Presentation
EQUEST Oral Gel contains 18.92 mg/g moxidectin. Also contains 37.84 mg/g benzyl alcohol and 0.24 mg/g disodium edetate as preservatives.
Uses
Moxidectin is a second generation macrocyclic lactone of the milbemycin family.
For the treatment of infections caused by moxidectin sensitive strains in horses and ponies:
Large strongyles:
Strongylus vulgaris (adults and arterial stages)
Strongylus edentatus (adults and visceral stages)
Triodontophorus brevicauda (adults)
Triodontophorus serratus (adults)
Triodontophorus tenuicollis (adults)
Small strongyles (adults and intraluminal larval stages) (small redworms):
Cyathostomum spp.
Cylicocyclus spp.
Cylicostephanus spp.
Cylicodontophorus spp.
Gyalocephalus spp.
Ascarids:
Parascaris equorum (adult and larval stages)
Other species:
Pinworm: Oxyuris equi (adult and larval stages)
Stomach worm: Habronema muscae (adults)
Bots: Gasterophilus intestinalis (L2, L3)
Bots: Gasterophilus nasalis (L2, L3)
Threadworm: Strongyloides westeri (adults)
Hairworm: Trichostrongylus axei
EQUEST Oral Gel has a persistent efficacy of 2 weeks against small strongyles. The excretion of small strongyle eggs is suppressed for 90 days.
EQUEST Oral Gel is effective against (developing) intramucosal L4 stages of small strongyles. At eight weeks after treatment early (hypobiotic) EL3 stages of small strongyles are eliminated.
Dosage and administration
For oral administration. A single oral dose of 400 µg moxidectin/kg bodyweight using the calibrated syringe. Before the first dose, hold the syringe with the capped end pointing to the left and so that you can see the weight measurements and tick marks (small black lines). Set the syringe to zero by moving the dial ring so that the left side is set at the first full black mark and depress the plunger, safely discarding any paste that is expelled.
To dose the product, hold the syringe as previously described. Each tick mark relates to 25 kg bodyweight and to 10 mg moxidectin. Turn the dial ring until the left side of the ring lines up with the weight of the animal.
Use of a scale or weigh tape is recommended to ensure accurate dosing.
A single syringe treats a 700 kg horse.
To avoid overdosing, care should be taken to accurately dose foals, especially low bodyweight foals or young ponies.
Contra-indications, warnings, etc
Do not administer to young foals less than 4 months of age.
Do not administer in case of known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or to any other milbemycins and to any other ingredients of the veterinary medicinal product.
EQUEST Oral Gel has been formulated specifically for use in horses only. Dogs or cats may be adversely affected by the concentration of moxidectin in this product if they are allowed to ingest spilled gel or have access to used syringes. Neurological signs (such as ataxia, muscle tremor and convulsions) and digestive clinical signs (such as hypersalivation) were recorded.
Do not use the same syringe to treat more than one animal unless horses are running together or in direct contact with each other on the same premises.
Ataxia, depression, abdominal pain, muscle tremor, flaccid lower lip and swelling of the muzzle could be observed on very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports) occasions. These adverse effects are usually transient and disappear spontaneously in most cases.
Withdrawal period
Meat and offal: 32 days.
Operator warnings
Do not smoke, drink or eat while handling the product.
The use of protective gloves is recommended.
Wash hands or any exposed area after use.
Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes.
In the event of eye contact, flush the eye with copious amounts of clean water and seek medical advice.
Other precautions regarding impact on the environment
Moxidectin fulfils the criteria for a (very) persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substance; therefore, exposure of the environment to moxidectin must be limited to the extent possible. Treatments should be administered only when necessary and should be based on faecal egg counts or evaluation of the risk of infestation at the animal and/or herd level. In order to reduce the emission of moxidectin to surface water and based on the excretion profile of moxidectin when administered as the oral formulation to horses, treated animals should not have access to watercourses during the first week after treatment.
Like other macrocyclic lactones, moxidectin has the potential to adversely affect non-target organisms:
•Faeces containing moxidectin excreted onto pasture by treated animals may temporarily reduce the abundance of dung feeding organisms. Following treatment of horses with the product, levels of moxidectin that are potentially toxic to dung beetles and flies may be excreted over a period of more than 1 week and may decrease dung fauna abundance.
•Moxidectin is inherently toxic to aquatic organisms including fish. The product should be used only according to the label instructions.
Pharmaceutical precautions
After opening, use within 6 months.
Do not store above 25°C.
Keep the syringe in the carton.
After first use record the date to be disposed on the label space provided.
Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste material derived from such veterinary medicinal products should be disposed of in accordance with the local requirements. Do not contaminate watercourses with the product. The product is toxic for fish and aquatic organisms.
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
For animal treatment only.
Legal category
Legal category:POM-VPS
Further information
EQUEST Oral Gel is effective against benzimidazole resistant strains of cyathostomes.
Mares may be treated at any stage of pregnancy and lactation.
Adverse reactions may occur at twice the recommended dose in foals and 3 times the recommended dose in adults. The symptoms are depression, inappetence, ataxia and flaccid lower lip in the 8 to 24 hours following treatment. Symptoms of moxidectin overdose are the same as those observed in very rare occasions at the recommended dosage. In addition, hypothermia and lack of appetite may occur. There is no specific antidote.
Marketing Authorisation Number
Vm 42058/4057
