Sample Paste Dewormer Rotation Schedule

This schedule is a very basic dewormer rotation program. If you suspect your horses may have tapeworms or would like a deworming program customized to your region or conditions, consult your veterinarian for a course of treatment.

If you feed a daily dewormer, such as Strongid C or Strongid C 2X, be aware that it is not effective against bots, so you should deworm once in the fall and once in the spring using a 1.87% equine ivermectin paste dewormer to control bot infestations.

by Karen E.N. Hayes, DVM, MS

Here are my four stick-to-it tips:

1. Buy the whole year's worth of dewormer at once. If you don't have it on hand, you may miss a
    critical deworming date.
2. Label each tube with each horse's name and the date to be given.
3. Keep your dewormers handy, but store them out of reach of children and pets.
4. Post a calendar prominently in your barn. On it, clearly mark the day before each deworming
    day to give you time to prepare. On the scheduled day, set out your dewormer where you
    can't miss it.

Written by Karen E.N. Hayes, DVM, MS, an Idaho-based equine practitioner.

This article first appeared in the June 1999 issue of Horse & Rider magazine.