Toltrazuril For Horses
There are lots of drugs and medicines out there that have been formulated to treat different issues in both humans and in animals. It is important to be aware of these medications and what they can do, so that you are prepared in case your horse falls ill. Of course, your vet will have this knowledge and will be able to prescribe proper treatment. One example of a drug for your horse is the one known as toltrazuril. Read on to learn more about the drug toltrazuril, including what it can do for your horse and how, as well as how much, of it to administer to your horse when the time comes.
What Is Toltrazuril?
First things first, what is toltrazuril, exactly? Toltrazuril is a drug that is classified as an antiprotozoal drug. It is part of a group of drugs known as these antiprotozoal drugs. It is a triazinetrione derivative, which is then utilized as an anticoccidial agent. Toltrazuril is a medicine that is administered orally when it is being used to treat issues within your horse. It is not FDA-approved, though, which means in areas in the United States, for example, toltrazuril may still be difficult to acquire.
What Does Toltrazuril Do For Your Horse?
Now that you know what toltrazuril is, it is important to understand what the medicine can do for your horse. It can be used to treat several different issues in your horse, but it is mainly used to target parasites that may be living in your horse and use your horse’s body as a host. Some of the issues that toltrazuril can treat include toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and equine protozoal meningoencephalitis, which is also known as EPM. Toltrazuril targets the parasites known as protozoan intestinal parasites.
It works to target these parasites by damaging the intracellular stages of development in the parasites, but without damaging the cells of the actual horse’s body! This is also how toltrazuril functions when treating coccidiosis, another issue in horses that it can commonly be prescribed in order to target. Toltrazuril may be used as a prophylaxis to prevent coccidia in your horse, too.
How Much Toltrazuril Should You Give Your Horse?
If you have been prescribed toltrazuril, then you should follow your vet’s instructions on administering the drug to your horse. Typically, with most medicines, the dosage will depend upon the patient’s mass or weight. As we have mentioned previously, toltrazuril is an oral medication, which can be administered in paste or suspension form. There are also different concentrations of the medicine that you can get, so all of this should be outlined by your vet when you receive your prescription.
When you are administering toltrazuril to your horse, it is so important for you to follow your prescription in order to avoid side effects in your horse. There are some common side effects to watch out for, such as loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Mild colic can also appear as a result of this medication. Of course, if you see any of these symptoms, cease treatment and contact your vet!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does toltrazuril do for horses?
Toltrazuril can be used for horses to treat several different issues, some of these being isosporiasis, toxoplasmosis, and equine protozoal meningoencephalitis. It has also been found to treat coccidiosis in horses. For example, when toltrazuril is used to treat coccidiosis, it functions by damaging the intracellular development stages of coccidia but avoiding damaging the cells of the horse or host animal at the same time! It can also be used as a prophylaxis which then functions to prevent coccidia in horses.
Is toltrazuril approved for horses?
Toltrazuril may be recommended by your veterinarian to help treat some issues like EPM or coccidiosis in your horse. However, you may wonder if this drug is approved, technically or legally speaking. While you may be able to get your hands on toltrazuril, it is also true that toltrazuril is not FDA approved at this time. This does mean that there are some concerns about the use of toltrazuril and you should be cautious and ensure that you administer it carefully to your horse and by your vet’s recommendation. You should also talk to your vet about toltrazuril or treatment plans before you try to self medicate your horse, as your vet is the ultimate expert in the end! You should not administer toltrazuril without their recommendation.
What are the side effects of toltrazuril for horses?
As with any drug or medicine, there can be some side effects of toltrazuril, too, when you are giving it to your horse or another animal. Your horse may experience some of these, or none of these! If, of course, you find that your horse is experiencing any side effects, you should cease administering toltrazuril immediately. The most common side effects that can be seen in horses on toltrazuril is vomiting, nausea, or loss of appetite— all digestive issues. Some of the other potential symptoms that you may encounter as well are anorexia— linked to the previously mentioned loss of appetite— mild colic, or weight loss— which can also be linked to the anorexia and loss of appetite that we sometimes see in horses on toltrazuril.
What parasites does toltrazuril treat?
Toltrazuril is a medication that can be used to treat many different animals, including our horses. While it can target a few different issues, toltrazuril is typically used to target and kill certain parasites. The parasites that it treats are protozoan intestinal parasites. It can be used in animals like dogs, cats, and our horses to kill coccidia. It functions to target and kill the parasites while leaving the actual cells of the horse’s body intact and unharmed. Toltrazuril is typically administered orally and is continued to be taken by your horse until the parasites have been destroyed. It is typically recommended that a stool sample be analyzed after treatment has concluded to ensure that all protozoan intestinal parasites have been eliminated.