Horse worms cannot be prevented, only treated, which means that deworming needs to be done regularly. The current thinking is that it is impossible to eliminate all parasites so you need to concentrate on the most prevalent and the most likely parasites your horse faces.
What’s more, all horses are different and have different requirements. Whether your horse lives with others, along with the climate, are the most important factors that will determine whether you should deworm every 12 months or 2 years, for example. These considerations will also determine the best dewormer for you.
Most wormers come in the form of a gel or liquid, and this is syringed or sprayed into the horse’s mouth. If your horse refuses this kind of oral treatment, there are tablets and some powdered forms of the treatment you can give. Typically, you need to give a dewormer directly, rather than mixed with food or diluted in water, to ensure that the horse gets the full dose and none is left behind.
Because there are so many options from a host of recognized brands, it can be difficult to find the best product for your horse. To help, we have created a guide and curated reviews of the eight best horse wormers you can buy.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
The 8 Best Horse Wormer – Reviews 2020
1. Panacur Equine Paste Horse Dewormer – Best Overall
Panacur Equine Paste Horse Dewormer is a gel that tackles bloodworms, pinworms, and roundworms. The product includes a syringe for easy feeding, and the paste has an apple-cinnamon flavor that makes it more palatable for the animal. Many horses enjoy the flavor and look forward to receiving the dewormer.
The oral dewormer is suitable for horses of any age and any size and is even considered safe for use on pregnant mares and foals as well as emaciated horses and miniature breeds. Panacur is a well-respected horse wormer brand and has been successfully used by generations of horse owners.
Pros
- Paste gel is easy to administer
- Apple-cinnamon flavor is palatable
- Suitable for all ages and sizes
- Controls bloodworms, pinworms, and roundworms
Cons
- Not effective against tapeworm
2. Farnam Ivercare Horse Dewormer – Best Value
Farnam Ivercare Horse Dewormer is a paste worming gel and the packet includes a single dose of 91 mcg of ivermectin—enough to treat up to a 1,500-pound horse. This not only means that the product is practical for horses of all sizes but, along with the cost, it also makes this the best horse wormer for the money.
The syringe has an easy-grip handle and is marked in 250-pound increments, making it easy to calculate how much you should be giving your horse. The locking mechanism ensures that you give exactly the right amount, too. The apple flavor horse dewormer is easy to administer and doesn’t take much convincing to feed to your horse.
It is a broad-spectrum wormer, which means that it works against a wide variety of different parasites, rather than concentrating on one or two.
Pros
- Cheap
- Easy to administer
- Appealing flavor
Cons
- Doesn’t target specific parasites
3. Bimeda Equimax Horse Wormer – Premium Choice
Bimeda Equimax Horse Wormer combines ivermectin and praziquantel, which together fight a host of parasites including tapeworm, roundworms, and bots. The paste dissolves quickly and has an apple flavor, which makes it easier to administer to most horses. Administering the wormer is made even easier, thanks to the weight marking on the syringe. Some wormers include markings of the amount of liquid, but marking according to the weight of the horse reduces a step in the process and ensures there are no errors when you give the drug.
Each syringe contains enough for a horse weighing up to 1,320 pounds, which should be ample for all but the largest. It is suitable for horses of all ages and life stages, and can even be administered to pregnant mares, breeding stallions, and young foals.
This is a triple pack, so you receive three of the easy application syringes and medication, and the combination of drugs means that it is suitable for fighting a wide range of parasites. All that being said, it is still more expensive than its competitors.
Pros
- 3 syringes
- Contains ivermectin and praziquantel
- Most horses like apple flavor
- Easy application syringe
4. Durvet Ivermectin Paste Dewormer
The Durvet Ivermectin Paste Dewormer is a pack of six dewormers, each with a single 0.21-ounce dose of apple-flavored ivermectin paste dewormer. The ivermectin ingredient targets strongyles, pinworms, stomach worms, threadworms, and dermatitis. It is not considered effective against tapeworm. Owners should target the specific parasites that their horse suffers, or is likely to suffer, and should base a parasite management program on factors including horse weight, local environment, and weather conditions. This regimen will better control the worms and bots that might be attacking your horse.
The paste-gel is apple flavor and comes in an easily administered syringe with weight gradation down the syringe.
Some orders have been fulfilled with products that only have a ‘best before’ date within a couple of months. As such, you may not be able to safely store the remaining packs for use in later years. The six-pack is beneficial if you are treating multiple horses, however.
