b'Practical Parasite Controlcause mild itching, they trigger the botSmart Strategies larvae to hatch and embed themselves inNematode Life CycleWhat can you do in the face of a poten-the horses mouth. From there, the larvaetial parasitic crisis? An effective manage-travel to the stomach and go throughMost of the parasites in this articlement strategy is usually threefold: strate-their entire life cycle in the gastroin- are nematodes, and most nematodesgic deworming, environmental cleanup, testinal tract, eventually passing in thehave what is called a direct life cycle:and good overall health, says Williard.manure, pupating, and then emerging asThe horse ingests eggs, and the parasiteStrategic deworming involves using the full flies.matures in the cecum and colon. Afterappropriate dewormer at the appropriate Occasionally, veterinarians can see botsmaturation, the adult releases eggstime, ideally after an FEC and/or FECRT. on the stomach walls during gastroscopicthat are shed in the manure. Once inDeworming in very cold or very hot exams. Heavy infections can cause colicthe environment, the larvae hatch andmonths, when the parasites are dormant, signs and irritation of the mouth andbegin to molt. After the third molt, theis a waste of medication and not nearly as lips due to tissue burrowing. Treatmentlarvae become infective. When the horseeffective as deworming during the spring is relatively simple: Remove the bot eggsingests them during grazing, the cycleand fall, when you can target more active from affected horses limbs, chest, andbegins again in another equine host. parasites, Williard says.neck, and deworm with ivermectin orManure houses parasite eggs. By clean-moxidectin. ing pastures and stables regularly, you canLungworms Dictyocaulus arnfieldi is theingested by the horse. There, adults mi- remove eggs from the environment, stop-primary lungworm species that affectsgrate to and mature in the lungs, causingping the cycle and preventing exposure. horses. As the name suggests, it can causeincreased respiratory rate, coughing, andUnderweight, ill, or weak horses wont significant respiratory disease.respiratory distress. While you can treatbe able to combat a parasitic infection, no Donkeys carry D. arnfieldi naturally butthe parasite with ivermectin, praziquan- matter the treatment. A good overall herd are unaffected. The parasites can infecttel, or mebendazole (a benzimidazole),health program will help your horses in-their equine pasturemates when larvaelengthy infections can compromise thenate immune system to do its job and help pass through donkey manure and getrespiratory tract.eliminate parasites, says Williard.hLISTEN NOW.as we interview leading equine researchers from the University of Kentucky in a new podcast series, Equine Innovators, brought to you by Zoetis.AVAILABLE ONOR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSEachdayresearchersatuniversitiesandotherinstitutionsaroundtheworldare investigating new ways to care for and understand our horses. Whether you realize it or not, the work they do influences your daily interactions with your horses. In this podcast series, well talk to those researchers to learn more about their work.TheHorse.com|The HorseApril 202027'