Posted 2008-05-12 9:51 AM (#83750) Subject: Small Horse, Big Worms?
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
Okay, my boyfriend and I had an argument last night about horse worms. (yah, we're not normal).
I argue that miniature horses don't grow miniature worms, so a mini horse left un-wormed would suffer more problems from excess parasite load than a large horse.
The boyfriend argues that the worms are like fish and won't outgrow their environment. He also argues that the "food source" for the worms is smaller and less than that of a large horse, so the worms wouldn't be as big and bad. He thinks worm load is relative to horse gut size.
Who is right? Do small horses grow smaller worms, or would the worm grow to its adult size and possibly block up a mini horse intestine vs. being just an inconvenience to a draft horse intestine?
Amanda (Owner to both a mini and a draft who are both wormed regularly)
Posted 2008-05-16 1:40 AM (#84052 - in reply to #83750) Subject: RE: Small Horse, Big Worms?
Expert
Posts: 2958 Location: North Carolina
Breeders selected horses for small size. I'm sure they didn't also select small worms to breed too. Miniature horses have the same species and size of worms that all horses are subject to.
Small Horse, Big Worms?
