An effective and safe program for controlling parasites in horses should be planned well and guided by the veterinarian.

A 5-day dose of Fenbendazole is recommended to purge the horse of a higher load of most parasites without overwhelming them with the stronger ivermectin, or when regular ivermectin hasn't done the job.

Giving AbFen™ (Fenbendazole) purge involves deworming treatment in a multi-day regimen to specifically target different life stages of small strongyles or red worms, common and very destructible internal parasites in horses. Fenbendazole is a worming agent that belongs to the class of wormers called benzimidazoles and is the active ingredient of Abler’s product, AbFen™ ,Fenbendazole for Horses

Why should the control of small strongyles be included in your horse worming program?

Most parts of the US, in the months of October through May or June of the following year, your horse can be infected with small strongyles. When the third larval stage of these parasite are ingested from contaminated soil or water, infections may start to take place when treatment is not given. Third stage strongyle larvae cannot survive long enough during warm and dry months but they can tolerate cold weather very well. Large strongyles may be less significant of a threat compared to small strongyles, yet these two parasites undergo the same life cycle and are susceptible to the same class of equine dewormers.

Which among the products of Abler can successfully target strongyles?

Ivermectin (AbIver™) can be used to target strongyles in horses, including the migrating large strongyles; however, this product is not effective against the third stage strongyle larvae.

Fenbendazole fo horses, when given at double dose for five days, can be effective against all stages of the strongyles, including the third larval stage of small strongyles.

Purge deworming with AbFen™ means giving a double dose of the wormer every day for 5 days straight. AbFen™ is a conveniently packed sachet that contains fenbendazole granules (2250mg) enough to dose a 300kg (660lb) horse.

Will it not be toxic to give a horse a double-dose worming agent?

Older equine dewormers (i.e. trichlorphon) were actually toxic when given on a double dose. However, newer dewormers like fenbendazole can be given 50 times (and even more) the normal dose without causing toxicity.

If you don’t know if your horse has been dewormed before, you may give a single dose of ivermectin a couple of weeks prior to purge worming with AbFen™. Too many parasites being killed off in one go with the multi-day regimen and can cause inflammatory reactions. Therefore, it is important to reduce parasite population before purge worming. For best worming tactics, consult your veterinarian.

Purge worming with AbFen™ can be done any time but the best time would be around March or November, in favor of the climatic conditions of the United States. Resistance to fenbendazole has been reported in some areas so it’s better to consult your veterinarian regarding the horse worming program that satisfies the climatic conditions in your area.