Parasite life cycles are linked to the seasons, which is why one of the first rules of worm control is to consider the time of year, says Dr Wendy Talbot, National Equine Veterinary Manager at Zoetis.
During the late autumn and winter most parasites are entering a less active phase but encysted small redworm (ESRW) should still be on your radar. These are larval stages of the small redworm that have stopped developing inside the horse’s gut and started hibernating instead. High burdens of encysted small redworm can cause a condition known as larval cyathostominosis when they emerge from their hibernating state. The resulting diarrhoea, colic, and severe weight loss can be fatal, especially in young horses. This typically happens in the spring but in some cases can occur earlier in the winter period.
Read the full article in our November/December 2020 edition…
