3equines
Posted : 12/3/2010 2:00:34 AM
When is she due to foal?
There are generally no worries with today's wormers. There are still rumors about toxicity related side effects from wormers containing praziquantel (Zimectrin Gold, Equimax) but there is little evidence to support them, if you are concerned there is no great harm in avoiding these particular wormers.
Parasite control will be most important when the mare is coming to full term and while she is nursing. Many parasites have a microscopic larval stage where they migrate through the bloodstream and living tissue, and can affect the foal. Keep your mare on a 6 to 8 week worming rotation.
If she is due in the spring I would use Ivermectin a few weeks before the foaling date. Reason for this is because of the onchocerca parasite, which migrates through tissues and is spread by midges. The adult worm embeds in suspensory ligaments and can not be killed. Onchocerca is also linked to "sweet itch" and blindness. For more reading, check out this thread:
http://forum.horse.com/tm.aspx?m=18252