Safe sampling
Smooth stable visit
Deworming of horses
Time for the spring fecal test or do you want to check the parasite situation in the stable? We will help you with advice on parasite control and deworming of horses. We will come directly to the stable to examine the horse, take or plan a sample and, if necessary, write a prescription for deworming agents according to current recommendations.
Smooth stable visit
Safe sampling
Deworming of horses
Related terms
Horse stool sample spring, horse deworming prescription, bloodworm horse symptoms, Noromectin horse price, roundworm horse treatment.
What is deworming?
Deworming means that we treat the animal against intestinal parasites using specific, prescription medications. Today, it is the law to only deworm in cases of proven infection to avoid the parasites developing life-threatening resistance to the medication. Therefore, a prescription is always based on a current sample.
Deworming of horses
Stool testing is the foundation of modern parasite control in horses. By examining the presence of parasites such as bloodworms and roundworms, it is possible to determine whether deworming is necessary. This reduces unnecessary use of deworming agents, counteracts resistance and helps to keep the infection pressure in the pastures down.
Care guide: How to choose the right form of care for deworming and parasite control
For deworming horses, a clinic visit is not required; a home visit to the stable works perfectly.
Home visit
For horses, a stable visit is the most convenient way to check for parasites. We can assess the entire herd, inspect the pastures and help with sampling on site, then print out e-prescriptions.
Veterinary clinic
Our clinics connected to Arken Zoo (including in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Uppsala) are excellent for dog and cat owners who need administrative help with travel deworming and EU passports, or to quickly submit collected stool samples for small animals.
Animal clinic
Our clinic in Östermalm is a safe choice if your dog or cat has serious, ongoing stomach problems that cannot be solved with deworming alone and where blood tests, ultrasound or X-rays are required for a more in-depth diagnosis. (For horses that require abdominal surgery due to parasite-related colic, we refer directly to specialized equine hospitals).
What can Vetathome do when you need to deworm your horse?
Parasite control is about more than just deworming. A stable visit gives us the opportunity to assess the horses' environment, pastures and grazing routines, and discuss the composition of the herd. This gives us a better basis for providing individually tailored advice on sampling, parasite control and the possible need for deworming.
Identify
During the stable visit, we make a comprehensive assessment of the horse's health and go over any questions about parasites and deworming. By analyzing stool samples, we can get a good picture of the horse's parasite status and determine if measures are needed, while helping you reduce the spread of infection in the pastures.
Treat
If the stool sample shows that deworming is needed, we can write an e-prescription and advise on appropriate treatment. Should the horse need further investigation or advanced care, we can help with referral to an equine clinic or equine hospital.
Prevent
Effective parasite control is about more than just deworming. We help you review pastures, grazing routines and other preventive measures to reduce the spread of infection and create good conditions for healthy horses. By taking the right measures at the right time, the need for deworming can often be reduced while limiting the risk of resistance development.
This is how the deworming visit goes, step by step
1. Booking and preparation
You book a visit to the stable. Before the visit, we will help you with clear instructions on how to best collect stool samples if you need guidance with this.
2. Quiet meeting in the stable
We greet the horses in their safe home environment and carefully evaluate their general health and current condition.
3. Analysis and response
The samples are usually sent to an external laboratory for thorough analysis. We will contact you personally as soon as we have received a response. You can also send the sample yourself for analysis to approved laboratories.
4. Treatment plan and prescription
If treatment is required, we will print an e-prescription for the correct deworming agent and provide clear instructions for how to administer the paste.
5. Advice for pastures
We provide practical tips on how to best manage summer grazing and reduce future infection pressure in the pastures.
Do you have more questions?
Contact our customer service and we will help you further.
When is a visit to the stable not enough?
We handle routine cases, sampling, prescriptions and minor ailments directly on the stable floor. However, untreated, massive parasite infestations can sometimes cause non-acute damage to the intestines and blood vessels that we cannot treat in the field.
When a clinic or equine hospital is better
- The horse throws itself wildly, rolls violently and uncontrollably in the stall (signs of severe colic).
- The horse sweats profusely and has an extremely high resting heart rate.
- The mucous membranes in the mouth begin to turn dark red, purple, or grayish.
- The horse has no bowel sounds at all and refuses to eat or drink.
