Do natural de-wormers work? For me, the short answer is YES!
–Every Spring, it has been my ritual to deworm my horses.
Ivermectin.
I’ve done this for years… except the last few.
The last few years, I have started to switch over to natural (herbal) dewormers.
Why?
Well, the initial reason was because it sounded like a good idea for my horse. I mean, would I ingest that nasty chemical paste?
Nope.
So, why am I giving pesticides to my horse?
Ugh. You know the drill. How much of this stuff ends up on your sleeve or pants?
HOW NATURAL DEWORMERS WORK
In my layman’s explanation, an herbal dewormer makes the equine gut inhospitable for parasites – in a natural way.
The herbs don’t kill the parasites, they make the environment of the gut slippery… Parasites cannot grab hold – and they don’t really want to because nothing tastes or feels quite like it should. So, they actually slide out.
Poof!
And the best part? Parasites cannot build up an immunity to this method. I guess it is kinda like garlic with vampires or kryptonite with Superman. When the stuff is around, time to exit!
Parasites be gone! The natural way.
HORSEMANS LABORATORY MANURE TEST KIT.
Lately, I’ve been having the manure tested. It is really easy and cheap. I just go to the Horsemens’ Lab and order the kits.
Have you used the Horseman’s Lab Manure Test kit? (no affiliation)
The system is really efficient. You go to the website and order the number of kits you need. The kits arrive very quickly. The procedure is simple and self-explanatory. Once completed, you mail the test back in the self addressed stamped enclosed envelope and that’s it!
In a few days, Horsemens’ Lab emails the results!
Fast!
HUNTING AND GATHERING
The ‘procedure’ is really easy and not gross at all.
All you do is take the Baskin and Robbins little spoon they provide (I may never look at an ice cream sample spoon the same way again…) and hunt around for a fresh stack of processed hay.
Once found, grab the tiny cosmetic sample container (I may never look at a cosmetic sample the same way again…) and put your contents into the little white container and snap it shut.
Then put the little container in the little plastic bag that they provide and then top that off by stuffing the small piece of cotton (also provided) into the plastic bag to absorb moisture.
Seal the plastic zip lock.
Put it in the already addressed and ready to go already stamped envelope. Seal. Mail.
Easy.
Today, I did that with 4 of my horses who live in four different pastures.
I started the deworming protocol with the natural dewormer (Para-X). And then, in three weeks, I will sample the horses’ processed hay again.
My Horsemens’ Lab wormer kit. Easy peasy.
WHAT I USE TO DEWORM MY HORSES – Omega Alpha’s Para-X (no affiliation)
I use Omega Alpha’s Para-X (no affiliation).
Every time I use it, my horses’ manure tests come back clean.
All I do is pour it on their pellets for 5 days. Wait 5 days. Then do it again.
Done.
No chemicals. No bad taste. No fight.
Every few months, you do it again. No need to rotate. Just do it again.
Easypeasy.
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Thank you for highlighting this product – I have a draftie that is determined never to accept a tube of wormer or at least won’t without taking out a lot of his humans in the process – he’s 1800 lbs and I’m 118 so you can see it isn’t a level playing field at wormer time. I have been using pelleted wormer but that only deals with strongyles not a spectrum of parasites, so I will be buying the Para-X to try. Also regarding the comment about diatomaceous earth – please everyone be sure to purchase “food grade” DE and never, ever the stuff they claim is DE but used for swimming pool filters – it’s full of extremely toxic chemicals. The “food grade” is what you need. I have also used food grade DE for my dogs (instead of canine wormer which nearly killed one of my Jack Russells years ago) and also very lightly sprinkled on my carpets once a year during spring cleaning and then vacuumed up – if any fleas make it indoors the eggs never hatch out, there’s just enough DE dust left in the carpet to discourage any insect hatch. In 17 years never had a single flea in the house even during muggy Willamette Valley Oregon summers which usually are flea paradise.
