Equine Worming & Vaccination Schedule

Provided by:
Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center

  1. Recommended Worming Schedule
    1. Plan 1 - Strongid C (a continuous dewormer) added to the feed daily with Ivermectin* given spring & fall.
    2. Plan 2 - Worm adult horses in low density populations every three months using Ivermectin* three times and Strongid paste once in the winter.  For horses less than two years old or in a high density population, worm every eight weeks using a similar rotation.
    3. Begin worming foals at eight weeks of age and continue with Plan 1 or 2 above.
    4. Pregnant mares may be wormed safely but always check the product label to be sure it's safe.
  2. Recommended Vaccination Schedule
    1. Eastern & Western Encephalitis (sleeping sickness) and Tetanus once yearly in the spring.  Pregnant mares should be vaccinated six weeks prior to their due date.
    2. Influenza twice yearly, spring and fall.  We currently recommend the intranasal vaccine.  Pregnant mares should be vaccinated six weeks prior to their due date with the injectable product.
    3. Rhinopneumonitis - all horses should get the respiratory vaccine twice yearly in the spring and fall, while pregnant mares should receive the abortion vaccine at five, seven and nine months of gestation.
    4. Strangles (Distemper or Strep.) vaccine once annually, usually in fall or when the disease is in your neighborhood. We are currently using the intranasal vaccine.  Pregnant mares should be vaccinated six weeks prior to their due date with the injectable product; however, these may not be approved in the pregnant horse.
    5. Rabies - an annual booster is optional for stabled horses and is recommended for horses exposed to wildlife, especially in areas outside Maricopa County.
    6. Potomac Horse Fever - given yearly in the spring for horses traveling to areas where it is common (Midwest & Eastern U.S.)
  3. Possible side effects of worming and/or vaccinations:
    1. Loss of appetite, soft feces, fever, lethargy, colic, soreness or swelling at the injection site, and nasal discharge when the intranasal products are used.
    2. If these symptoms persist for more than 24 hours or are severe in nature, call the Veterinarian.
    3. There should be no exercise or riding for 24 hours after worming or vaccinations.

*
Ivermectin is available as a drench wormer administered by Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center and is the active ingredient in the paste wormers Zimectrin, Equalan and Rotectin 1.