The liquid Ivomec is only 1% solution whereas the Ivermectin paste for horses is a 1.87% concentration; almost double the Ivomec strength for mostly bovine applications. I’d use a whole tube of Ivermectin paste smeared on the affected area and then DMSO. Wear rubber gloves. ~FH
This may have been covered earlier, but what about NTW in horses that are on a fecal egg count/deworming program. Our barn vet office recommends doing a FEC every 2-3 months, deworming with moxidectin or ivermectin (with praziquantel 2x/year); if a horse is a high shedder follow up with pyrantel pamoate two weeks later.
Now I am curious that being on this deworming program, is it enough to get NTWs? The last two years, my horse has had pretty bad midline bug scrunge and in the last week developed scratches and hives (NOT normal for him). Zyrtec helped with the hives, he was on it for six days and after three days off it the hives returned. So the Zyrtec alleviated the symptoms, but apparently not the cause. It has been very wet this summer in VA, and a couple of warm winters seem to not be making a dent in the nuisance insect population.
Would it be worth the investment to try the DD Equimax? Or just carry on with the Zyrtec until summer (and its attendant irritants) is over?
Onchocerca don’t shed fecal eggs so you’re not going to see them.
For most horses, yes, if you’re using ivermectin or moxidectin twice a year, that is enough to take care of these things to a large enough degree.
[QUOTE=WNT;7126602]
This may have been covered earlier, but what about NTW in horses that are on a fecal egg count/deworming program. Our barn vet office recommends doing a FEC every 2-3 months, deworming with moxidectin or ivermectin (with praziquantel 2x/year); if a horse is a high shedder follow up with pyrantel pamoate two weeks later.
Now I am curious that being on this deworming program, is it enough to get NTWs? The last two years, my horse has had pretty bad midline bug scrunge and in the last week developed scratches and hives (NOT normal for him). Zyrtec helped with the hives, he was on it for six days and after three days off it the hives returned. So the Zyrtec alleviated the symptoms, but apparently not the cause. It has been very wet this summer in VA, and a couple of warm winters seem to not be making a dent in the nuisance insect population.
Would it be worth the investment to try the DD Equimax? Or just carry on with the Zyrtec until summer (and its attendant irritants) is over?[/QUOTE]
Well…having just done the DD Equimax, hoping that might solve things for my little allergic one (and it didn’t)…you might just want to hold tight and use the Zyrtec. Not all “itchies” are due to NTW. 
[QUOTE=JB;7126988]Onchocerca don’t shed fecal eggs so you’re not going to see them.
For most horses, yes, if you’re using ivermectin or moxidectin twice a year, that is enough to take care of these things to a large enough degree.[/QUOTE]
As usual, what JB said.
Well…3 years later I’m back on this thread with another thank you. My filly who had the original NTW problem started with the exact same symptoms this summer, and after a small delay and lapse in judgement, I remembered that she had the exact same issue 3 years ago.
So…I DD with Equimax almost 2 weeks ago. Her hair has already started growing back in the “bald spots,” the itchy has slowed down considerable, and her coat has blossomed with dapples, which is just awesome! I’ll DD her again this weekend to make sure I get them all, but I just wanted to say thank you again for this thread.
I do have a question about my other filly who was showing no signs of NTW (or so I thought). I gave her a full single dose of Equimax when I DD the other filly, and I didn’t expect to see any reaction from her. BUT her right hind stocked up for a couple days, and the other leg, which had bad scratches we thought had healed, showed some weird tiny circular spots with dried blood the next couple days and then completely dried up. Her coat also blossomed will dapples, all slick and shiny. So my gut says that they are/were an issue with her too. I know the ivermectin can cause swelling if threadworms are present so I’m wondering if I should DD her tomorrow as well.
Would you suggest a DD with ivermectin only first and then DD with equimax 2 weeks later? The swelling has me nervous to DD equimax, but she has never had a reaction like that to equimax before. I can discuss this with the vet this afternoon, but I thought I’d run it by the NTW gurus first. 
