STRATEGY-T^® unique broad-spectrum wormer for horses

Yes STRATEGY-T can be used in mares at all stages of pregnancy. Pregnant mares should be treated as normal during their pregnancy taking care not to stress them during treatment. Mares should be wormed two weeks prior to their expected foaling date. Once a mare has foaled, the mare and foal should both be wormed with first foal worming at twelve weeks of age and subsequently every eight weeks so that large burdens are not allowed to develop. STRATEGY-T can be safely used in breeding stallions at any time without adversely affecting their fertility.

Autumn and spring will always be key times to worm all horses. Worm all adult horses once in Spring with STRATEGY-T^® and once in Autumn with EQUIMAX^® or EQUIMAX^® ELEVATION. It makes sense to target mectin wormers in the cooler months when bots and small stronglyes are more active inside the horse. Using non-mectin chemicals is typically suited to the warmer months although if summer sores are a problem a mectin product will be needed.

Worming strategically involves worming your horse based on the parasite lifecycle, risk of disease and likely resistance status of worms. In Australia, seasonal conditions are ideal for parasite growth during most of the year, particularly the warm, wet months of spring and autumn, however, the lifecycle of different parasites mean that they may be more active at different times of the year. When considering a worming program, you must also ensure that you include faecal egg count testing.

Once a mare has foaled the mare and foal should both be wormed with the first foal worming recommended at twelve weeks of age. Young horses need to be treated differently to older horses because they are at risk of mectin resistant ascarids. Ascarids appear to be the worm developing resistance to mectins. Generally ascarids are not found in horses over two years of age as horses seem to develop a natural immunity to these worms as they mature. To protect young horses from potential mectin resistance, it is recommended that a combination product registered to treat mectin resistant ascarids, such as EQUIMAX^® ELEVATION or STRATEGY-T^®, be used. Young horses should be wormed with STRATEGY-T in spring and summer and EQUIMAX ELEVATION in autumn and winter until they are two years old. Faecal egg count (FEC) testing is recommended once they become a yearling to understand their parasite burden and then worm based on results.

Virbac is leading the way in strategic worming programs for horses based on the parasite lifecycle, risk of disease and likely resistance status of worms. Our Gold Standard program combines trusted solutions from Virbac and our unique ‘3D’ best management practices to deliver premium and sustainable worm control. Gold standard ensures best long-term protection for the available drugs and most importantly your horse.

A combination wormer is one that has multiple actives having similar spectra of activity against the same worms. Using a combination wormer increases the efficacy of the product i.e. effectiveness against worms. Also helps to reduce paddock contamination as there are fewer worms on the property and helps with slowing down development of resistance.