Deworming A Lactating Mare - Horse Forums - Horse Forum Topics & Answers - Horse Training & Trainers

*Terri_R* · 05-29-2007,

I was just wondering about deworming my new mama. Her baby is about 3 weeks old now and it is that time. Can she be dewormed as usual or are there special steps to take for mares who are lactating?

*P8ntCrazy* · 05-30-2007,

As long as you did not rebreed your mare, Go ahead and deworm her, now that she has had the baby you are good to go back to normal. If you did rebreed her you should wait until she is past the 45 day marker. You should be due to worm the foal soon also. Just make sure you deworm the foal for its weight. The only dewormers I would be careful with are the combo's and quest. You will want to give only enough for their weight. As there safety margins are not a big as some of the other single ingredient dewormers.

*IdahoSpud* · 05-30-2007,

What did they used to use before commercial wormers. I have been looking for home remedies. Not to try, just wondering it is always cool to hear how it was done back when.

*Terri_R* · 05-31-2007,

Quote:

Originally Posted by P8ntCrazy

As long as you did not rebreed your mare, Go ahead and deworm her, now that she has had the baby you are good to go back to normal. If you did rebreed her you should wait until she is past the 45 day marker. You should be due to worm the foal soon also. Just make sure you deworm the foal for its weight. The only dewormers I would be careful with are the combo's and quest. You will want to give only enough for their weight. As there safety margins are not a big as some of the other single ingredient dewormers.

I'm not sure why but I was under the impression that the baby would be dewormed through the mare's milk. How do I know it's not getting too much if I deworm mama too?

*P8ntCrazy* · 05-31-2007,

No, foals do not get dewormed through the mares milk. It is recommended to deworm your mare 24 hours to 1 month prior to foaling so she will be clear of parasites and not pass them on to the foal through her manure, since foals eat their mothers manure to build up the good bacteria in their guts. The foals first deworming should be around 4-6 weeks and should be with either a Pyrantel pamoate (Strongid) or a oxibendazole (anthelcide) dewormer. Either one of these dewormers will control the roundworms (Ascarids) that foals have. About twice a year you should use an Ivermictin nomally after the first good frost when the bot flies die off, and after it warms up in the spring when the Strongyles are at there peak. This type of deworming program should be done till the foal is about 2 years of age. At this point it is recommended to use Ivermictin to get rid of the Strongyles which adult horses are more prone to while the younger horses (under 2) are prone to the Ascarids. Then twice a year (in adults) use a product to get rid of the tapeworms.

There is a type a parasite (the strongyloides; different from strongyles) that can be passed through the mares milk and is often thought to be the cause of foal diarrhea, and can easily be treated by deworming.

Until the foal is weaned you should deworm the mare and foal, along with any other horse they are housed with at the same time.

Hope this helped.

*cisco kid* · 06-19-2007,

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdahoSpud

What did they used to use before commercial wormers. I have been looking for home remedies. Not to try, just wondering it is always cool to hear how it was done back when.

my dad told me of a plant he called "lion's tounge" that grows wild here abouts. he said you could pick a mess of it and blanch it in the oven. just to dry it out really, then break it up into a powder in the palm of your hand. you then mixed the powder into the feed. he said it worked well for colic and also was a natural de-wormer.