Tri-State Swine Nutrition Guide

Bulletin 869-98

Anthelmintics (Dewormers)

Pigs are susceptible to both internal and external parasites, and appropriate measures to control these parasites are available and should be used. Internal parasites compete directly for the nutrients in the digestive tract, thereby decreasing pig growth rate which also increases the feed conversion ratio. Internal parasites may migrate through the body and damage the internal tissues, reducing their functionality and making pigs susceptible to other diseases.

Methods to control both internal and external parasites are available. Good management practices and appropriate use of anthelmintic products need to be followed to have an effective parasite control program. Anthel-mintics can either be in an injectable or feed-additive form. The most common time to administer dewormers for reproducing animals is prior to breeding and before farrowing. Young pigs should be dewormed one to two weeks postweaning and again three to six weeks later to remove the adult parasites that were eggs at the first deworming. The specific use and timing of anthelmintics should be administered according to label directions and under the guidance of a veterinarian. Approved products are presented in Table 17. A routine slaughter check of market animals will verify the effectiveness of the program being followed.