The effort aims to raise awareness for AAEP-recommended deworming practices and the risk posed by improper deworming
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (April 23, 2025)—Zoetis Inc., the world’s leading animal health company, has launched an awareness campaign encouraging horse owners to rethink their deworming practices and potentially buy less dewormer. The campaign comes after updated 2024 deworming guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and growing concern around widespread anthelmintic resistance.
In June 2024, the AAEP announced a revised set of internal parasite control guidelines aimed at delaying further development of anthelmintic resistance and helping maintain the long-term effectiveness of current deworming products. The AAEP now discourages fixed-interval, year-round deworming and rotating dewormers. Their revised recommendations state that the majority of adult horses should be dewormed twice a year at most. They also ask horse owners to work with their veterinarians to conduct fecal egg count tests to identify high-shedding horses, which would require additional targeted deworming treatments.
“The industry has seen increasing resistance levels to several parasite treatments, which can be caused, in part, by deworming too often and with active ingredients that do not target the right parasites at the right time,” said Dr. Nathan Voris, Director of Equine Technical Services at Zoetis U.S. “Our aim with the “Buy Less Dewormer” campaign is to raise awareness around best practices focused on less frequent deworming, and to get horse owners and equine practitioners to re-evaluate their current protocols, which for many, are set on autopilot.”
The “Buy Less Dewormer” campaign will also highlight that not all active ingredients are the same. While no parasiticide can eliminate all parasites, a single dose of moxidectin effectively treats adult small strongyles, encysted small strongyles larvae, adult large strongyles, migrating large strongyle larvae, roundworms, bots, pinworms, hairworms and stomach worms.
The Zoetis Quest line of dewormers—Questâ Gel (moxidectin) and Questâ Plus Gel (moxidectin/praziquantel)—are the only dewormers on the market that are formulated with moxidectin and support parasite treatment for healthy adult horses. With Quest Gel and Quest Plus Gel, horse owners can buy less dewormer* while effectively treating their horses in accordance with the most recent AAEP guidelines.
The Zoetis “Buy Less Dewormer” campaign will include educational activations at the Kentucky Three-Day Event with trivia, dewormer giveaways with coupons and paid print, digital and social advertisements.
To learn more about how Zoetis continues to innovate, support the industry and stay by your side, visit ZoetisUS.com/Horses.
Important Safety Information
Do not use Quest Gel or Quest Plus Gel in foals less than 6 months of age or in sick, debilitated and underweight horses. Do not use these products in other animal species, as severe adverse reactions, including fatalities in dogs, may result. Consult your veterinarian for assistance in the diagnosis, treatment, and control of parasitism.
About Zoetis
As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide—from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock producers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $9.3 billion in 2024 with approximately 13,800 employees. For more information, visit Zoetis.com.
The Zoetis Equine division is committed to providing horse care you can count on. Our team includes numerous equine veterinarians and other experts who are inspired daily by the opportunity and profound responsibility to support horses, the owners who love them, and the equine veterinarians and other care team members who safeguard their well-being. Whether at the clinic or in the field, Zoetis is always by your side with a comprehensive, innovative portfolio of equine products and services at every step of a horse’s care and throughout the journey of a horse’s life. Visit ZoetisEquine.com to learn more.
*Compared to the labels of Panacur® POWERPAC, Zimecterin® and Zimecterin® Gold.
All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted.
© 2025 Zoetis Services LLC. QST-00257
Media Contact:
Sarah Rosenblum, Zoetis Equine
551-999-1922
Sarah.Rosenblum@zoetis.com
Matt O’Keefe, Exponent PR
763-228-2210
Matt.Okeefe@exponentpr.com