There are many challenges associated with keeping horses, and one of them is the infestation of wormer. As explained by clinical equine, these parasites cause poor health condition including but not limited to bloating, weight loss, and lack of appetite. If left untreated, chances are that these worms might cause more severe health problems.
So, what is the solution?
Well, while there are many options to deal with worms, administering de-wormers on a regular basis is one of the best options to treat your horses. It is worth noting that some dewormers will yield better results compared to others. Therefore, implies that your success in preventing or treating these internal parasites depends on finding the best dewormers. Adding that, this is now where the challenge comes in –choosing the best product from a list of dozens available in the market. We understand that most people go through this difficulty, and this explains why we have come up with a comprehensive list of the top ten best horse dewormers reviews based on consumer reports.
Best Horse Dewormers – [Reviews & Buyer’s Guide]
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10. Vet One Vetrimec 1% Ivermectin
The Vet One Vetrimec 1% Ivermectin is one of the best dewormers out there in the market that is recommended by most clinical experts in the equine industry. This injectable parasiticide effectively controls and/or treat both internal and external parasites that impair the health of ponies. It kills gastrointestinal roundworms and lungworms as well as sucking lice, mites, and grubs. Its broad-spectrum efficacy, convenience, and safety margin make it a distinctive parasite control product.
Specifications:
- Net contents -50 ml
- Certification –FDA approved
- Item weight -2.4 ounces
- Product dimensions -1.9 by 1.8 by 3.5 inches
9. Zoetis Quest Gel
Are you looking for one of the most affordable, yet very powerful deworming product for your horse? If the answer is yes, then the Zoetis Quest Gel is precisely what you have been looking for! This Quest moxidectin is a highly effective gel in the control and/or treatment of gastrointestinal parasites in ponies and horses. It instantly kills roundworms and lungworms with a single dose. Besides that, it works by controlling bots and worms by eradicating the small strongyle larvae and eggs.
Specifications:
- Net contents –one syringe containing 11.3 grams of moxidectin gel
- Product dimensions -9.2 by 10.8 by 12 inches
- Item weight -1.6 ounces
8. Durvet Ivermectin Dewormer Paste for Horses -12 Pack
If you have two or three horses, then it is highly recommended that you invest in the Durvet 12-Pack Ivermectin Dewormer Paste for Horses. With a convenient bulk buy of 12 doses, this product has been formulated to remove bots and worms with just a single dose. The good news about this dewormer is that it has a subtle apple taste that ponies would spit out instantly. One syringe is more than enough to treat an average-sized horse of about 1250 pounds. The Durvet 12-Pack Ivermectin Dewormer Paste is best suited for horses that are reluctant to taking traditional wormers.
Specifications:
- Net contents -12 by 0.21 ounces
- Certification –FDA approved
- Recommended dose rate -200 mcg/kg
7. Oral Pro Pyrantel Pamoate Oral Suspension by Aurora
The Oral Pro Pyrantel Pamoate Oral Suspension by Aurora is an award-winning dewormer applauded for the control and removal of mature infections of pinworms, roundworms, and strongyles in horses and ponies. While it is recommended that you administer this product on a regular basis, it achieves its objective with a single dose. It has been noted great concern that some dewormers can cause intestinal problems, especially if the said horses already have an infestation of worms, but this is not the case with the Oral Pro Pyrantel Pamoate Oral Suspension –it does not have any side effects!
Specifications:
- Active ingredient –pyrantel base
- Inactive ingredients –citric acid, purified water, potassium sorbate, sucralose, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, glycerin, and vanilla custard flavor
- Shipping weight -2.4 pounds
- Net content -1 by 32 ounces
6. Safeguard Horse Dewormer
Are you seeking a lasting solution to control parasites in your horses? If the answer is YES, then your pony is in for a great deal with the Safeguard Horse Dewormer. This is one of the best dewormers out there in the market that will get most of the large and small parasites, including but not limited to ascarids and pinworms as well as acarids and arthritis caused by 4th stage larvae of S. Vulgaris. Unlike the traditional dewormers that most horses resist to swallow, this one features apple-cinnamon flavor, making it a highly palatable dose for any horse. One syringe is enough to deworm a pony of up to 1100 pounds. The Safeguard Horse Dewormer is approved for concurrent use with trichlorfon or biocide.
Specifications:
- Item weight -0.8 ounces
- Product dimensions -8.9 by 1.9 by 1.3 inches
- Ingredients -100mg/Gram of Fenbendazole
5. Durvet Pyrantel Paste Wormer -Pack of 3
The Durvet Pyrantel Paste Wormer, available in a pack of three, is best suited for the control and removal of mature infections of large and small strongyles, roundworms, and pinworms in horses. A single dose of 3 mg pyrantel pamoate per pound of body weight administered orally can instantly kill the said parasites. These de-wormers are safe to be administered to foals as young as two months to pregnant mares one month before foaling date. Unlike the conventional bitter de-wormers, this one features that apple flavor taste, hence the reason why most horses love it.
