by Heidi Smith, DVM
In horses, the early larval stages of the parasite Strongyloides westerii localize in the udder of the mare, where they stay inactive and inaccessible to dewormers until stimulated by the hormonal changes of early labor. The maturation of the parasite is triggered by the sharp drop in progesterone and the increase in oxytocin that occurs as the mare prepares to deliver her foal, and immature parasites are then shed to the foal in his first milk, or colostrum.
Many cases of foal diarrhea are either caused or made worse by the infestation of Strongyloides westerii that the foal ingests when he nurses. This transfer of parasites from the udder to the foal can be prevented by deworming the mare immediately after delivery (before the foal suckles) with an appropriate dose of any of the ivermectin dewormers, such as Equvalan or Zimectrin.
Foaling tip: Have the mare's dose of ivermectin dewormer in your foaling kit, and deworm the mare at the same time that you apply iodine to the new foal's navel.
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