Deworming

Parasites are a problem in countries with tropical climates like the Philippines. Animals catch parasites from soil and grasses.

Regular deworming with chemical or herbal preparations can reduce the amount of parasites in your animals.

Deworming means removing worms from the digestive system, particularly from the stomach, intestine and liver. Deworming makes the animal more resistant to diseases. It helps the animal grow faster, perform better and produce better milk, meat and eggs.

Symptoms of worm infestation

- Animal lacks vigor.
- It has a poor appetite.
- Its body weight decreases.
- It shows diarrhea with mucus, blood or worms.
- It eats soil or other organic matters.
- It has rough hair coat.
- It has anemia.

Parasites hurt animals by:

- Absorbing digested nutrients.
- Sucking blood.
- Causing mechanical obstruction.
- Destroying tissue.
- Secreting toxins.

Preventing worm infestation in animals

- Proper nutrition.
- Avoid overstocking.
- Practice pasture rotation.
- Avoid keeping several types of livestock together (e.g., goats and cattle).
- Observe cleanliness.

Considerations in deworming animals

Do not deworm animals that are:

- Weak and sick. They need medication; delay deworming.
- Pregnant.
- Lactating.
- Laying.

Common internal parasites

Roundworms/ascaris:

Affect ruminants (cattle, water buffaloes, goats), pigs and poultry.

Tapeworms:

Affect ruminants, pigs and chicken.

Leaf-shaped worms(liver flukes):

Affect ruminants.

Roundworms, tapeworms and leaf-shaped worms

Guidelines for a deworming program

- Identify the kind of worm present.
- Deworm the animals regularly.
- Deworm young animals 23 times a year, adult animals at least once a year.
- Improve grazing management.

Characteristics of a good dewormer

- It will not easily cause poisoning
- It can kill various worms.
- It is easy to administer.
- It is economical.
- It stays in the tissues for a short period of time.

Common dewormers used

Animal	Western drug*	Herbal
Cattle,	Valbazen, TSD,	Stems of makabuhay
water buffalo,	Latigo 50, 500	(Tinosphora rumpii)
goat	Pidro	Papaya seeds
Pigs	Latigo 50, 500	Leucaena seeds
		Pidro
Chickens	Pidro	Areca nut or bunga

* The drugs listed in this column are brand names. The generic names for each drug are as follows:

Valbazen and TSD - Albendazole
Latigo 50, 500 - Tetramizole
Pidro - Piperazine

Beer/Soy sauce. A bottle of beer or soy sauce is given to cattle and water buffalo for deworming. An egg can be mixed with the beer or soy sauce.

Beer/Soy sauce

Deworming program for livestock and poultry

Age	1st dose	2nd dose	Remarks
Cattle, water buffaloes, goats
Young	1 or 2 months	3-4 months until 1 year	Against all worms
Adult Breeders			Once a year 2 weeks before breeding
Pigs
Piglets			Few days after weaning(before vaccination)
Breeders			Twice a year before breeding and before giving birth
Chicken
Young	2 months	Repeat after 2 weeks
Breeders			Before onset of breeding and laying period