae. Sores can be most annoying and itchy; horses tend to chew, bite and scratch the wounds until they bleed. Flies are the carrier of stomach worm larvae and they should be controlled as well. Deworming is also another solution for summer sores since it breaks the lifecycle of stomach worms. The best agent to be used is ivermectin.
The Need for Wormer Rotation
Rotating equine dewormers during summer can help slow down the development of drug resistance. For instance, you have used ivermectin for 2 consecutive summers, and on the third summer, you may switch to pyrantelpamoate. Consult your veterinarian as to the proper rotational program appropriate for your area as well as the condition of your horse.
There are four important types of equine parasites that travel through the horse’s body as they move from one phase to another of their life cycle. Some can be extensively damaging. This article will point out the main internal parasites in horses and the best way to control them using Abler Dewormers.
Large and Small Strongyles
The most harmful of all equine parasites are the large and small strongyles. Strongyle larvae can damage blood vessels and vital organs in horses. Young horses are highly at risk for such infestations. Symptoms of strongyle infection include loss of condition, anemia, dry coat, diarrhea, and visible worms in manure. Fecal samples should be sent to your veterinarian regularly for analysis. Treatment for strongyle infections include:
- Fenbendazole for horses, AbFen™, for 5 consecutive days, given at double dose; this treatment is effective against encysted small strongyles.
- Ivermectin horse wormer, AbIver™, can target both small and large strongyles but is ineffective on the encysted stage.
Ascarids or Roundworms
Roundworms are white in color and they are stiff and can reach a foot long in length in their adult stages. When roundworm infestation is left uncontrolled, problems such as diarrhea and colic can result. When their population is kept minimal, they rarely cause problems. Foals aged 12 weeks to a year are most susceptible to roundworm infections. Roundworm treatment includes:
- AbIver™, which can be also be given to foals starting 6 mos. of age
- Pyrantel pamoate dewormer, AbPyran™, as well as AbFen™, which can be given starting 6-8 weeks in young foals
Pinworms
Pinworms lay their eggs on the anal area and this causes the irritation. Tail rubbing is a problem associated with pinworm infestation. Horses tend to bite and scratch around their hind area. Though pinworms are not as notorious as strongyles, they can be a nuisance to horses and the horse’s tail may be damaged.
- Ivermectin, fenbendazole and pyrantel pamoate are all effective in eliminating pinworms
- The horse’s anal area should be regularly wiped to prevent spread of eggs and re-infection.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms rely on their intermediate hosts, the forage mites, to complete their lifecycle. Forage mites ingest tapeworm eggs, and when those mites are ingested by the horse, the horse harbors the worm eggs and now become the host for their development and survival. Tapeworms are generally harmless but they can cause colic if they live in great numbers. Treatments for tapeworm problems include:
- Pyrantel pamoate dewormer, which may require double or triple doses
- The most effective tapeworm treatment to date is praziquantel wormers. Ivermectin with praziquantel wormers are effective and considered to have an extended spectrum of coverage. AbIver Plus™ contains both ingredients and can target common equine parasites as well as tapeworms.
Bots
Bots are larvae of the botflies. The eggs are laid on the horse’s hair and they find their way inside the horse when the animal licks or bites its skin. When in great numbers, they can cause loss of condition and dry hair coat. Diarrhea or constipation may also present as symptoms of bot infestation. Bots are well controlled with ivermectin and treatment ideally starts early spring before larvae are passed out through the manure.
Dealing with Resistance
Some parasites are now developing resistance towards the available dewormers. For this reason, it is important not just to rotate the compounds but also conduct regular fecal exams so deworming program can be developed accordingly. It is impossible to aim for a horse that completely has no parasites; keeping infestation under control is mostly the main goal of today’s worming programs.
Keeping Pastures Almost Free from Parasites
It is important to keep the horse’s environment clean at all times. Horse droppings should be cleared off from the pastures every now and then to reduce egg transmission.