Symptoms and early signs of parasites in horses
Many horses with intestinal parasites do not show any obvious symptoms at all. Therefore, regular fecal tests are an important part of parasite control. In cases of higher parasite burden or in susceptible individuals, symptoms such as emaciation, reduced performance, recurrent loose stools or colic may occur. Foals and young horses are generally more susceptible to parasite infestation than adult horses.
Some parasites can cause more specific symptoms. For example, roundworms can cause itching around the base of the tail, while other parasites can affect gastrointestinal function. Since the symptoms are often non-specific, it is not possible to determine the parasite status just by looking at the horse.
If you experience that your horse has lost weight, has recurring stomach and intestinal problems, or if you suspect parasites, we recommend that you contact a veterinarian for advice and possible testing.
When should I contact a veterinarian for deworming of a horse – and when is it an emergency?
If you have any questions about stool testing, deworming or parasite control, it is wise to contact a veterinarian for advice. This also applies if your horse is losing weight, has recurrent loose stools, reduced performance, recurrent colic or other symptoms that raise suspicion that something is wrong.
Since many horses with intestinal parasites do not show any obvious symptoms, regular fecal testing is an important part of modern and sustainable parasite control. Your veterinarian can help interpret the test results and assess whether treatment is needed.
When is it an emergency?
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your horse shows signs of colic, such as repeated looking at its belly, scratching its hooves, rolling over, severe anxiety, or decreased general condition. Emergency veterinary care is also needed if the horse becomes severely affected, stops eating or drinking, or shows other signs of serious illness.
Parasite control is about keeping the parasite burden at a low level through sampling, targeted treatment and good pasture hygiene, so that the horse can stay healthy and feel good over time.
Diagnosis – how do you know what's wrong?
Assessing the horse's parasite status involves weighing up test results, the horse's health, and the conditions in the stable.
- Clinical examination of the scalp and hairline: We assess the horse's general condition, body condition and any symptoms that may be relevant for the further investigation.
- Medical history and owner's observations: We review the horse's history, previous stool samples, deworming and any observations from the stable and pastures.
- Laboratory analysis of stool samples: Through laboratory analysis, we can detect the presence of certain parasite eggs and assess whether further measures or treatment may be appropriate.
- Diagnostic imaging and referral if necessary: If the horse has symptoms that cannot be explained by parasites or if further examinations are needed, we will assist with further investigation or referral to an equine clinic.
Treatment and the myth of natural horse deworming
The choice of medication is entirely determined by the parasite the test shows, for example, ivermectin is often used against bloodworms. Unfortunately, some horse owners are looking for a ”natural” deworming and wonder if turmeric or apple cider vinegar will work. However, there is no scientific evidence that herbs kill intestinal parasites. In the event of proven infection, clinically proven, prescription medications must always be used to prevent serious harm to the horse.
The time afterwards – healing and follow-up
Once the horse has received its deworming paste, which must be dosed precisely by weight (use a weight tape measure!), mowing the pastures is the most important step. Regularly removing feces from the pasture breaks the parasite life cycle and drastically reduces the need for future drug treatments. (For dogs being treated for stubborn parasites like giardia, daily washing of bedding is a similarly important home measure.).
Prognosis and expectations when deworming horses
The prognosis is very good in most cases when parasite control is based on regular fecal testing, targeted treatment when necessary, and good pasture hygiene. Many horses with elevated parasite levels show no symptoms at all, while others may improve as the parasite burden decreases.
By following current recommendations for sampling, deworming and paddock hygiene, the risk of parasite-related problems can be reduced while limiting the development of resistance to deworming agents. The goal is long-term sustainable parasite control that contributes to healthy horses and a low infection pressure in the herd.
- Targeted treatment when needed reduces the parasite burden and contributes to sustainable parasite control.
- Regular mowing of pastures helps reduce the spread of infection and keep parasite pressure down.
- Stool tests and early follow-up make it possible to detect changes and take the right measures at the right time.
The prognosis for horse
When parasite control is based on regular fecal tests, targeted treatment when necessary and good pasture hygiene, the prognosis is very good in most cases.
The prognosis for horse
By keeping the parasite burden at a low level, the risk of parasite-related health problems can be reduced and the horse is given good conditions to feel good and perform based on its own conditions.
Self-check for horse owners – so you can investigate for yourself
Before your stable visit or spring fecal sampling, there are several important things you can observe yourself while waiting for the vet:
- Keep an eye on the hole: Feel the horse's ribs and back (topline). Is the horse suddenly losing weight despite normal or increased feed intake?
