Worm&Co advocates for a personalised approach to worm management for every horse. Many people routinely give a stronger dewormer with moxidectin at the start of winter — targeting redworms, tapeworms, and bots. HELTIE horse asked us whether this is really necessary and how you can know for sure.
"Deworming every few months as a standard practice is really unnecessary," says Janneke. "About 74% of horses in the Netherlands are dewormed unnecessarily. And every dewormer we give without need contributes to worm resistance." That’s why Worm&Co uses fecal testing and a detailed questionnaire, so each horse receives a tailored deworming plan — only when it's truly necessary. Janneke explains: "Every horse carries gastrointestinal worms. That’s not a problem. Various types of parasites in the body help the horse build resistance." A dip in immunity — for example due to relocation or stress — can cause the worm population to grow and lead to an infection that requires treatment.
Resistance to worms
"The final fecal test of the year takes place between mid-October and mid-November. Fecal testing is personalised. Our clients always fill out a detailed questionnaire to help us determine what their horse needs. We want to know, for instance, when the horse was last dewormed, with which product, whether it’s housed with young horses, and if manure is removed from the paddock or pasture. We also consider the horse’s age, environment, medical history, and previous recommendations. All of this forms the basis for our year-end advice. If a horse isn’t completely fit or has a specific condition, we won’t quickly recommend a broad-spectrum dewormer. If we detect an infection in a less fit horse, we’ll consult the owner to decide what’s best and create a tailored plan. If needed, a broad-spectrum treatment can still be given in early spring — but maybe the horse has already cleared the infection itself. You can find that out through fecal testing and a tailored approach."
Year-end treatment for tapeworm and bots?
Worm&Co also bases the year-end treatment on diagnostics and case history. Janneke: “A strong deworming treatment is not necessary for every horse. For those who prefer not to deworm preventively, there is now a saliva test for tapeworms. This is because tapeworms cannot be reliably detected via fecal testing. Most horses do not carry tapeworms, although we have seen a slight increase in infections in the Netherlands in recent years. This is partly because horses stay outside year-round, increasing the risk of reinfection. But if the saliva test is negative, that’s a strong indication the heavy treatment may not be needed.” The year-end treatment is also often used to target bots, which enter the horse via eggs on the coat and cannot be detected in a fecal test. Janneke: “Yes, bots can make horses sick. But don’t let fear dominate. Most horses are perfectly capable of handling a bot infection themselves. We’re seeing more and more owners choosing not to deworm preventively for bots. Many owners remove the eggs too, although this isn’t a guarantee. You may miss some, and horses grooming each other can still spread them. A broad-spectrum dewormer works against bots, but lighter treatments with ivermectin also work.”
Tailored approach
What if you have a healthy horse that hasn’t had a worm treatment in a while? Should you still give a standard year-end dose? Janneke: “You really need to consider all the factors before deciding a year-end treatment is necessary. That doesn’t mean automatically giving a strong product, but evaluating the situation for each horse every year. That’s truly essential.” She also advises giving the year-end treatment preferably in December or January. “In autumn it’s often still warm, and the temperatures fluctuate. If a horse tests positive in October, we assess whether a broad-spectrum dewormer is appropriate. If so, you don’t need to treat again at the end of the year. Otherwise, it’s better to wait until winter really arrives. At Worm&Co, you always receive tailored advice and a reminder of the best moment to administer the treatment. Worm management remains customised care. Nobody wants to medicate their horse unnecessarily,” Janneke concludes.
NL
DE
FR
.jpg)