Specifications:
- Net contents –three packs each containing 23.6 grams
- Shipping weight -7.2 ounces
- Product dimensions -12.3 by 5.3 by 2.3 inches
- Administration style –oral use only
4. Merial Zimecterin Gold Dewormer Paste
The Merial Zimecterin Gold Dewormer Paste is a highly effective dewormer that rid your horses and ponies of all internal parasites. If you have been buying wormers, then you will attest to the fact that many of them will not eradicate tapeworms, implying that you will need to purchase a separate treatment, further deepening your pocket. The good news, however, is that this product has been formulated to remove tapeworms, bots, and roundworms with one single dose. The contents of one full syringe will treat up to 1250-pound body weight.
Specifications:
- Main ingredients -1.55 percent ivermectin, 7.75 percent praziquantel
- Net weight -0.26 ounce or 7.35 grams
- Certification –FDA approved
- Administration style –oral use only
3. Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension
The Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension is a remarkable de-wormer for treating and controlling roundworms and hookworms not only in pets but also in horses and ponies. Given as a single dose, this suspension must be shaken well before administration. It is required that administering be repeated in two to three weeks for ultimate results. The Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension is best suited for horses that are stubborn to the traditional bitter dewormers as this one contains vanilla flavor taste –a feature that each horse will love.
Specifications:
- Main ingredients -50 mg of pyrantel base
- Item weight -2.55 pounds
- Product dimensions -3.5 by 9 by 3.5 inches
- Form of administration –oral use only
2. Ivermectin Paste Equine Dewormer – 3 Pack
Available in a pack of three, the Ivermectin Paste Equine Dewormer is one of the most effective dewormers out there in the market that only takes one dose to get rid of bots and worms. With subtle apple flavor, hardly any horse will resist the taste of this product, making the best choice for ponies and horses that have difficulties in swallowing medications. Unlike the pellet wormers, the Ivermectin Paste Equine is a syringe dewormer, hence you are certain that your animal has received the right dosage of the active component.
Specifications:
- Net weight -0.21 ounces or 6.08 grams
- Active ingredient –boticide, anthelmintic
- Size -3-pack
1. Merck Safeguard Dewormer
The Merck Safeguard Dewormer leads the pack of the best horse dewormers. It has been designed to remove and control small intestinal worms and stomach worms. Its usefulness does not stop there though; it can be used to remove and control adult stomach worms and lungworms –Teladorsagia circumcincta, Haemonchus contortus, and ten others. Under conditions of continued exposure to parasites, treatment with this dewormer may be repeated after four to six weeks. The good news about this product is that it is safe for pregnant or lactating mares. This product will not harm the foal either.
Specifications:
- Size -125 ml
- Recommended dosage -5 mg/kg
- Certification –FDA approved
- Form of administration –oral use only
Buying Guide How to choose the best Horse Dewormers:
We all agree that parasite load, whether internal or external, can adversely affect the ability of your horse to maintain or attain good overall health. It implies that if you do not mind treating or controlling worms, you will eventually notice symptoms such as rough/dull coat, colic, lack of appetite, diarrhea, ill thrift, poor condition, or weight loss on your horse. Investing in the best dewormers is therefore inevitable to bring back your animal to good health. While there is no general dewormer for all ponies and horses, you will find that an effective deworming program is targeted and personalized to suit the needs of an individual horse. So how do you even start choosing the best dewormer for a horse?
Factors to consider when choosing the best horse dewormers:
Truth be told, there are tens of hundreds of wormer products formulated for horses out there in the market. Therefore, choosing one or two that you think it perfectly suits your animal is a daunting task. The entire process of picking one becomes even harder if you do not have some buying guides. Many factors indeed come into play as far as choosing the best wormers for a particular horse. It includes the following:
1. The level of fecal egg count (FEC)
The very first thing you must know before choosing any horse dewormer is the FEC level, which tells you the number of eggs of the prevalent parasite the horse passes out in every gram of manure. With this information, you can easily figure out the right medication. It is important to note that some dewormers have been formulated to tackle high infestation while others do not.
2. Geographic location
If for any reason, you failed to get the FEC test, another factor that comes into play when choosing the best dewormer is your geographic location. It is obvious that some places are known to be having a high prevalence of worms perhaps because the weather or plantations support their existence. Other places, however, report extremely low prevalence. Therefore, be sure to consider the product(s) that are designed for particular regions.
3. Exposure to other horses
We all know that horses exposed to a large herd are susceptible to have a host of parasites as opposed to the one that is reared in a constrained area. Since horses pick most of the worms from the grass, it is common sense that grass grazed by many horses becomes home to a number of worms. With this at the back of your mind, you can easily find the most suitable dewormer for your pony.
4. Side effects
Just like any other medication, dewormers are never exceptional with side effects. When choosing these products, take your time checking at the label or instruction manual for side effects. More importantly, know the status of your foals and mares. Some dewormers have detrimental effects on pregnant mares and young foals.
Conclusion
Keeping your ponies and horses parasite-free is arguably a good thing if you are concerned about their health and ability to perform. Experts in the equine world advice that regular deworming help keep horses in top-notch condition. It is easy to achieve this objective though if you choose any of the products listed above. The beauty of the said products is that they have been carefully selected to get rid of most internal parasites. Some dewormers, however, have the ability to control and eradicating both internal and external worms with just a single dose. While most of these medications are pocket-friendly, they are of high quality with little or no side effects.
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