Horse Parasites Overview - Roundworms, Strongyloids and Botflies

Parasites, those nearly invisible worms and other creatures that like to live deep within your favorite horse. No horse owner wants to find out that their horse is playing host to a colony of little worms, but it is inevitable for most. The best thing to do is to learn how to stay on top of a parasite infestation so that your horse can regain its health and happiness as quickly as possible.

To begin, it is important to know what the main parasites are that are likely to invade your horse.

Roundworms

Roundworms are also known as nematodes and this wide reaching phylum has over twenty-eight thousand distinct species. Horses are most likely to encounter the nematodes called ascarids. These little worms (actually quite large when compared to other roundworms) reside in the intestines.

There are several worries associated with these worms. Given a large enough infestation, your horse could end up with seriously compromised nutrition. These roundworms will eat whatever food that comes their way in the intestines. Your horse will become weaker if she does not take in enough food, and eventually died if proper treatment is not rendered.

At the same time, a serious infestation could also be the reason for the intestines blockages. You may notice your horse has become colicky and is experiencing a lot of pain.

The larvae of these worms can enter the arteries and make their way to the lungs and liver where they might inflict serious harm.

Strongyloids

Also called thread worms, these nematodes are much smaller than ascarids, usually reaching no longer than two millimeters. While it is far less likely that these worms will cause an intestinal blockage, they are certainly dangerous.

These worms are rarely ingested, and usually enter the body by cutting their way through the skin, often while an animal is lying down. Once in the bloodstream, they will usually move throughout the body until lodging in the small intestine. Sometimes, it is not unusual for the threadworms to leave the bloodstream in the lungs when they are being coughed out. They access the small intestine through the throat and mouth when they are swallowed.

The damage these worms can cause is significant, as they are fond of traveling throughout the body. Once they are in the lungs, they display symptoms similar to that of pneumonia, making an accurate diagnosis more difficult. The accurate way to detect the infestation is through fecal testing.

Botflies

A botfly, unlike the other parasites mentioned, is actually an arthropod. It is a winged fly and its status as a parasite is derived from the fact that its eggs are ingested and hatch within the body of another animal.

Botflies infestation are most common from the end of summer to the start of fall. During this period, make sure you are more vigilant and double check your horse's coat for small yellow dots. These could be botfly eggs. One of the only way to remove them is to scrape them off carefully, if left alone, they will slowly and surely burrow down into the skin. These eggs may also become ingested if a horse rubs its face near where the eggs have been laid.

Prevention

Preventing your horse from contracting parasites is notoriously difficult. Because most parasites are passed in fecal matter, it is essential to keep the area where a horse may be, especially where feeding and watering may happen, clean of feces.

If you suspect that your horse may have worms or other parasites, or if you have noticed worms in the feces of your horse, it's a good idea to contact your veterinarian about getting some horse dewormer.

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