Zoetis calls for greater awareness of encysted small redworm in horses

Zoetis is calling on animal health professionals to make a priority of reminding horse owners of the need to protect their animals against encysted small redworm.

Representing a considerable equine health threat, encysted small redworm are the early stages of the small redworm, which grow in the large intestine before emerging en masse as the winter months give way to the warmer spring.

This can cause a condition known as larval cyathostominosis, resulting in diarrhoea, colic and a 50 per cent mortality rate. Despite this danger, last year's National Equine Health Survey indicated that almost one in three owners are using the wrong products to treat their horses.

Only 64 percent had correctly used a wormer containing moxidectin, while seven percent had used fenbendazole. On the other hand, 22.5 percent had incorrectly used a wormer containing ivermectin – which does not treat for encysted stages – and 6.3 percent used products licensed for tapeworm only.

Wendy Talbot, veterinary surgeon at Zoetis, said the results "strongly indicate that horse owners need proactive advice from their vet or a suitably qualified person to ensure that they use a product licensed to treat for encysted small redworm, at the right time of year".

Moxidectin is the only licensed active ingredient for single-dose control of encysted small redworm and is contained in the Zoetis products Equest and Equest Pramox.