CANTER (Controlling ANTiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibly) has launched its first set of guidelines for worm control in UK horses.
This crucial document sets out key principles to support vets, pharmacists and SQPs in their prescribing decisions and in recommending sustainable strategies for parasite control to their equine clients.
Written by vets, parasitologists and other experts in the field, these guidelines were formally introduced by CANTER chair, Alison Pyatt, at today’s Equine Infectious Disease meeting.
Commenting on the launch of the Guidelines, CANTER chair and Veterinary Medicines Directorate international programme manager, Dr Alison Pyatt said: “Publishing the first edition of these industry-agreed guidelines is a seminal moment in the life of CANTER and our work to address the very real threat posed by anthelmintic resistance. To achieve industry-wide consensus on such a complex and important area of equine health is hugely rewarding.
“We draw collaborative expertise from international authorities on equine health and parasitology to promote a consistency in approach across prescriber groups that has never been done before. Our intention is for them to be a free, easily accessible, live resource that underpins our first aim, to support prescribers with practical, evidence-based principles to slow wormer resistance.
“Moving to non-chemical management strategies and utilising monitoring tools to inform the need to treat is the only way we will maintain the efficacy of our limited treatments and safeguard horse health into the future. The CANTER Guidelines offer a comprehensive resource to inform the decision-making process and underpin the advice given at the point of prescribing to promote this behaviour change. We encourage prescribers to read them, refer to them and reference them in their practice.”
The significance of these guidelines and the need for change cannot be underplayed.
World Horse Welfare’s chief executive, Roly Owers MRCVS added: “Antiparasitic resistance is a critical and growing threat to equine health and welfare so the publication of the CANTER Guidelines as key principles for equine parasite control is a huge step forward in tackling this crisis.
“We have no doubt that the much-anticipated publication of the guidelines will be essential in promoting clarity and consistency in the approach to sustainable equine parasite control.”
The CANTER Guidelines are available now on the CANTER website at www.canterforhorses.org.uk.
The message is clear; repeated blanket treatments select for drug resistant worms are no longer recommended. Instead, prescribers are encouraged to:
The guidelines are initially developed for prescribers of equine wormers in the UK (veterinary surgeons, SQPs, veterinary pharmacists). The group’s next priority is to develop a range of resources for horse owners.
