Leading equine vets have pledged their support for Pfizer’s new educational worming policy which highlights the vital importance of rotation between the three chemical groups of wormers for routine worm control.

Pfizer Animal Health, manufacturer of the equine wormer Strongid-P, has become increasingly concerned about the apparent confusion amongst horse owners with regard to worm control. Emphasis on brand marketing means that owners are rotating between brands and not between chemical groups and resistance is becoming a serious issue.

An independent survey of horse owners, conducted at the Royal Windsor Horse Show last year, confirmed the current confusion about how to worm horses effectively. The results clearly demonstrate the continuing need to educate owners clearly and simply to ensure that they worm their horses in the most effective way possible.

The survey involved asking horse owners three simple multiple-choice questions about worming. Although 91% of those asked clearly understood the meaning of ‘resistance’ to wormers, a phenomenal 43% of respondents believe that brands of wormers need to be rotated annually rather than the actual chemical groups. A frightening 14% also believed that an ‘all in one’ wormer actually treats the horse for flu and tetanus as well as worms.

With the support of equine vets, including Dr Derek Knottenbelt BVM&S, DVM, MRCVS, Head of the Philip Leverhulme Large Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Pfizer is taking serious steps to provide unbiased, clear, concise and user-friendly information to enable horse owners to worm their horses simply and effectively. The company is even actively encouraging horse owners to use non-Pfizer brands where this fits with the rotational plan.

Telephone Pfizer Animal Health on 01737 331333 (Option 1) for general worming advice and a free copy of the Worming and Rotation Guide, featuring Mary King and a poster for your tack room.

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