to support your prescribing decisions
What an amazing resource the equine community has been gifted with this document to support us in tackling anthelmintic resistance. These guidelines provide a deep dive into the principles underpinning responsible prescribing decisions and, as such, offer an extensive source of knowledge on sustainable parasite control. They are available at the click of a button, free of charge, to download and read at your leisure. For anyone involved in advising and prescribing for equine parasite control, this is an absolute game changer. At first glance the sheer scale of the guidelines could seem somewhat daunting! But, fear not, the guidelines have been broken down into bite-size chunks to enable readers to focus on subjects that they are more interested in or where they are in most need of knowledge improvement.
The overall CANTER Guidelines Summary under the Introduction tab is an excellent place to start for an overview of what’s covered. This sets out the salient points of what makes up good parasite control for horses.
If you have a more specific query, then browse the chapter headings. The comprehensive guidelines cover everything from detailed descriptions of the various worm pathogens to evidence-based control approaches, how to select treatments and how to take steps to minimise the impact of worming chemicals on the environment. For each topic there is a Chapter Overview as well as an in-depth discussion laid out under the accordion buttons on the page. Simply click on the titles to open the .pdf.
The guidelines are intended to be a live document and are displayed this way to be easily accessible, reviewed and updated as new evidence emerges.
Getting Started with the CANTER Guidelines
It’s widely acknowledged that regular blanket worming over the past several decades has accelerated the development of anthelmintic resistance. It is rapidly becoming more widespread and of increasing clinical significance across the UK. This means the uptake of sustainable parasite control strategies is essential to preserve the efficacy of our existing products and safeguard the health and welfare of our equines, both now and into the future. The CANTER Guidelines is your manual to support this.
As prescribers, our aim is to encourage horse owners to plan parasite control strategically rather than approach it on an ad hoc basis. The following steps are recommended:
- Use a risk-based approach to estimate parasite transmission potential in individual or groups of horses. The CANTER Parasite Risk Profiling tool found in Chapter 1.3. A risk assessment-based approach to equine parasite control in adult horses will help you consider the key factors influencing infection risk.
- Monitoring tools are an essential component in determining the need for anthelmintic use. Advise a regular schedule of worm egg counts and antibody testing, to inform the need to treat individuals shedding higher levels of eggs, harbouring higher parasite burdens and to monitor for resistance. Refer to Chapter 1.2. Using monitoring tools effectively to determine the need for anthelmintic treatment and Chapter 4. Testing for resistance.
- Apply pasture and horse management strategies to reduce parasite infection in the environment and break worm lifecycles without over-relying on chemicals. Chapter 6. Reducing dependence on anthelmintics gives practical tips to understand and achieve this.
- Where treatment is required, Chapter 2. Selecting and using anthelmintics appropriately is core to rational prescribing. It sets out the current resistance profiles, fundamental to ensuring anthelmintic effectiveness and reducing the likelihood of resistance development.
Research shows that too many horses are still receiving wormers indiscriminately and that this is escalating the spread of resistance. Although it is no easy task, it’s imperative that we increase our efforts to influence this. Chapter 8. Behaviour change acknowledges the barriers to this, and along with Chapter 7. Environmental considerations, provides extra ammunition for the need for a more evidence based approach.
We hope you will bookmark, refer to and reference this fantastic resource in your prescribing. Happy reading!