Eqvalan Oral Paste for Horses (Ivermectin 1.87% w/w)
Company name: Merial Animal Health Ltd
Address: PO Box 327
Sandringham House
Harlow Business Park
Harlow
Essex CM19 5TG
Telephone: Companion Animals 0870 6000123
Production Animals 0800 592699
Fax: 01279 775888
Email: ukenquiry@merial.com
Website: www.merial.com
A white ready-to-use paste formulation for oral administration containing 1.87% w/w ivermectin.
For the treatment and control of adult and immature roundworms, lungworms and bots of horses and donkeys.
EQVALAN Oral Paste for Horses at the recommended dose rate of 200 micrograms ivermectin per kg bodyweight provides effective treatment and control of the following parasites of horses and donkeys:
Large strongyles
Strongylus vulgaris (adults and arterial larval stages), S. edentatus (adults and tissue larval stages), S. equinus (adults), Triodontophorus spp. (adults), T. brevicauda, T. serratus, Craterostomum acuticaudatum (adults).
Small strongyles
Adult and immature (fourth stage larvae) small strongyles or cyathostomes, including benzimidazole-resistant strains: Coronocyclus spp., including C. coronatus, C. labiatus, C. labratus; Cyathostomum spp., including C. catinatum, C. pateratum; Cylicocyclus spp., including C. ashworthi, C. elongatus, C. insigne, C. lepostomum, C. nassatus, C. radiatus; Cylicostephanus spp., including C. asymetricus, C. bidentatus, C. calicatus, C. goldi, C. longibursatus, C. minutus; Cylicodontophorus spp., including C. bicornatus; Gyalocephalus capitatus; Parapoteriostomum spp. including P. euproctus, P. mettami; Petrovinema spp. including P. poculatum; Poteriostomum spp. including P. imparidentatum.
Lungworms (adults and immatures)
Dictyocaulus arnfieldi
Pinworms (adults and immatures)
Oxyuris equi
Ascarids (adults and immature)
Parascaris equorum
Hairworms (adults)
Trichostrongylus axei
Large-mouth stomach worms (adults)
Habronema muscae
Neck threadworms (microfilariae)
Onchocerca spp.
Intestinal threadworms (adults)
Strongyloides westeri
Stomach bots
Oral and gastric stages of Gastrophilus spp.
EQVALAN Oral Paste for Horses is given orally at the recommended dose rate of 0.2 mg ivermectin per kg of bodyweight. Each syringe delivers 120 mg ivermectin, sufficient to treat 600 kg of bodyweight.
Parasite control program
All horses and donkeys should be included in a regular parasite control program, with particular attention being paid to mares, foals and yearlings. Foals should be treated initially at 6 to 8 weeks of age, and routine treatment repeated as appropriate.
EQVALAN Oral Paste for Horses is highly effective against gastro-intestinal, cutaneous and pulmonary nematodes and bots of horses. Regular treatment will reduce the chances of verminous arteritis and colic caused by Strongylus vulgaris. With its broad spectrum, the product is well suited to be the major medication in parasite control programs and is well suited to be the major component in a rotational program.
Dosing instructions
Each weight marking on the syringe plunger will deliver sufficient paste to treat 100kg bodyweight. Unlock the knurled ring by making ¼ turn and slide the knurled ring up the plunger shaft so that the side nearest the barrel is at the prescribed weight marking. Turn the knurled ring ¼ turn to lock in place. Remove the plastic cap from the tip of the nozzle. Make sure the horse's mouth contains no feed. Insert the syringe into the horse's mouth at the interdental space. Advance the plunger as far as it will go, depositing the medication on the base of the tongue.
To ensure administration of a correct dose, bodyweight should be determined as accurately as possible; accuracy of the dosing device should be checked.
Contra-indications, warnings, etc
Some horses carrying heavy infection of Onchocerca microfilariae have experienced oedema and pruritus following dosing, assumed to be the result of death of large numbers of microfilariae. These signs resolve within a few days but symptomatic treatment may be advisable.
EQVALAN Oral Paste for Horses has been formulated specifically for use in horses and donkeys only. Dogs or cats may be adversely affected by the concentration of ivermectin in this product if they are allowed to ingest spilled paste or have access to used syringes.
Care should be taken to avoid the following practices because they increase the risk of development of resistance and could ultimately result in ineffective therapy:
- Too frequent and repeated use of anthelmintics from the same class, over an extended period of time.
- Underdosing, which may be due to underestimation of bodyweight, misadministration of the product, or lack of calibration of the dosing device.
Suspected clinical cases of resistance to anthelmintics should be further investigated using appropriate tests (e.g. Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test). Where the results of the test(s) strongly suggest resistance to a particular anthelmintic, an anthelmintic belonging to another pharmacological class and having a different mode of action should be used.
Resistance to macrocyclic lactones (which includes ivermectin) has been reported in Parascaris equorum in horses in a number of countries within the EU. Therefore, the use of this product should be based on local (regional, farm) epidemiological information about susceptibility of gastro-intestinal nematodes and recommendations on how to limit further selection for resistance to anthelmintics.
Do not smoke, eat or drink while handling the product. Wash hands after use.
This product may cause skin and eye irritation. Therefore, the user should avoid contact of the product with the skin and the eyes. In the case of contact rinse immediately with plenty of water.
In the case of accidental ingestion or eye irritation after contact seek medical advise immediately and show the package insert or the label to the physician.
For animal treatment only.
Withdrawal periods
Donkeys - meat: 21 days.
Horses - meat: 21 days.
Container disposal
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO FISH AND AQUATIC LIFE. Do not contaminate ponds, waterways or ditches with the product or used container. Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from such veterinary medicinal products should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
Do not store above 25°C.
Protect from light.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Horses and donkeys of all ages, including young foals, pregnant mares and breeding stallions, have been treated with no adverse effects on their health and fertility.
EQVALAN Oral Paste for Horses has been used in conjunction with other equine health care products and no interactions have been identified.
Mild transitory signs (slowed papillary light response and depression) have been seen at a dose of 1.8 mg/kg (9 times the recommended dose). Other signs seen at higher doses include mydriasis, ataxia, tremors, stupor, coma and death. The less severe signs have been transitory. No antidote has been identified; however, symptomatic therapy may be beneficial.