One of the most obvious signs of pinworms in horses is tail rubbing. These parasites can make your horse very itchy! In severe cases, your horse can rub sores into the top of their tail and hindquarters. This can result in a skin infection and discomfort. It's essential you eliminate and prevent these nasty parasites!

Detecting Pinworms

Pinworms rarely show up on a fecal egg count. The eggs are laid externally around the horse's anus, rather than along the intestinal tract. You can use an adhesive tape test to check for the eggs though. Your veterinarian can examine the tape under a microscope.

You should also observe your horse. Classic signs can include rubbing their hair excessively, yellow sticky residue under their tail, and white beansprouts in their manure.

Treating the Problem

If it's determined that your horse does have a pinworm infection, then you'll need to take appropriate action immediately. This includes both treating your horse and cleaning your stable. Your vet can assist with determining the best dewormer to use. It's usually a dose of ivermectin or pyrantel pamoate.

In addition, you'll need to clean your horse's anus area once or twice daily. Apply petroleum jelly to the area, which will prevent eggs from sticking. A deep cleaning of the stable is also important because your horse has likely rubbed all over it. Buckets, feeders, and walls should be sanitized.

Pinworms can be persistent, so additional treatment may be necessary in two to three weeks. It's important you stay on top of it! The best way to prevent an outbreak is to maintain an effective deworming protocol.

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