1269 Main St, Glastonbury, CT 06033

Connecticut Vet

860.659.0848

Beckett & Associates Veterinary Services, LLC

Glastonbury Connecticut Veterinarians

Beckett & Associates is a mixed practice for companion animals & farm animals

Glastonbury CT Vet

Large Animal Vaccines & Deworming

Connecticut Farm Animal Vet

 

Equine Vaccination Guidelines

Equine Deworming Guidelines

Goat/Sheep Deworming & Vaccination Guidelines

Llama/Alpaca Deworming & Vaccination Guidelines

 

Connecticut Equine Vaccination Guidelines

* Please note that these are guidelines only and that specific vaccination programs may be designed based on your individual farm animals risk assessment by our farm animal veterinarians.

Annual vaccinations recommended for all horses (usually given in the spring):

  • Rabies
  • Eastern equine encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, Tetanus & West Nile encephalitis (all given as one combo vaccine = EWT+WN) *A booster may need to be given every 6 months if there is a high prevalence in our area. Initial series in adult is 2 boosters.
  • Potomac horse fever (PHF) Initial series in adults is 2 boosters.

Horses that leave the property or are exposed to other horses that leave the property.

  • Influenza/Rhino virus (initial series of 2 boosters, then given bi-annually in spring & fall)
  • Strep.equi (strangles) intranasal (initial series of 2 boosters, then annual vaccination)

Foals (mare is currently vaccinated)

  • Rabies (1st vaccination given at 6 months of age, then 2nd dose 4-6 weeks after 1st)
  • EWT/WN (1st vaccination at about 4-6 months of age, 2nd dose 4-6 weeks after 1st, then 3rd dose at 10-12 months of age)
  • PHF (1st vaccination at about 5 months of age, booster in 3-4 weeks)
  • Flu/Rhino (1st dose at 6 months of age, 2nd dose 3-4 weeks after 1st, then 3rd dose at 10-12 months of age)
  • Strangles (1st dose at 6-9 months of age, 2nd dose 3-4 weeks after 1st, then 3rd dose at 11-12 months of age)

*Foals (Unvaccinated mare)

  • Rabies (1st dose at 3-4 months, then annual)
  • EWT/WN (1st dose at 1-4 months of age, 2nd dose 4 weeks after 1st, then 3rd dose 4 weeks after 2nd)
  • PHF & Flu/Rhino & Strangles (see above schedule for foals from vaccinated mares)

Pregnant Mares

  • All annual vaccinations should be given prior to breeding
  • Rhinopneumonitis booster (given at 5, 7 & 9 months of pregnancy)
  • Booster all annual vaccines: EWT/WN, Rabies, Flu (k), PHF, Strep (k) (4-6 weeks pre-partum)

 

CT Equine Deworming Guidelines

In all cases, good pasture/dry lot management is necessary to reduce parasite burdens.

  • Pick up and dispose of manure droppings on a regular basis (at least twice weekly)
  • Mow and harrow pastures regularly to break up manure piles and expose parasite eggs and larvae to the elements
  • Rotate pastures by allowing other livestock, such as sheep or cattle, to graze them, thereby interrupting the life cycles of equine parasites
  • Group horses by age to reduce exposure to certain parasites and maximize the deworming program geared to that group
  • Keep the number of horses per acre to a minimum to prevent overgrazing and reduce the fecal contamination per acre
  • Use a feeder for hay and grain rather than feeding on the ground
  • Remove bot eggs quickly and regularly from the horse's hair coat to prevent ingestion
  1. Program #1 Daily dewormer: Strongid C (Strongid C2x) Daily & Avermectin product with praziquantal (Equimax or Ivermectin Gold or Quest Plus) every 6 months usually in the late spring and late fall.
  2. Program # 2 Fecal egg count based program: Check individual fecal samples from each horse to identify most significant egg shedders and deworm those individuals with significant egg counts based on fecal results. Fecals should be preformed again 2 weeks after giving a product to determine if that product was effective. Fecals can then be taken every 2-3 months. If egg counts are within acceptable limits, no deworming is needed until these counts begin to rise again. Deworming at least twice a year with Ivermectin and once a year with Ivermectin plus praziquantal will be necessary.
  3. Program # 3 Rotational deworming: Alternate products every 2 months with the inclusion of an Avermectin product in the spring and again in the fall. Include praziquantal in the fall. The remainder of the time: fenbendazole, pyrantel and ivermectin products may be rotated. Testing fecal samples 2 weeks after administration of a dewormer at least 1-2 times a year will help to make sure your deworming is effective.

Avermectins = ivermectin paste, eqvalan, quest gel, Rotectin 1.87%
Avermectin + Praziquantal = Ivermectin Gold, Equimax, Quest Plus gel
Fenbendazole = Panacur paste, safe-guard
Pyrantel = Strongid, Rotectin P

 

CT Goat/Sheep Deworming & Vaccination Guidelines

* Please note: these are guidelines only and our CT goat veterinarians may have specific recommendations for your farm or a particular animal.

