What Is The Best Horse Dewormer On The Market?

Worms can be a real problem for horses. An infestation can cause poor condition, weight loss, bloating, and other more serious health problems if left untreated. If you keep your horses on a regular deworming schedule then you will have less of a problem than if they have become infested, but even if the problem has become greater than you would like, there are still ways of treating it.

Best Horse Wormer Reviews

There are so many (de)wormers out there that it can be confusing to know which to go for, so we have outlined three of the best horse dewormer products:

Image	Horse (De)wormers	Price
	Bimeda Equimax Wormer Ivermectin A simple, easy to administer dewormer.	CHECK PRICE
	Intervet Safeguard Dewormer Pellets For the horse who is impossible to worm with a paste.	CHECK PRICE
	TOP PICK: Durvet 12-Pack Ivermectin Dewormer Paste A great bulk buy dewormer with apple flavor.	CHECK PRICE

1. Bimeda Equimax Wormer Paste Tube Review

This is an effective single dose wormer that will rid your horse of all internal parasites, including tapeworm. Many wormers that you buy online will not get tapeworms too, meaning that you have to buy a separate treatment, so this is a convenient option.

Pros

• No side effects – Some wormers can cause intestinal issues, particularly if they have been given while the horse has an infestation of worms, but this one appears to cause no such issues.
• Does what it says on the tin – Marketed as an all round wormer to get rid of all parasites, this dewormer achieves all it sets out to do.
• Contains 3 doses – Coming in a handy multiple syringe package, this wormer will be suitable for dosing more than one horse, or keeping some back as spares if you only have one horse.
• Easy to use – It comes in a simple syringe, which is easy to pop into your horse’s mouth to get the correct dosage.

Cons

• Some horses don’t like the taste – If you have a wily or experienced horse they may be able to manage to spit the paste out. You’ll be thankful for those extra syringes then!

Recommendation

A simple, easy to administer dewormer that is effective at removing all the most common parasites. It’s affordable and it works, so you can’t go wrong.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

2. Intervet Safeguard Dewormer Pellets For Horses Review

This is a good wormer that will get most parasites, including pinworms and ascarids. It is safe for pregnant mares and foals as well, which adds to its appeal.

Pros

• Comes in pellet form – Great for those horses who don’t like a syringe wormer, this is a no stress way of removing internal parasites. You can just add it to your horse’s feed or hay and be safe in the knowledge that the most common worms will be removed.
• Safe and effective for pregnant and lactating mares, and foals – This is a concern when worming; you have a pregnant mare so you have to be much more careful with what she takes. This product will do no harm to the mare or the foal, and it’s gentle enough to be used on foals too.
• One pouch treats a 1,250lb horse – You should only need one bag of this dewormer, unless you own an especially large horse. This makes it a good value way or worming.
• Works as a preventative – As well as treating an existing infestation, this product is gentle enough to be used regularly so as to prevent any possible infestation in the future.

Cons

• Some especially picky horses do not like the taste – If your horse is wise to the taste of any wormer, you may have to mix even this one into other feed before they will accept it.

Recommendation

This is a great dewormer for the horse who impossible to worm with a paste (and we all know one of those!) Barely noticeable in a bucket feed or a hay feed, this one is gentle enough for vulnerable members of the herd, yet effective enough at getting rid of most parasites.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

3. Durvet 12-Pack Ivermectin Dewormer Paste For Horses Review

This is a great bulk buy for if you have a herd greater than two or three horses. It’s an effective dewormer that only takes a single dose to get rid of worms and bots.

Pros

• Palatable flavour – Unlike many syringe wormers, this one has a flavour that horses won’t instantly spit out! The subtle apple taste is acceptable to most horses, meaning that more of the wormer will go into the horse rather than on the ground!
• One syringe treat one horse – Suitable for a body weight of up to 1,250lb, each syringe is more than enough for an average sized horse.
• Great for frequent dosing – If you have a few horses this is a great buy, as you can worm regularly without worrying about reaching the end of the expiry date before they’re all used up.
• More convenient than pellet worming – With a syringe wormer, you know for a fact that your horse has received the correct dosage of the active ingredient, whereas with pellets it can be hard to know if they’ve taken the whole dose.

Cons

• Some users have reported inaccurate information – Although it is stated that you will receive 12 syringes, some buyers have only received 10.

Recommendation

A great bulk buy dewormer, perfect for those horses who aren’t keen on traditional wormers – the apple flavor will persuade all but the most reluctant to take their medicine!

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Frequently Asked Questions About Horse Wormers

1. Why is deworming important?

Carrying a parasite load can interfere with your horse’s ability to attain and maintain good overall health.

