Worms! Get thee away from my little man

[vickie gee]

Poor little guy. He is only 11 days old and today he pooped some worms! Elvis is the tiniest one I have ever had. This is so sad, but Texas is a haven for parasites. Mom was on regular dewormings but stuff happens. I did some research and was not comfortable deworming before 1 month old. I called the vet and described the worms (like chopped spaghetti) and he confirmed likely passed through mom's milk and fixed me up a batch of med safe for a foal. Elvis is probably still not over16" tall although he is beginning to be a little solid stump. I am to repeat the dosage in two weeks. I feel so bad for him. He is such a tart. He can literally walk under his mom. He is trying to rear up on her butt and can only reach her hamstrings.

 

[picasso]

I hope you get those worms away from him. He is a real cutie!!!!!!

 

[Carolyn R]

Sounds like tapeworms YUCK!

Make sure your worming momma with the correct wormer since not all wormer works on tapes. I may be wrong, but I believe flees are the number one culprit for carrying/giving tape worms, so I would also keep your minis well doused with flyspray that works on flees and ticks too (like endure). I am sure your aware of the parasite cycle being that your not new to these guys.

You sure do have a cutie on your hands, hope you can get things under wraps quickly.

 

[Matt73]

This is why it's important to keep your mare on a good deworming program throughout pregnancy (and that includes a month before foaling and within 12 hours of foaling....and, especially, like you say, if you are in an area with a big parasite problem). I really don't think people realize how dangerous it is for a foal, especially, to have a big parasite load. Of the two weanlings I have bought both were very unthrifty and full of worms....FULL. They were sick. It took months and months of a good deworming program, good quality hay, and a proper vaccination program to get them healthy; Willow could barely run, she was so anaemic from her parasite load (she had to be on an iron replacer, electrolytes etc....). I'm so leary of buying babies from people now....

People may think that I overdo it when it comes to deworming, but my horses are shiny and healthy....so I'd rather overworm (is that a word lol), than have a horse colic or worse.....

He's really cute...I'm sure you'll have him and mom back on track in no time

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Unlikely to be tapeworms, they take three months to develop.

You are always safe to use Fenbendazole (Guard) on anything, and those sound like roundworms to me, which are pretty much endemic in foals, you just tend not to see them!

 

[Helicopter]

Aw poor baby. He is just so cute. I want one......I wanted to put a big love heart but can't find the emoticons.

 

[vickie gee]

Unlikely to be tapeworms, they take three months to develop.

You are always safe to use Fenbendazole (Guard) on anything, and those sound like roundworms to me, which are pretty much endemic in foals, you just tend not to see them!

Yes, Jane, doc basically said the same thing.

 

[vickie gee]

This is why it's important to keep your mare on a good deworming program throughout pregnancy (and that includes a month before foaling and within 12 hours of foaling....and, especially, like you say, if you are in an area with a big parasite problem). I really don't think people realize how dangerous it is for a foal, especially, to have a big parasite load. Of the two weanlings I have bought both were very unthrifty and full of worms....FULL. They were sick. It took months and months of a good deworming program, good quality hay, and a proper vaccination program to get them healthy; Willow could barely run, she was so anaemic from her parasite load (she had to be on an iron replacer, electrolytes etc....). I'm so leary of buying babies from people now....

People may think that I overdo it when it comes to deworming, but my horses are shiny and healthy....so I'd rather overworm (is that a word lol), than have a horse colic or worse.....

He's really cute...I'm sure you'll have him and mom back on track in no time

I agree Matt. I worm every month and rotate according to the charts for our region. I usually even round up the dosage for the horses. With him being so small I wanted to get the vet's opinion before I gave this little one any. Glad I did. On the other hand, the new little filly got her first dose of Safeguard the day she turned a month old. I will be watching him closely. Certainly hope he does not get anaemic.