Our veterinarian near Parker offers extensive preventative care and treatments for your horse. Parasites are more than just a nuisance. They can make your horse extremely uncomfortable and cause several different types of illnesses. Redtail Equine Veterinary Service can evaluate your equine to determine the best type of veterinary care treatment.
Vaccinations & Preventative Care
Parasite control should be part of a broader preventative care plan that includes vaccinations to protect against common equine diseases.
Core Vaccines:
- Tetanus – Prevents bacterial infection from wounds.
- Eastern & Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE) – Protects against mosquito-borne viruses.
- West Nile Virus – Reduces risk of neurologic disease.
- Rabies – Essential for preventing fatal viral infection.
Risk-Based Vaccines:
- Strangles – Recommended for horses in high-exposure environments.
- Equine Influenza & Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1, EHV-4) – Necessary for traveling or performance horses.
- Potomac Horse Fever & Leptospirosis – Based on regional risk.
Health Hazards Of External Parasites in Horses
Fleas and mites are rare in horses in Colorado, but can affect your horse. If you notice itching of unknown cause these parasites are one of the possible reasons that your vet may rule out.
Ticks are known to carry many different types of bacteria that can cause zoonosis, anaplasma, and Lyme disease. Lyme disease causes lethargy, pain in your equine’s joints and a decrease in appetite. Luckily these diseases are not common in Colorado, but if you have seen ticks on your horse or your horse has a travel history to areas where tick borne diseases are common your horse might be at risk.
Equine Deworming Treatments
Deworming recommendations have changed significantly in the last 10 years. With resistance issues increasing dramatically to many of our common dewormer categories it is more important than ever that horse owners are deworming their horses with the correct products and schedule.
As a horse owner, you understand the majesty and responsibility that comes with caring for these incredible animals. Part of that responsibility includes ensuring their health and well-being by finding a reliable horse doctor near you and getting the most up to date recommendations on equine deworming. If you're in the Denver area, or nearby Castle Rock or Parker, Redtail Equine Veterinary Service is here to help. Since 2019, we've been providing mobile veterinary services to horses, donkeys, and mules throughout the region.
Why Horses Need Deworming Medication
One of the primary health concerns for horse owners is the potential for their animals to ingest worm eggs while grazing. Horses routinely swallow worm eggs, which can lead to severe symptoms such as loss of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea, and hair loss around the anus due to scratching. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to contact our vet for a deworming treatment.
All horses require regular deworming with a medication known as an anthelmintic, or simply, a dewormer. While small quantities of worms might not harm your horse, allowing them to multiply can result in serious infections. In large numbers, worms can cause anemia, ulcers, and significant weight loss, which can jeopardize your horse's health.
Deworming Treatment and Prevention
Deworming medications are typically administered either as a paste or in pellet form mixed with feed. The paste is usually given through a syringe placed at the side of the horse's mouth. If your horse has difficulty swallowing the paste, our vet may recommend hiding it in a treat. When the medication is provided in pellet form, it is mixed with the horse's regular feed.
To reduce the likelihood of your horse ingesting worms, it's essential to maintain a clean environment. This includes regularly removing horse droppings from their stall, mowing your pasture, and rotating grazing areas to prevent overgrazing. Additionally, when introducing a new horse to your stable, it’s important to have your vet check the new horse’s parasite shedding status to reduce the risk to your existing herd.
Strategic Deworming for Horses
Modern parasite prevention relies on strategic deworming, focusing on individual risk factors rather than routine treatments. Overuse of dewormers has led to parasite resistance, making fecal egg count testing (FEC) a crucial tool in determining the right treatment plan. We recommend fecal egg counts at least once a year for all horses. Depending on your individual circumstances, your vet may also recommend more frequent fecal egg counts or a fecal egg count reduction test to check for dewormer resistance on your farm.
Key Parasites in Horses:
- Strongyles – The most common internal parasite, affecting adult horses and potentially leading to colic.
- Ascarids (Roundworms) – Primarily affect young horses, causing respiratory issues and impaction.
- Tapeworms – Can contribute to colic and digestive disturbances.
- Pinworms – Cause tail rubbing and skin irritation.
- Bots – Larvae from botflies that attach to the stomach lining.
Call Redtail Equine Veterinary Service
When it comes to vaccines, deworming, fecal egg count, parasite prevention and management, controlling fleas and ticks, and more, you can count on Redtail Equine Veterinary Service. For more information on our preventative care services for equines, and additional services, call us at (303) 775-4061 today.
