Has your horse colicked after using Zimecterin Gold?

Question

I've used Zimecterin (Ivermectin) for years with satisfactory results. Two days ago I bought Zimecterin Gold and both of my horses colicked. One of them is 30 yrs and the other is 9. My 30 yr. old, my buddy and companion for 24 yrs had to be put down last night. After much work I at least had him up and he stayed up after I gave him a shot of Dipirone but when I went out to feed yesterday, it appeared that he had a stroke or something. His legs had stiffened up on him and he couldn't walk. He hadn't been able to get to his water and when I brought water to him in a bucket, he drank voraciously. I gave him small amounts at a time because his whole body was trembling and he looked like if he tried to move he would fall over. It was horrible and he was in SO much pain. I could tell that he wasn't going to come out of this one so I called my vet. Normal heart rate for a horse is between 28 and 40 bpm and his was over 100. I had to put him down. Has anyone else experienced this?

Answer 1

First let me say that I am so very sorry about your loss. It sounds like you have been through a terrible experience.

I have never heard of a horse colicing because of worming. I would ask your vet about that because Zimectrin is suppose to be a very good wormer. Many things can cause colic, and sometimes it just happens. BUt I doubt it was the wormer.

Answer 2

I have not heard anything bad about that wormer..... But I am going to see what I can find!! I am SOOOOOOOOOOO sorry for your loss!!!  You said BOTH coliced?? How long after?? You have been useing Zimecterin? Then used the same but the Gold?? hummmmm just thinking......

Answer 3

No, sorry. But my horse colicked when I changed her diet. Maybe thats the key..? Give her my love - I hope she feels better. =]

Answer 4

Sorry to hear about your loss!

A girlfriend had to have her horse put down last year after de-worming with QUEST! The horse was one she had purchased from a sale barn and was very thin - and wormy looking.  Sadly what she thought was going to be a rescue turned into death!  She used Quest (something she's used numerous times on her other 2 horses with no issues) - by that 2nd evening the little gelding (only 4 years old) was in distress and showing colic signs.  The vet had gotten out there and they hauled him to a university where they determined finacially it wouldn't be logical to put money into Colic surgery - The vets determined the horse was so full of worms that the death of the worms in such a mass # from the de-worming had acutally caused an impacition!  

I know its not directly related (its not the same product) - but thought useful information nontheless -

Answer 5

yes. theres a new ingredient in it which causes problems withing the horses stomach, making them colic, except from my horse pulled through, but it was still horific to watch.

Answer 6

Oh my...... I'm truly sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is to part with anything that has been that close to you for so long. It's heartrenching.

I have not had a problem with this product before, so i cannot imagine what could've gone wrong. I've used the regular without a problem but not the Gold... Strange.

I wish you the best of luck in figuring out what could have happened and I am going to attempt to do a little research on my own... if i find anything useful I'll be back.

Answer 7

I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your 30 year old.  That was a terrible thing to go through for you both.  It broke my heart - I know how you feel.

I haven't had that experience, haven't used Zimecterin Gold, and I won't after hearing this story.  I'm also warning everyone I know to stay clear of it until  more information comes to light.

Edit:  Check out Chronicle of the Horse forums - pretty frightening adverse reactions being reported. .

Answer 8

How horrible!!  I'm so sorry for you.

I would really wonder about the wormer.  Especially if only the wormer was the 'new' thing.  And both horses coliced at the same time??  And two very different ages of the horses.

I have been thinking of Zimecterin Gold...I will definitely do more research on this.

So sorry for your loss...

Answer 9

I've used Zimectrin Gold for many years with no issues.

I have even given an over dosage with no problems.

I know many others that use it and have had no incidents.

I would copy the codes/serials down and contact the Zimectrin people.  I'd wonder if someone that batch was bad...someone fell asleep at the measuring dept and put a double whammy of something in there or the vat was contaminated.

Also have the store you bought it from and the purchase date.

I am going to say you worm frequently, not once a year so I wouldn't think they colicked due to the vast amounts of dying worms in the gut.

Man...this is really sad.

I am SO SORRY for you loss.

Answer 10

I had a horse colic and die after worming two years ago.  I felt so guilty that I'd used a new wormer because it was cheaper - it was a generic ivermectin.  He started colicing within 2 hours of getting it.

I had the vet out, got him comfortable, next morning he seemed ok, then started colicing again.  Took him to the local equine hospital for possible colic surgery.  Alas; too late.  He had raging peritonitis.

I've told you all these details, because then I had a necropsy done.  They found no sign of massive worms, no signs of impaction, no gas, nothing...   just a tiny, tiny, pinhead sized hole in his stomach.  By the amount of fibrous healing (I don't remember the exact terms anymore) it had happened days to weeks before, and they had absolutely no idea what caused it or why it hadn't killed him before.

It was a terrible, terrible coincidence.  If I hadn't wormed him, though, I wouldn't have checked on him two hours later and he would have suffered horribly for many hours.  

I don't know what happened with your horses, but it may have been something else as well.  Coincidences do happen.

My thoughts are with you.  I know how incredibly guilty I felt, and that I thought I had killed my horse for a few cents saved on the wormer.  I felt like a murderer, and couldn't stop crying.  When I got the necropsy results, it was such a relief.  I was able to grieve without the guilt.

I recommend a necropsy, even though they're expensive, so you'll know, and so you'll know what is/was wrong with the other horse.  Whatever the result, though, remember you were doing your best for the horse, administering the best wormer available.  You were caring for him exactly as you should.

My thoughts are with you tonight.

Answer 11

The active ingredients in Zimecterin Gold, praziquantel and ivermectin, have been around for many years, and they really do appear to be very safe, even at up to five times the recommended dose.  Praziquantel, the ingredient added to eliminate tapeworms, has been reported to cause "mild to moderate" colic in a very few cases:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob...  Certainly not all adverse reactions are reported.  I do not know what might have caused the problem in your horse, but I am very sorry for your great loss.

Answer 12

I'm confused by the description.  You bought the dewormer 2 days ago, but was it given 2 days ago, and the colic occurred that day?  You say you got him up and kept him up after giving him dipyrone, but when was that?  Then it isn't clear how long it was before you found him stiffened up and appearing as if he'd had a stroke, couldn't walk, and then very thirsty and drank.

It seems like this developed over a period of many hours, and isn't typical of a colic brought on by drug reaction.  Even if it was an intestinal impaction from blockage by massive death of worms,  it doesn't seem typical.  Did you observe him after giving the dipyrone?

I'm sorry for your loss, it must have been very difficult to go through.  I think you should look beyond just the deworming for the cause, though.

Answer 13

That's so horrible.  I started looking a few things up regarding it, and apparently you are not the only one that has had problems with it (by far), although most of the other problems seem to be ulcerated sores near the mouth, not colic.  But just the same...I say call the company.  I realize your horse was probably not insured but I bet they will at least cover your vet bills.  You may be able to get more if you bluff about suing them too (I know, I know, I'm not usually one for suing but in this situation I think the bluff would at least be beneficial to you).  They might give you a little extra because it's more worth it to them to do that than to go to small claims court.

I know money will not bring back your horse, but at least you can make the company suffer a bit for their mistake, and hopefully get them to re-think their ingredients, or include a better warning which could save other horses in the future.

I am so sorry for your loss.