Selective anthelmintic treatment – a monitoring and treatment concept for horses >3 years

Anthelmintic resistance in horses – which now occurs globally – is primarily a result of too frequent intervals of anthelmintic treatments without any preceding parasitological diagnosis. Consequently, a change of this well-established parasite control system is urgently needed. An alternative is the selective anthelmintic treatment procedure which has repeatedly been described in the equine and parasitology literature. This article presents a simple, easily feasible and field-tested selective anthelmintic treatment concept, which offers a future-oriented, efficacious and evidence-based method of parasite control. This procedure also helps delay the further development of anthelmintic resistance. The concept is essentially based on two faecal samplings per year (three in the initial year), which provide the veterinary surgeon with a clear indication for any further specific treatment decision.