Hello,

If you are unsure what type of worming is necessary, the best first step is to take fecal samples to the vet's office for a fecal test. The vet's office will examine the manure both by eye and with a microscope and determine what types of intestinal parisites your horse's have, and then help you determine what the best deworming regime is for your particular horse's needs. A fecal test is usually inexpensive - $10 or so per horse, so it's well worth having this test done to help you determine what the right deworming program is for your horses.

If your horses have high worm loads the vet may suggest using a Panacur Power Pack - this is daily deworming with Pancur for 5 days. However, if your horses do not have high worm loads this is not recommended. If your horses have any unusual worms such as tapeworms then the vet may recommend specific wormers to address those worms. If your horses have no unusual worm problems, then you should deworm every 8 weeks (every other month) to maintain them at a healthy state. Personally, I use Ivermectin at the appropriate dose for the horse's weight. I don't like using the newer and supposedly-more-effective Quest wormer - the lethal dose is much too close to the effective dose. I know someone who almost lost her weanling filly - the dose ring on the wormer tube slipped as she was giving her weanling the medicine and she got the adult-size dose which was ALMOST a lethal dose for this poor filly. She got very sick from this accidental overdose and they were quite worried that they might lose her. Quest is not any "more" effective in most cases than Ivermectin, and Ivermectin is MUCH safer.

In order to determine the appropriate dose for your horses, especially for your weanling gelding, you need to know approximately what he weighs. Here is an online calculator that can help with that. You need to measure the horse's girth and length, then put the measurement (in inches or centimeters) into the calculator.

Good luck!

jc

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