Can a horse be dewormed when he's colicing frequently?

Answer 1

I would recommend having your veterinarian conduct a fecal egg count test before deworming your horse, and then using deworming chemicals targeted at the specific species he or she finds. Horses naturally host parasites, and it is impossible to get rid of them all--in fact, some studies have shown that ridding a horse of all its internal parasites could even be detrimental. However, in large numbers, these parasites can cause various ailments, including frequent colic. If your veterinarian determines that your horse has a large parasite load, be cautious when worming, because encysted worms are resistant to deworming chemicals and can hatch in the millions after a heavily infected horse is dewormed, causing severe colic and even death. You should consult your veterinarian about your horse colicking, because it may be unrelated to parasites--perhaps you need to change your horse's diet or adjust other management practices. Do not deworm your horse during a colic episode or for a few days afterwards, as this could place unnecessary stress on an injured GI tract.