2. How does parasite infestation impact a horse’s health?

If you do not treat your horse for parasites and he is carrying a high load of them, you may see symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea and/or rough coat. Sometimes parasite infestation causes behavioral problems as well.

3. How do horses get worms?

When horses graze, they will pick up any parasites left on the ground, in the grass and/or in the soil by previous inhabitants of the pasture.

4. Is there a good general wormer for all horses?

No, an effective deworming program is personalized or targeted to suit the individual horse.

5. How do you develop a personalized deworming program for your horse?

You begin by having your vet perform a fecal egg count (FEC) test on your horse’s manure.

6. Do you have to go to the vet for an FEC test?

No, it is possible to purchase FEC test kits from feed stores and online equine supply websites. Doing it yourself can be a smart way to save a little money.

7. What does a fecal egg count test measure?

This test measures how many strongyle eggs (a prevalent parasite) your horse passes in every gram of manure.

8. How is this helpful?

Based on the results of the FEC, you can determine whether your horse is considered a low shedder, medium shedder or high shedder of parasite eggs. That is the basis of your deworming strategy.

9. When should you perform an FEC test?

It’s a good idea to do the test early in the springtime just before you plan on deworming. As soon as you get the results, you must make haste to put your program together.

10. How often should you have an FEC test done?

After your initial test, you should spring into action with a deworming plan right away. Once you’ve treated your horse, perform a second test within 10-14 days. This test will tell you how effective your program is because you will be able to see just how much the parasite load has decreased.

11. How do you deworm your horse?

In the old days, farmers and ranchers simply rotated parasite meds, such as pyrantel and ivermectin among all horses in residence. Now we understand that this one-size-fits-all approach is not really effective. Today, vets recommend streamlining a specific program for each horse. Doing it this way is more effective in terms of preventing parasite resistance to deworming products.

12. How often should you deworm your horse?

This is very dependent upon the results of the FEC test. If results show less than 200 eggs per gram of manure, it means your horse is a low shedder. In this case, worming two times a year should be enough. On the other hand, if the count is greater than 500 per gram, your horse is a high shedder. In that case, you may need to deworm half a dozen times a year.

13. What if the FEC is negative?

It is unlikely that your horse is completely free of parasites. If the FEC is negative, it means that the parasites are not shedding eggs actively.

14. How often should horses with negative FEC results be dewormed?

Just keep up with regular testing and establish a twice-yearly worming program unless new FEC results indicate that you should increase that number.

15. How do you create a targeted program?

There is no one-size-fits-all for development of a specialized program. Begin with an FEC test and then consult closely with your veterinarian to come up with just the right combination of treatments.

16. How do you determine exactly what your horse needs?

There are many factors that come into play in making this decision. In addition to the results of your horse’s FEC test, your vet will consider factors such as:

• Geographic location
• Exposure to other horses
• Current local insect population
• Manure management practices

Any or all of these factors could change at any time, and that would mean a change in your horse’s deworming plan.

17. Why is manure management important to parasite control?

Parasites lurk in manure. If you don’t pick up after your horse, you can use deworming products until you go bankrupt, but your horse will continue to become reinfected from the parasites and eggs emanating from his own manure.

18. What can you do to reduce the impact of parasites on your horse?

Keep manure cleaned up and maintain a regular, consistent deworming program.

19. What kind of deworming products are available?

Chemical dewormers come in paste form. There are also daily dewormers that are available as a supplement to add to your horse’s feed. You may also wish to use some natural alternatives such as diatomaceous earth (DE)added to your horses feed for a couple of weeks each month. This is not a substitute for deworming products, but it can help flush parasites from your horse’s intestines, and the presence of DE in manure makes it unwelcoming to parasite larvae and unattractive to flies.

20. Isn’t a targeted deworming program expensive?

Not really. Old fashioned deworming on a rotational schedule took a scattershot approach to deworming. Horses received large doses of product on a routine basis in hopes that some part of the combination would work. In the end, this resulted in more robust, chemical resistant parasites. A targeted approach delivers just the right amount of just the right product. Frequent testing ensures the approach is effective. In the long run, this saves money.

Conclusion

Keeping your horses parasite free is essential for good all round health and good condition. Regular worming helps keep them in tip top condition, so you can help keep your herd healthy by choosing a best horse dewormer based on your needs.

If you are looking for a single dose wormer that will get rid of all parasites including tapeworm, then (3 pack) Bimeda Equimax Wormer Ivermectin 1.87% and Praziquantel 14.03% Paste Tube is for you. For those looking for an easy to administer dewormer that is also suitable for mares and foals then go for Intervet Safeguard Dewormer Pellets For Horses. Durvet 12-Pack Ivermectin Dewormer Paste For Horses is what you are looking for if you have a large herd that needs to be kept worm free.