06/07/2024
In short:
-Perform f***l egg count reduction tests annually to ensure that you are using effective dewormers in every herd or barn.
-Recognize that no anthelmintic will eliminate all parasitic stages from a horse.
-Continue using f***l egg counts once or twice per year to stratify horses into low, medium and high shedders to reduce pasture contamination.
-Deworm all horses at a baseline rate and target selected horses more often based on f***l egg counts. (In our area strongyles and tapeworms should be the focus)
-Not use f***l egg counts to diagnose disease in horses as there is no correlation between f***l egg counts and disease-causing parasite life stages.
-Discontinue deworming all horses with fixed intervals year-round and stop blindly rotating anthelmintic classes.
UPDATES GUIDELINES AVAILABLE 📢
The AAEP has issued revised Internal Parasite Control Guidelines to help minimize the risk of parasitic disease and maintain the effectiveness of current drugs for as long as possible by delaying further development of anthelmintic resistance.
The updated guidelines account for recent advances in knowledge concerning increased anthelmintic resistance and optimization of parasite control management practices. They also address common misconceptions and offer parasite control program recommendations for senior horses (over 15 years old), mature horses (between 5 and 15 years old), and young horses (under 5 years old).
Read more at: https://aaep.org/post/aaep-publishes-updated-internal-parasite-control-guidelines/
The guidelines were reviewed and updated by the AAEP Internal Parasite Control Guidelines Task Force, chaired by Dr. Nielsen and comprised of 10 AAEP members predominantly board certified in veterinary internal medicine, veterinary parasitology and/or veterinary microbiology. We thank them for their incredibly important work!
