What is an anthelmintic?
Anthelmintic is the medical or technical term for products like ZIMECTERIN that destroy or kill parasitic worms. ZIMECTERIN is an anthelmintic AND a boticide.

What is a boticide?
Boticide is the medical or technical term for products like ZIMECTERIN that destroy or kill bots. ZIMECTERIN is an anthelmintic AND a boticide.

What is an equine parasite?
Equine parasites are organisms like worms or bots that grow in horses and damage their vital organs. Equine parasites are dangerous to horses because they can cause serious health problems, and even death.

What is a bot?
A bot is a unique type of equine parasite that, as an adult, is a small fly. The larvae develop in the horse's stomach, and not all deworming products protect horses against bots. ZIMECTERIN controls bots.

Are equine parasites really dangerous?
YES. Parasites can seriously damage a horse's health. Before effective dewormers became available, parasites were among the leading cause of death among horses. Even today, parasites can cause a wide range of health problems, including liver and lung damage, intestinal bleeding, gastric ulceration, blindness, bronchitis, colic, lameness, blood clots, dermatitis and diarrhea.

Foals and young horses are especially at risk. Parasites can seriously inhibit a young horse's growth rate and in many cases, lead to respiratory disease and pneumonia. Fortunately, regular deworming with ZIMECTERIN will eliminate the threat of equine parasites.

What parasites does ZIMECTERIN control?
ZIMECTERIN controls all the major equine parasites except tapeworms (see ZIMECTERIN GOLD), including large strongyles, small strongyles, bots, pinworms, roundworms (ascarids), large-mouth stomach worms, lungworms, intestinal threadworms and the neck threadworm. ZIMECTERIN also provides the best protection against parasitic larvae that cause summer sores and dermatitis.

(See the Comparison Chart to learn which brands of equine dewormer control which parasites.)

Is ZIMECTERIN safe for use in all horses?
YES. ZIMECTERIN is safe for use in all horses and foals, regardless of breed, type or age. Clinical studies and nearly 20 years of use have proven that ZIMECTERIN is safe for use in all horses.

Is ZIMECTERIN also safe in ponies and miniature horses?
YES. ZIMECTERIN is safe for use in all breeds of ponies and miniature horses as well.

How is ZIMECTERIN administered to horses?
ZIMECTERIN is administered orally by syringe. The proper dose is determined by a horse's weight in pounds. Find the horse's weight on the syringe plunger, turn the ring until it reaches the appropriate weight and lock it into place. Raise the horse's head, place the tip of the syringe on the back of the tongue and dispense the plunger. Hold the horse's head in a raised position for a few seconds after dispensing the product to ensure it has been swallowed.

What happens if someone accidentally gives his/her horse or pony more ZIMECTERIN than is recommended on the label?
Clinical trials have proven that ZIMECTERIN is safe up to and including 5 times the recommended dose. However, administering more than the recommended amount of ZIMECTERIN does not generate better results.

How often do horses need to be dewormed?
Generally, growing foals should be dewormed every 6 to 8 weeks; weanlings and yearlings, every 6 to 8 weeks; mature horses with access to grass, every 8 weeks; and stabled horses with no access to grass, every 12 weeks. Horse owners are advised to consult with their veterinarians to determine the best deworming schedule for their horses.

Does ZIMECTERIN come with a guarantee?
YES. ZIMECTERIN is backed by a comprehensive guarantee. If someone purchases ZIMECTERIN from an authorized dealer and is not satisfied with the performance of ZIMECTERIN, MERIAL will reimburse the purchaser for the cost of the product as well as all reasonable costs associated with veterinary diagnosis and retreatment.

What's the difference between ZIMECTERIN and other equine dewormers like SAFE-GUARD, PANACUR, STRONGID and QUEST?
ZIMECTERIN controls more species and stages of parasites including large strongyles, bots, roundworms and stomach worms than QUEST, PANACUR, SAFE-GUARD, ANTHELCIDE or STRONGID. Additionally, none of these products is labeled to control intestinal threadworms or lungworms. ZIMECTERIN controls all of these parasites. Furthermore, ZIMECTERIN has shown no documented resistance after nearly 20 years of use. No other dewormer can make that claim. And unlike many treatments that cannot be used on foals under 4 months of age, ZIMECTERIN is safe enough for use in foals during their first days of life, exactly the time when worm damage may begin.

What is resistance?
Resistance occurs when a species of parasite becomes immune to the dewormer that previously was effective at killing the parasite. For instance, PANACUR, SAFEGUARD and STRONGID are no longer fully effective at killing small strongyles. ZIMECTERIN, however, remains completely effective at controlling small strongyles. In fact, nearly 20 years of field trials by MERIAL has shown superior parasite control by ZIMECTERIN, with no documented resistance.

What makes ZIMECTERIN better than other brands of ivermectin?
ZIMECTERIN is supported by a team of experienced veterinary professionals and customer care representatives and years of rigorous safety and efficacy testing. It is manufactured to exacting standards of quality and purity as set by the FDA and by MERIAL, the company that discovered and developed ivermectin.

Who makes ZIMECTERIN?
ZIMECTERIN is made by MERIAL Limited.

Who is MERIAL?
MERIAL is a world-leading innovation-driven animal health company. It makes safe and highly effective health care products for horses, cattle, dogs, cats and a variety of other animals. Some of MERIAL' s most recognizable brands include HEARTGARD® (ivermectin) and FRONTLINE® (fipronil) for dogs and cats and IVOMEC® (ivermectin) for cattle, swine and sheep.

Does MERIAL have other products for horses?
YES. Some of MERIAL' s equine products may be unfamiliar to you because they are prescription products sold only through veterinarians. These products include RECOMBITEK® Equine West Nile Virus vaccine – new, advanced protection that works fast and lasts long; GASTROGARD® (omeprazole), the only FDA-approved medication proven to heal and prevent the recurrence of equine stomach ulcers; EQVALAN® (ivermectin), and additional vaccines for Rabies, Tetanus, Equine Influenza and Potomac Horse Fever.

What role should veterinarians have in a horse's deworming program?
Veterinarians should always be called upon to help determine the most appropriate deworming program for your horses. Different horses require different parasite control schedules. Age, geographic location, and stabling or pasture environments are all factors that should be considered when making decisions about deworming. Veterinarians can help horse owners make the best decisions for deworming their horses. Veterinarians can also help administer dewormer to horses that are head shy or otherwise difficult to medicate orally.

® HEARTGARD, FRONTLINE and IVOMEC are registered trademarks of Merial Limited. ® GASTROGARD is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of Companies.® PANACUR, STRONGID, SAFEGUARD, ANTHELCIDE EQ and QUEST are registered trademarks of their respective holders.