- Check the tail: Is the horse's tail base disheveled, extremely worn and abraded? This is a classic sign of whipworm.
- Look at the droppings: Is the feces nicely shaped like round balls, or is the horse's stomach abnormally loose (common with high parasite burden)?
Prevention – can you reduce the risk of parasites in horses?
To reduce the use of drugs and prevent parasites from developing resistance, the stable environment is crucial:
- Mocha pastures: Regular removal of feces is one of the most effective measures to reduce the spread of infection between horses.
- Rotate the baits: Adapted grazing planning, rotational grazing with other animal species and avoiding overcrowding can help reduce parasite pressure in pastures.
- Fecal test annually: Regular sampling helps identify which horses need treatment and is the foundation of modern parasite control.
Cost, insurance and compensation
Veterinary insurance for horses generally never covers routine fecal tests or preventive medications. However, they may cover investigations and veterinary care if the horse has been proven to be seriously ill from the parasites, for example in the case of severe colic.
Annual stool test & Prescription
The most common visit is in the spring where we evaluate the horse's condition, handle sampling and plan the grazing.
Not covered by insurance
No, horse insurance generally never covers routine fecal tests or preventive medications.
To think about
When the lab results come back and show that the horse needs treatment, we will write out an e-prescription for exactly the right medication. This prescription is of course included in your visit fee.
Medical investigation in case of symptoms
If the horse shows clear symptoms of illness as a result of a suspected parasite infestation, such as emaciation or mild colic.
Price from:
2 150/kr
Veterinary consultation in stables
2,150 SEK
Stool sample analysis
Price according to quote
Veterinary consultation evening/weekend
2,350 SEK
30+ years
experience
200k+
Visit
How much does deworming for a horse cost?
The price consists of several parts: The cost of the actual stool sample analysis via the laboratory, the veterinarian's consultation for assessment in the stable (2,150 SEK), and the price of the medicine at the pharmacy (often a couple of hundred Swedish kronor per syringe).
Can you buy deworming for horses without a prescription in Sweden?
No. In Sweden you cannot buy deworming medication for horses without a prescription. We do this to prevent widespread and life-threatening parasite resistance by only prescribing medication when it is actually needed via a stool test.
What are the side effects of deworming horses?
Side effects are generally very rare. However, some individuals may react with mild colic symptoms, mild diarrhea, or a small, harmless swelling of the lips shortly after ingesting the paste.
Does the horse have to rest after deworming?
No, generally speaking, no special rest is required. If the horse is alert, symptom-free and feeling well, it can usually be handled as normal the day after the deworming treatment.
Can you ride a horse immediately after deworming?
Yes, you can usually ride your horse as usual after deworming if it is feeling well. However, if the horse has had an extremely high parasite burden, the vet may recommend a slightly calmer day.
How long is the waiting period for deworming a horse before a competition?
The withdrawal period varies depending on which preparation has been prescribed (often between 0 and 96 hours). Always check the current lists of Svensk Travsport or the Swedish Equestrian Federation carefully before competing.
When should you deworm your horse in the spring?
First and foremost, you should take a fecal sample. The spring fecal sample should be taken in April or May, before the horses are released onto the permanent summer pasture, so that we can treat in time if necessary.
Do horses need to be dewormed in the fall?
Deworming in the fall is recommended if the horse has had a lot of infection during the spring/summer, or if we specifically suspect tapeworm or stingfly larvae before the permanent installation.
What works best against bloodworms in horses?
For bloodworms, we often prescribe preparations containing ivermectin (e.g. Noromectin) or pyrantel. A veterinarian must always decide which preparation is most appropriate based on the current resistance situation in Sweden.
Is deworming for roundworms in horses different?
Yes, roundworms mainly affect foals and young horses. Unfortunately, we are currently seeing increased resistance to ivermectin in roundworms, which means that the veterinarian must choose preparations with great caution for this group.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Here you can read some of the most common questions and answers that we often receive from our customers.
Personal animal care in safe environments – Home visits, clinic & reception
We cooperate with all insurance companies
VetAtHome offers both clinic visits, home visits and visits to our veterinary practices – what is best depends on your animal's needs and what feels most convenient for you. We work with all insurance companies, making it easy to get help regardless of your insurance coverage.
