Wow, rabbitsfizz, I am SO glad that you mentioned the problems with Zimectrin Gold. I did some research and I found that there is an issue with it and it isn't limited to a bad batch of wormer. It isn't the active ingredients that is causing the problem, it seems it is one of the inactive ingredients doing it.
Many people have reported chemical burns in the mouth from using the product. Some people, who didn't see visible signs of chemical burns, still had reactions in their horses from signs of neurological issues to ulcers and colic-like symptoms. When scoped, there were signs of burns in the throat and even deeper.
We will certainly not be using Zimectrin Gold! Your mentioning this was such a great thing. I would never have suspected a problem, as I've never had issues with Merial products before. Thanks heaps!
Here are some quotes from other forums that I have found discussing this topic:
"Its a chemical burn and they have had enough complaints that they not only changed the packaging but they pay for all the Vet bills and even for full courses of GastroGuard. They have an entire department that exists just to collect information on the burns and pay out the claims. They know and they have known for a long time.
Its not the active ingredient--its something in the carrying agent. Nobody should have to assume the risk of a bad carrying agent if there are other products with the same active ingredients that do not cause the burns.
Once again, get the word "reaction and allergic" out of your minds. Vaccines have reactions. Foods cause allergic reactions. ZG burns the mouth in certain cases. I am not "allergic" to fire or acid but its going to burn me anyway. I am not super senstive to battery acid but its going to burn anyway.
There have been no reported burns from Equimax. The makers of ZG have had more then enough time to figure out why their product burns.
Mix ZG with plain water at a rate of 1:20 and very dilute ZG had a ph high enough to burn. Higher then 12. There is no reason to sell a product designed to be put in the mouth that reacts badly with water. I didn't have the nerve to even put a little solution on my arm to see if it burned.
The warning on the label?? Transient reaction in some horses. Yes, thats true, but if you just burned a hole in your horses mouth even if it will heal in time that does not make you feel any better. And thats just the part we can see. My horse needed 4 weeks of GG to heal the "transient reaction" that burned him one end to the other.
If I had just used Equimax that would not have happened at all. There is no excuse for that kind of burn if the stuff can be made safely and cheaper by another company.
I think the company is trying to find out why the burns happen, but they aren't trying hard enough. My join date is when my horse got burned and there were threads here that went back to 2005 on the subject.
I had used the stuff with no problems before too, but if it gets in the wrong place at the wrong time and saliva starts flowing to wash it off it turns into a very caustic base that burns. And until the ZG is all cleared off and the tounge and throat and face swell up too big to swallow, all that solution is being swallowed.
Both active ingredients are used in humans. I suggest anyone who thinks the burns from ZG are just a rare uncontrollable reaction put a tiny tiny dab on the inside of your cheek and then swish a glass of water in your mouth. Oh wait, better not, humans can breathe if their throats swell shut.
And another:
"On Monday, April 28th, I had a vet come to vaccinate my horses. He
also administered a paste wormer, Zimecterin Gold. He used a paste
instead of the gun administered liquid wormer, both produced by Merial,
due to a national recall on the liquid wormer. It is precipitating out
and some horses were getting no dose or 5X the dose. So Merial sent
many cases of Zimecterin Gold. After the vet left I went past my horse
and noticed that his mouth was partially open. Looking closer I saw a
very large swelling inside his mouth on the same side as the wormer was
given. At first I thought it might be an allergic reaction (I've never
used this product). My horse's head was lowered and his eyes closed. He
was very lethargic and had small hemorrhages on his gums, which were
pale. I called the vet and treated my horse with antihistamine and
bute. Some time later I checked on the internet for allergic reactions
to this product and was surprised to see several incidents of not
allergic reactions, but CHEMICAL BURNS from this product. I then
checked my donkey and he did not have swelling but did have a burn on
the inside of his mouth. The other horse was ok. The vet returned and
gave my horse IV dex. He was unaware of the problem. Reactions to the
muzzle and mouth (redness, peeling skin, sloughing skin, rotting odor,
swelling) are the most common but ulcers and colic have also been
observed. When I spoke with the Merial rep, his answer was, 'we know
about that', and he seemed almost disinterested. Even if you have
successfully used the product before, your equine can still react.
Obviously most equines don't react but I don't think the risk is worth
it since there are many other products available."