Referring to the bot elimination, I’ve been using DE (diatomaceous earth) for years. And, based on the evidence, it does eliminate bots. I never see a bot fly on my property or horses. And it’s not because there are no bots in my neighborhood, because I see plenty on my neighbor’s horses. Once I bought a horse and brought her to my place, dismayed to find her covered with bot eggs and empty casings. I figured I had brought the contagion to my home! But I never saw a bot, next season or ever, after that. So based on that observation, I have to think the de got the bots, systemically.
Is the para-x like water? I have one horse who is suspicious and picky, and also gets very little feed. (she is a small horse).
I do not know… you could try. I wrote about neckworms and have a protocol there that I know works.
Here is that link: http://www.horseandman.com/?p=39896
Do you think this would help get rid of neck worms?
Yes, put on slightly soaked pellets
I have a horse who will not take anything in a syringe directly. You said you pour it on their pellets. Could I put it in their mash? It is soaked food.
Also, I was told that starting the ParaX on a full moon was beneficial. Believe or not believe it can’t hurt.
I buy directly from Omega Alpha in Canada… http://www.omegaalphaequine.com/products-para-x.php
Where do you purchase the Para X in the US? Searching the web and their website I have not found anyplace to order it shipped. Thanks
I’ve asked Omega Alpha this directly and they state that it does make the strongyles leave as well. For me, I’m using the manure test and the health of my horses to make my conclusions. So, we shall see… I’ll let you know.
Got the information on types of worms Para X works for at the website you linked to. Nowhere does it mention strongyles, which many feel are the most dangerous and in a class by themselves. Maybe they are considered to be in the generic “other parasites.”
I did call the Omega Alpha because your information contradicted what I have known. They said that Para-X DOES work with strongyles. So, I’m not sure
about your information source here. We are all now wondering who printed what and where. But, the truth is that Para-X does work on strongyles. All of my
worm pre-tests have come out with strongyle eggs whereas the after tests have shown none. So, for me, I know it does work on strongyles – but I wanted to ask the source
to be sure.
Thanks, Cynthia… the manure test doesn’t get bots (you were not referring to ParaX and I wanted to be clear). No manure test will find bot eggs. And yes, the manure test counts eggs. Adult worms are prolific egg producers. A horse with no eggs in his manure should still be tested again in 3 months. ParaX, or any dewormer, does not stay in the system indefinitely.
Here is what the Horsemens’ Lab says:
“Eggs in the stool of a horse do not tell one whether the worms producing those eggs are impairing the function of that horse. Just as no eggs in the stool of a horse does not tell one that the horse’s function has not been impaired by past infections with worms. However, the presence of worm eggs in the stool of a horse does tell one that adult worms are living in the intestines of that horse and that there is or likely will be impairment to the function of this horse and others that are exposed to the eggs in this stool if they become infected. No eggs in the stool of a horse only indicate that there are no adult laying eggs in the intestines of that horse at that time. No eggs in the stool do indicate that this horse will not be responsible for re-infecting it or other horses. However, this horse may have impaired function due to past infection or due to migrating larva. Only consistent periodical stool sample evaluations started when the horse is very young can give one an indication of possible impairment of function in a horse due to past worm infections. Therefore, the answer is yes if we were to base the evaluation on a single examination and define disease as an alteration of a living body that impairs its function. However, if one looks at the results of several examinations over the life of the horse it is the best indicator we have of parasitic disease in the live horse. “
Thank you for the link to the herbal dewormer, however it does not get bots. : (
A note about the results from a fecal sample. It only indicates that there are adult worms shedding eggs. A horse can still have a lot of worms and have a negative sample.
Thanks, I found the lab through google, and emailed them my question above.
Also checked out the dewormer – doesn’t work for strongyles, sorry to learn.
Fixed. Thanks!
The links for the lab don’t work. :(
I take a fecal sample to my vet every six months. It has to be less than 24 hours old. How does this work when you’re sending it by mail?
I have been using Para X for 2 yrs. now and love it! Thank you for sharing this! I