Pros
- Pack of 6 syringes
- Ivermectin treats a good range of worms
- Easy administer syringe
- Apple flavor
Cons
- Doesn’t treat tapeworm
- Short shelf life
5. Merial Zimecterin Gold Dewormer
The Merial Zimecterin Gold Dewormer combines 1.55% ivermectin and 7.75% praziquantel into a single syringe. This combination of drugs means that the wormer is effective on a greater range of parasites than most other products. The wormer can still be used on foals aged 2 months or older as well as on mares and breeding stallions.
It treats tapeworms, which ivermectin alone will not do, and a single dose can treat a horse up to 1,250 pounds in weight. The syringe does include dosage markings according to the weight of the horse, which is easier than having to work it out yourself. However, the syringe is quite a basic one, so this may only prove effective for horses that are happy to have wormer syringed into their mouth.
It is also quite a plain flavor and some horses will prefer the apple flavor that is found in alternatives.
Pros
- Deals with 61 types of parasites and worms
- Contains ivermectin and praziquantel
Cons
- No easy application syringe
- Bland flavor
6. Durvet Duramectin Equine Wormer
Durvet Duramectin Equine Wormer is a six-pack of doramectin paste, which means that it has the same active ingredient as ivermectin pastes. It is inexpensive compared to most competitors when bought in packs of six, but it is a plain flavor, rather than the apple flavor that tends to prove more popular with horses.
Also, although ivermectin paste does treat a good variety of worms and parasites, it isn’t known to be an effective treatment for tapeworm, so you will need an additional product if you are looking to beat that particular parasite.
Pros
- Cheap in multipacks
- Suitable for pregnant mares and breeding stallions
Cons
- Not effective against tapeworm
- Plain flavor
7. Intervet Safeguard Horse Dewormer
Intervet Safeguard Horse Dewormer is a 10% fenbendazole wormer that comes in a syringe for easy administration with a choice of paste strengths. The paste is suitable for use with all horse breeds and sizes. It can be used for mares, as well as underweight and old horses.
It can even be used on dairy cattle. It works on a good range of parasites and worms, including strongyles and pinworms, although it doesn’t work on tapeworms. You will require an additional wormer to attack all types of parasites.
The apple cinnamon paste gel is more palatable than plain flavors, which combines with the syringe to ensure that it is a reasonably easy wormer to give to a horse.
Pros
- Can be used on pregnant mares and breeding stallions
- Apple cinnamon flavor is palatable
8. Pfizer Equimax Horse Wormer
Pfizer Equimax Horse Wormer combines 1.87% ivermectin and 14.03% praziquantel. This combination means that the wormer will fight ascarids and strongyles as well as tapeworms and bots. It has proven especially effective against perfoliata, which is the most common form of tapeworm. Equimax enjoys a 100% success rate against this particular parasite.
It is safe for foals as young as 4 weeks and can be used on old and underweight horses. It is also suitable for pregnant and lactating mares and can be safely given to breeding stallions.
A single syringe offers enough of the paste gel for a horse weighing up to 1,320 pounds. However, the wormer is more expensive than some others and it is not apple-cinnamon flavor, which means that a lot of horses will refuse it.
Pros
- Contains ivermectin and praziquantel
- Fights tapeworm
Cons
- Bit pricey
- Plain flavor not palatable
Buyer’s Guide
Worms and intestinal parasites are the most common equine diseases. They can cause symptoms like weight loss and colic, stunted growth in foals, and even respiratory problems. Therefore, managing worms is an important part of horse ownership.
It is also an area where there is a lot of confusion and various myths abound. Here you will find a guide explaining the details of horse worms, how to choose the best wormer, and what features to look for.
How Do Horses Get Worms?
Worms are a normal occurrence in horses. They can be picked up from the feces of other horses and passed along from one horse to the next during grazing. As such, horses that spend time with others or grazing in fields where other horses reside are at greater risk of contracting one of the many types of horse worms and parasites that exist.
A pasture can stay infected for a long period, which makes pasture cleanliness one of the most important aspects of a worm management program.
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary according to the type of worm or parasite, as well as the severity and other factors. Generally, however, you should look for the symptoms below and, if any are found, have a worming test done.
Symptoms of worms to look out for:
- Colic
- Diarrhea
- Damaged coat
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of condition
- Weight loss
Testing
If your horse shows signs of worms, the best method to determine their existence is through a fecal egg count combined with a blood test. This combination not only determines whether a horse has worms but also discovers the actual type of parasite and the severity of the infection.