Deworming:
Control programs are based on proper management of pastures, maximizing nutrition, and limited, proper use of dewormers. Sound pasture management consists of minimizing stocking rates and the use of “safe” pastures. Safe pastures are those used for forage crops, those grazed by horses or cattle, or those not grazed by sheep or goats for 3 months in the warm season and 6 months in the cool season. Intensive pasture rotation systems that maximize forage utilization and provide browse to goats also help. It should be noted that deworming all animals at the time of movement to safe pasture is not recommended. Keeping animals in a drylot for 48-72 hours after deworming allows the eggs (which aren't killed by dewormers) that have already been laid to pass in feces and remain on the drylot instead of contaminating pasture.

We recommend a fecal test-based deworming program:

  1. Test feces prior to deworming (in large commercial herds, animals with consistently high fecal egg counts should be culled from the herd)
  2. Deworm based on fecal egg counts/species of parasites found
  3. Re-test feces 3-5 weeks after administration of deworming product
  4. In some cases, administration of a dewormer may not be needed
  5. Fecal testing should be performed prior to pasture rotation (every 3 months) may combine a herd sample if all animals are doing well.

Pregnant animals: fecal tests should be done 1 month prior to lambing/kidding and lambs/kids should be kept with ewes/does on separate pasture from the rest of the herd.

Lambs/Kids: Fecal samples should be taken on any new additions to the herd prior to introduction. Any animals with signs of diarrhea should be isolated, fecal tested & dewormed immediately. A coccidiostat in the feed may be necessary with kids/lambs as they are very susceptible to coccidiosis. Coccidiostats should be given prophylactically for 28 days in a row after lambs are put into a new environment. Oocysts can be killed by heat, direct sunlight, and drying. Cleaning at high temperatures and allowing area to dry is recommended.

 

*Please note that dosages are not the same for sheep, goats and horses. Give our office a call if you have any questions: 860-659-0848.

Vaccinations for all adult sheep & goats:

  1. Clostridium C & D plus tetanus (CD&T) 2cc subcutaneous injection given initially at 3 months of age and again 3-4 weeks later, then annually.
  2. Rabies (sheep) One vaccination given at 3 months of age, then repeated in 1 year, then every 3 years after that.
  3. Rabies (goats) One vaccination given at 3 months of age, then repeated annually. PLEASE NOTE: this vaccine is NOT approved/licensed in goats. We still recommend that all goats be vaccinated, but they will not be considered legally protected. It is our feeling that some protection to you and your animals is better then nothing.

 

Connecticut Llama & Alpaca Deworming & Vaccination Guidelines

*Please note: these are guidelines only and our CT llama veterinarians may have specific recommendations for your farm or a particular animal.

Deworming:
Llamas and alpacas raised where white-tailed deer are found have the possibility of becoming infected with the parasite Parelophostrongylus tenuis or meningeal worm.

  1. Meningeal worm prevention: If meningeal worms have been a problem, then use Doramectin (Dectomax) injectable subcutaneously once a month. Dose at 1cc per 110lbs body weight. Deworming at least annually for the remainder of the intestinal parasites is recommended based on fecal examination. Ivermectin resistance is common in the other species of intestinal parasites due to the frequency of administration of this drug. Other drug classes must be used to control the remainder of the intestinal parasites. (example: Panacur = fenbendazole)
  2. If meningeal worms are not a problem (NO exposure to deer/cervid species): Strongid C 2x (equine product) daily dose at 500 lbs/head & Avermectin injectable (ivermectin or dectomax) twice yearly
    OR
    Alternate oral dewormers April, May, June & November 1st - Eqvalan paste (Ivermectin), Panacur paste (Fenbedazole)

A routine fecal exam is the only way to judge the efficacy of your deworming program. Qualitative screening tests look at what species of parasites an animal/herd may have. These tests are sent to our consulting laboratory. Quantitative fecal tests look at what species and how heavy of a parasite load the animal/herd has. These tests are sent to a specialty large animal laboratory. The best time to run fecal exams is 3-5 weeks after deworming, as any breakthrough or re-infestation problems should be detected. 10% of your herd (10 animals as a minimum) should be tested to screen for deworming issues. Fresh samples (collected fresh that day) may be dropped off to be sent to one of the labs. Please call in advance if you will be bringing more than 10 samples. Collect fresh samples directly from the rectum using lube and a glove (sample size about as big as a walnut) or if you witnessed a bowel movement, you may collect from that fresh pile. Samples should be refrigerated until testing (24-hours maximum).

Please call if you have any questions regarding dosages or other concerns

Vaccinations for all llamas & alpacas:

  1. Clostridium C & D plus Tetanus (CD&T) 2cc given subcutaniously at 3-4 months of age, then again 3-4 weeks later, then annually
  2. Rabies given at 3 months of age or later, then booster (off label, but gives better titers), then re-vaccinate annually

PLEASE NOTE: There is currently no licensed vaccination for rabies protection in camelids. The above vaccinations are considered when used, but they are commonly recommended to protect you and your animals.