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Onchocerca
Did this to a pony with case. We went “off Lable” and injected Ivermectin, twice. All gone, worked like a charm.
treating neck thread worms
I know this is really old, but it has been shown up by a friend, It is double dose of Ivermectin animec was a good make, as it has the right % and they are 700kg tubes, and good value. you dose 2 weeks apart, and can have quite a reaction from the horse, so be ready for even more itchyness, keep rugs off and preferable have an itchy free zone. if not sure treat a 3rd time 2 weeks later. Uveitus is a common condition of ntw, as the micro thinggys migrate through eyes, and its their toxins that cause the uveitus, if not treated fast and aggressively will cause blindness. Uveitus always has a cause so just treating that is no good, must find cause, which is what my problem was.
Animec by Chanelle 18.7mg/g ivermectin (700kg)
uveitus, Mydiatics - Atropine - HCI 1 % q6 48h 3% good
Phenylephrine HCI 10% q6 12h
Steroids -1% 2 - 4 x per day spray prednisolone acetate q1 6h best
dexamethasone qu 6h
NSAIDS Flurbiprofen q1 6h
Diclofenac q1 6h
With regards to above this is info i found out. never actually tried any of it and these would be one of each category, although if tablets, injections or ointments i never found out - it was too late for my chap, but hopeullly will help others. Uveitus has been likened to River blindness in humans, and also known as mooneye.
Eye Issue
I am so very interested in trying this with my 4 horses.
I do have a mare that has an eye issue (not officially diagnosed with uveitis) and am interested in trying the DD Equimax on her, but do you have to be more careful with this sort of issue??
I had a 23 yr old AQHA gelding that I lost to colic about 2 years ago but he had horrible reactions with sweet itch, or so I thought. He was also a cribber. Sure wish I had known about this then, so I could have tried it on him.
I now have another horse that is showing similar symptoms (not as severe) and somehow came across this thread.
So, will be ordering the Equimax for him, asap.
Just concerned about the mare with the eye problem.
Don’t want to make things worse for her, but would love to see this help clear it up!!
Advice welcome!
READ THIS FROM JUNE 2013!! http://thehorsesback.com/neck-threadworms/
Finally, someone is paying attention!!!
Follow up article from this month: http://thehorsesback.com/fight-against-neck-threadworms/
Big thanks to our friends from Down Under. Once again, the Aussies are ahead of the NTW curve!!!
And even tho COTH is not named directly, I think we made the article: “I’ve also read forum posts by US horse owners stating that a double dosage at fortnightly intervals is the most effective treatment. It’s usually around three doses, or until symptoms subside.”
[QUOTE=ChocoMare;3331666]
Shazam…I think I found out why Equimax was recommended. Granted this is from Australia, but since we know that NTWs are rampant here, it applies:
http://www.brunswickvet.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?Story_No=1291&specie=6
Adult females worms up to 30cm long live in the major ligaments of the neck and, in rare cases, the flexor tendons and suspensory ligaments of the fetlock. Tiny juvenile forms (microfilariae) are produced by the female worms, and these migrate out of the ligaments towards the skin surface to form small, itchy lumps under the skin.
The horse rubs and abrades the lumps, which may seep serum. Biting insects, particularly sand flies, and possibly mosquitoes, are attracted by the abraded lump and digest microfilariae as they feed. These insects are capable of spreading the infestation to other horses within 20 – 25 days after ingesting microfilariae.
The lifecycle is complete in approximately 4 – 5 months. The adult worms have no recognised detrimental effect on the neck ligaments, however occasionally they may cause swelling of the flexor tendons and lameness in the front limbs.
The larvae can also invade the eye and cause blindness, particularly if the horse rubs and lacerates the eye.
Signs of Onchocerciasis
- Small lumps, from pea to marble size, develop in the skin on the underside of the belly, chest, withers, neck and face
- Itching and rubbing causes thinning and loss of hair, and scaly skin, particularly along the mane
- Surrounding weepy and scabby areas develop in severe cases
- Often white tufts of hair regrow on healing
- Biopsy of the lumps by your vet to identify microfilariae can confirm the diagnosis of onchocerciasis
Treatment & control of Onchocerciasis
- Control of biting insects is essential to prevent the condition
- Stable and rug the horse day and night
- Install insect screens in stables during summer months
- Control of the microfilariae that cause skin itching can be achieved by worming with Equimax, Equiminth, Equimec, or Equest - After treatment, horses often become intensely itchy within 24 – 72 hours, causing severe skin abrasions and mutilations, and damaging feeders, walls and fences on which they rub
- The itch may be controlled by prednisilone granules added to the feed for 3 – 5 days (consult your vet for advice).[/QUOTE]
Can someone tell how many mg/kg prednisilone should be given
to itch? Going to try Equimax double dose and if a lot of itching come i want to be prepared. I have prednisilone left from elsewhere.
