Your Horse Deworming Guide: Year-Round Parasite Protection
Sep 3
3 min read
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At Manning’s Feed & Seed, we know that a healthy horse is a happy horse — and one of the most important parts of horse care is keeping parasites under control. Internal parasites like strongyles, roundworms, and tapeworms can cause weight loss, colic, dull coats, and even serious illness. A consistent, targeted deworming plan can help keep your horse healthy all year long.
That’s why we’ve created this easy month-by-month wormer guide — and we’ve added a few extra tips so you know exactly why and how to use each product.
January – February: Pyrantel
Active Ingredient: Pyrantel Pamoate
Products: Pyrantel, Strongid
Targets: Large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, and roundworms.
Why Now? Winter is a key time to tackle strongyles before spring grazing begins.
Pro Tip: Weigh your horse (or use a weight tape) to ensure accurate dosing. Underdosing can contribute to drug resistance.
March – April: Benzimidazole / Fenbendazole
Active Ingredient: Fenbendazole
Products: Panacur, Safe Guard, Anthelcide
Targets: Small strongyles (encysted larvae), roundworms, pinworms.
Why Now? Early spring is the perfect time to disrupt the parasite life cycle before warmer weather boosts egg hatching in pastures.
Pro Tip: Consider a 5-day Power-Dose treatment for heavy infestations, but always consult your vet before extended dosing.
May – June: Ivermectin / Praziquantel
Active Ingredients: Ivermectin & Praziquantel
Products: Iverchoice, Agrimectin, Quest Plus, Zimectrin Gold, Equimax
Targets: Bots, strongyles, roundworms, pinworms, and tapeworms.
Why Now? Late spring is prime time for bot fly activity, and adding Praziquantel takes care of tapeworms before they cause digestive issues.
Pro Tip: Store wormer paste in a cool, dry place — extreme heat can affect potency.
July – August: Pyrantel
Active Ingredient: Pyrantel Pamoate
Products: Pyrantel, Strongid
Targets: Large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, roundworms.
Why Now? Mid-summer worming helps keep egg shedding under control during peak grazing months.
Pro Tip: Rotate pastures when possible and pick up manure regularly to lower parasite loads naturally.
September – October: Benzimidazole / Fenbendazole
Active Ingredient: Fenbendazole
Products: Panacur, Safe Guard, Anthelcide
Targets: Strongyles, roundworms, pinworms.
Why Now? Fall deworming prepares your horse for cooler months and reduces the number of parasite larvae on winter pastures.
Pro Tip: Pair deworming with a fecal egg count test to check parasite levels and fine-tune your schedule.
November – December: Ivermectin / Praziquantel
Active Ingredients: Ivermectin & PraziquantelProducts: Iverchoice, Agrimectin, Quest Plus, Zimectrin Gold, Equimax
Targets: Bots, tapeworms, strongyles, roundworms.
Why Now? Late fall treatments are crucial for bot fly larvae after the first frost, and Praziquantel ensures tapeworms are controlled before winter.
Pro Tip: Deworm all horses on your property at the same time to prevent reinfection.
Signs Your Horse Might Have Parasites:
Weight loss despite good feed
Dull, rough coat
Poor performance or lethargy
Colic symptoms
Tail rubbing or itchy hindquarters
If you see these signs, contact your vet and bring in a fresh manure sample for testing.
Manning’s Can Help
We stock all the products listed in this guide and can help you choose the right one for your horse’s needs. Stop by our Milton or Pace location to check out our seasonal specials on featured wormers. Our team is happy to walk you through the schedule and help with any horse health questions.
👉 Click here to get our free download guide and keep this worming schedule handy all year long.