The best ways to test for worms includes:
- A fecal egg count is a count of the number of eggs that are present in your horse’s feces. It is measured as eggs per gram, or EPG, and indicates how many worms are present in the stomach of your horse.
- A blood test determines the existence of and measures the levels of certain chemicals in the blood. These chemicals are given off by parasites and are a clear sign of the existence of worms.
- Specific tests for tapeworms also exist. These include a simple saliva swab, which is easier to administer than a blood test. They can be conducted in the stable, by you, which means they are cheaper and more convenient.
How to Manage Worms
Whether it is through a fecal egg count or blood test, or your own diagnosis that worms are present, some actions will help eradicate the parasites and prevent them from resurfacing next year.
The best ways to manage worms includes:
- Testing – You should always look for symptoms of worms, and if any are present, have testing done to determine their existence. Egg counts can be conducted every 12 weeks, with an overall testing regimen usually involving tests every 2
- Pasture Management – Parasites, eggs, and larvae can survive in feces and in paddocks for months. In fact, larvae will pupate in soil for around a month before even emerging as an adult, and grazing horses can easily ingest these larvae. To help prevent parasites being passed on in this way, clear up droppings at least two or three times a week but ideally every day. Ensure that you only keep a maximum of two horses per acre to minimize the risk of contamination, and dilute the grazing of the pasture by swapping out fields and paddocks for several months of the year.
- Regular Deworming – Introduce regular deworming into your schedule. Vets recommend deworming every 2 months, and they suggest that you rotate the dewormer used because parasites can develop a resistance to certain drugs and ingredients in the drugs. Rotation means that the parasites will not become resistant, and each application will continue to prove effective.
When to Worm My Horse?
Although parasites are very common in horses, it is estimated that only approximately one in five have worms and need deworming as a result. Therefore, testing is as important as the actual worming process.
Test your horse every 2 months. If the test returns positive, use an appropriate dewormer.
Foals can usually be dewormed from the age of 4 weeks, although some drugs recommend use only from the age of 8 weeks. Ensure that the product you choose is suitable for a horse’s life stage, especially if you have a pregnant or nursing mare, an old or underweight horse, or you have a breeding stallion.
Common Horse Worms and Parasites
The most common forms of horse worms are:
- Ascarids – Large roundworms are most often found in younger horses and your horse will develop immunity as it ages. They cause a blockage in the gut of the horse and can lead to poor health and diarrhea. Because the ascarid matures in the lungs of the horse, it can also cause respiratory and breathing problems. Ivermectin is considered the most effective type of wormer for this parasite.
- Bots – These do not usually cause serious illness but they are present on the summer coat, found in the stomach after grooming, and are excreted in the winter.
- Redworms – Redworms are becoming an increasingly common menace and are a major concern because they live in cysts over winter and, as they emerge in spring, they can cause damage to the stomach lining. These are a major cause of colic in horses, and several types of wormer have proven effective in their treatment. As well as ivermectin, fenbendazole and moxidectin are considered appropriate wormers.
- Strongyles – Present all year round, strongyles can damage arterial walls which, in turn, leads to blood clots and tissue death. Moxidectin and fenbendazole are known to effectively treat encysted strongyles.
- Tapeworm – They can be difficult to locate, but tapeworms are common during autumn and can be identified with a blood test. Praziquantel and moxidectin, at appropriate dosages, can be used to treat tapeworm.
Conclusion
Regular testing can be used to confirm the presence and identify the type of parasites, eggs, and larvae in horses. Once you have identified the type of worms that are present, you can choose the most appropriate wormer that kills existing infections. Regular testing and worming, as well as good pasture management, provide the best chance of keeping a horse worm-free.
There are several types of drugs used in the treatment of horse worms, and you should choose a wormer or combination of wormers according to the worms your horse has. Use our reviews to determine the most appropriate wormer for you.
Panacur Equine Paste Horse Dewormer will treat most parasites, apart from tapeworm, is reasonably priced and easy to administer, making it our choice as the best horse wormer available. Farnam Ivercare Horse Dewormer is cheaper, has an appealing apple flavor, and contains ivermectin which is a good all-around treatment for a variety of worms.
Featured Credit Image: Castleguard, Pixabay
Nicole is the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese cat and Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts’ knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.