Okay…so I’ve read the entire thread and all the links (I think), and I still have a question about regular worming after the double dose schedule and symptoms disappear.
Chocomare et al., how does this change your “normal” deworming routine? Do you DD (or single dose) with Equimax or Ivermectin at regular intervals or only during certain times of the year? I really want to keep on top of these suckers without over worming.
I like to DD mine, then follow up with Quest after the first good freeze. I would love to just start fecal testing - with regular Double DOsing - but it’s hard to get a chance to do so, since you have to time your tests long enough after deworming, to be accurate.
[QUOTE=Freebird!;7239800]
I like to DD mine, then follow up with Quest after the first good freeze. I would love to just start fecal testing - with regular Double DOsing - but it’s hard to get a chance to do so, since you have to time your tests long enough after deworming, to be accurate.[/QUOTE]
Thanks! But then what do you do the rest of the year? Do you only DD as needed (or symptoms return) or do you DD on a regular schedule? I saw recommendations for once a month spring-fall or once ever 6-8 weeks.
If you are not having to DD for this issue, then you should be deworming based on FECs and time of year issues. Bots should be treated one more time after a good freeze, but if your last DD was pretty close, then there’s no real need.
If you’re using Equimax, then you’re WELL taking care of tapeworms, so you don’t need to deal with those again until the Spring (or next Fall, depending on where you live)
It’s not hard to do FECs in these situations if you have a spell during the Winter where you have had long enough after the last whatever. Come mid-March to mid-April or so, or 16 weeks after your Fall Quest (or 12 weeks after the Fall ivermectin), whichever comes later, get a sample and do a FEC. That’s at least one you can get done.
If your last DD is, say, Sept 1, then in 12 weeks, roughly Dec 1, do a FEC. That’s not too late to use plain ivermectin to get bots, and you’ll still get your Fall FEC done. Then you save the Quest Plus for the Spring deworming.
Thank you, JB! That helps a ton!
Since I did the first DD Equimax after our first hard freeze this month and plan to follow up with at least 1 more DD of Equimax (or Ivermectin), I should be good until spring if my follow up FEC is negative, right?
One more thing: So if I understand correctly, adult NTW can’t be killed, which means I’m going to have to deal with these suckers for years. Right? So when is the best time to DD Equimax each year to deal with them? After the Quest Plus in the spring? Mid-summer? Or do I only need to DD if my horses show signs of them again?
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for the help!
Yep - do a FEC 12 weeks after this next ivermectin and see what’s what. If you have clean FECs from the past then you could even wait. If you DD on 11/1 (for example), then 12 weeks is about Feb 1, and there’s no harm waiting for March 1 to do a FEC.
If you think you’re going to have to start the DD protocol again, then do the Quest Plus closer to March 1, rather than Apr 1. You really want to wait at close to at least 12 weeks after QP as you can, before using anything else. But an Apr1 time puts you at July 1 for “anything else”, and by that time you might be desperate for the DD again. I don’t think anyone can say when you have to DD because it’s going to depend on the horse, the year, what sort of real issue the horse has with adult NTWs (who are the ones producing the irritating juvies), etc.
I would absolutely not DD as prevention unless and until you KNOW, based on at least a few years prior history, that he reliably starts to have trouble by X time of year, or by X environmental conditions (ie heat and humidity).
Perfect! I think July 1 might be cutting it close for this horse so I’m going to aim for March 1st with the Quest Plus and go from there.
Thanks so much!
Bump for Dune
[QUOTE=csaper58;7258655]
Bump for Dune[/QUOTE]
Thanks but I’ve already been through this with my little guy. It’s not worms, this didn’t help him in the slightest. 
