Aargh, why can't wormer just TASTE NICE?!?!?

S

soloequestrian

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First time I wormed foal she scoffed it down no problem. Today I gaily added a double dose of pyrantel to treat for tapes, and she decided I was trying to poison her. Mint, honey, carrots julienne - nothing made any difference. I will now have to condition her with a syringe of something pleasant before whacking her with the nasty stuff. Why does it have to be this difficult? Surely wormer could be given a pleasant flavour? Panacur used to do one for cats that tasted of meat and it was magic - they practically snatched it out of my hand. They then stopped making it. My cats pretty much go without wormer now, so it hasn't really helped the Panacur income......
So cross.
 
my ex loan mare used to love wormer, she'd lick the end of the tube after you wormed her, she's the only horse i have ever met to like that stuff though :)
 
My niece thinks that they should make wormers in the shape and taste of giant polos. I think she should go on Dragons' Den! She's got the right idea, why can't the manufacturers simply produce something sensible and tasty?
 
I never have a problem worming horses even friends horses who have had problems before they are always amazed when i say "its done". I just stand under heal hold front of head with hand around it and place syringe into side of mouth and squirt, jobs done, lift up head for a few seconds, maybe because i dont mess about i just go in and do it before they even see i have something in my hand
 
You can get spot on wormer for cats from the vet...so agree about all nasty tasting stuff we have to give animals..bute tastes disgusting!!!
 
STRIKER said:
I never have a problem worming horses even friends horses who have had problems before they are always amazed when i say "its done". I just stand under heal hold front of head with hand around it and place syringe into side of mouth and squirt, jobs done, lift up head for a few seconds, maybe because i dont mess about i just go in and do it before they even see i have something in my hand
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Can I book you to come and worm my gelding when he's next due please?
 
My cat goes mental if I put spot on on her - have only tried it once!
Striker, what about when you have to give them two tubes?
I use a worming bit for my older boys, but don't really want that to be the introduction to bitting for my baby!
 
It's an international problem. And I can vouch for the fact that they taste vile after the annual syringing "discussion" with one of mine last week.
 
I have a pony that I can't catch so when I had to worm him recently I mixed it in a bowl with apple sauce and a small amount of feed and he appeared to not notice it! do the same with sedalin too!
 
You can book me anytime you like, i was in the yard the oneday another liveries horse tied up, owner was talking about how was she going to get this down him, i took it from her walked up to the horse said hello and placed it in his mouth she was gobsmacked, it was done before he new it, Lol.

It was the same with one liveriys mare needed an injection again she was worrying she asked me if i could do it, i took the needle stood by the mare patting her bum a few times, popped the needle in slowly dispensed the plunger pulled it out, mare didnt move, livery was so happy, job well done
 
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Faracat said:
Re worming tablets - has anyone used Equimax tablets and did your horse find them palatable?
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I've used them and found that the horses eat them best if they are interspersed with extra strong mints! So feed a mint first, then a tablet, then a mint, then a tablet, etc. There must be a slight taste of the worming chemicals in the tablets still, but the strong mint taste seems to mask it.
 
S - that sounds great, he's just been done, so I'll book you for 3 months time. :D

ETA - TGM I might try that. It's the sight of the syringe that sets him off.
 
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If from a racing yard then he should be rather immune to having things shoved down his throat, racehorses seem very desensitised to having things done to them, but they also dont forget so if there is a period of time elapse from being handled in this way they can then remember oh ho somethings going on here. They can smell vets a mile away though lol
 
STRIKER said:
If from a racing yard then he should be rather immune to having things shoved down his throat, racehorses seem very desensitised to having things done to them, but they also dont forget so if there is a period of time elapse from being handled in this way they can then remember oh ho somethings going on here. They can smell vets a mile away though lol
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the boyfried used to work in racing... not quite sure what was happening on his yards, might avoid enquiring about their deep throating escapades and the resultant desensitisation... :D Xx
 
The worst used to be strongid P paste, that lumous yellow paste that was so stiff to get out the tube that then ended up everywhere!

Personally the gels I find I really quick to syringe, And im sure that panacur did used to be an apple flavour one.
 
TGM said:
I've used them and found that the horses eat them best if they are interspersed with extra strong mints! So feed a mint first, then a tablet, then a mint, then a tablet, etc. There must be a slight taste of the worming chemicals in the tablets still, but the strong mint taste seems to mask it.
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ditto. i alternate a couple with an extra strong mint - gone! i used half a pot of jam and a sandwich once, filly just refused to eat any jam which she loved until then.

zoetis, the maker of pramox and equest, have just launched a larger dose syringe (suits me with short fingers - not!) sent me a response to a very recent enquiery from me, saying they have no intention of making either tablets or flavoured wormers.
 
soloequestrian said:
My cat goes mental if I put spot on on her - have only tried it once!
Striker, what about when you have to give them two tubes?
I use a worming bit for my older boys, but don't really want that to be the introduction to bitting for my baby!
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I have to give two tubes, and use the same process as Striker :) And one horse is 17hh, so if he wants to put his head up, I have no chance...

I've just worked it on the basis that although it tastes nasty, it is not scary. The process only becomes scary if I start chasing the horses round with the syringe. Horses will tolerate a lot provided it's not scary and it's followed consistently with a reward - same process works for injections.
 
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