Every horse dewormer sold in Canada is a veterinary drug with a Drug Identification Number (DIN) and a Health Canada-approved label. The label is where the real differences live: which parasites the product is registered to treat, how it is dosed by body weight, the minimum age, and the warnings. This guide reads the labels of the seven horse dewormers Pipestone Farm Supply lists in Millet, Alberta, grouped by active ingredient. It quotes the labels; it does not replace them or your veterinarian.
Key takeaways from the labels
Four active ingredients cover the seven products: ivermectin (Powermectin, Panomec, and in combination with praziquantel in Equimax and Eqvalan Gold), moxidectin (Quest Gel, and with praziquantel in Quest Plus Gel) and pyrantel pamoate (Strongid-P). Only the products that contain praziquantel or pyrantel are labelled for tapeworms: Equimax, Eqvalan Gold, Quest Plus and Strongid-P. Plain ivermectin and plain moxidectin labels do not list tapeworms. The Quest labels set a minimum age of 4 months; Strongid-P is labelled for foals over 8 weeks; Eqvalan Gold says it "has not been tested in foals younger than two months". Every label says the drug is not for horses to be slaughtered for food, and every ivermectin and moxidectin label warns against use in other species because of fatal reactions in dogs. All seven are dosed by body weight from the syringe markings.
Ivermectin 1.87% paste: Powermectin and Panomec
Powermectin (DIN 02279002, Wecan Sales) and Panomec (DIN 02237867, Boehringer Ingelheim) are both 6.42 g syringes of ivermectin 1.87% w/w, each delivering about 120 mg of ivermectin. Both labels give the dose as 200 µg of ivermectin per kilogram of body weight and say one syringe treats a 600 kg horse, with each plunger marking covering 100 kg. The Powermectin label indication reads: "For the treatment of parasitic infections due to internal parasites, including bots, in horses." Its parasite list names large and small strongyles (including strains "resistant to certain benzimidazole class compounds"), intestinal threadworms, pinworms, ascarids, hairworms, large-mouth stomach worms, neck threadworm microfilariae and bots. The Panomec label reads: "For the treatment of infections with internal parasites, including bots, in horses." Neither label lists tapeworms. On foals, the Powermectin label says: "If there is a high risk of re-infection with P. equorum, foals should be treated at 6 – 8 week intervals."
Ivermectin plus praziquantel: Equimax and Eqvalan Gold
Equimax (DIN 02276593, Bimeda-MTC / Virbac) combines ivermectin 1.87% with praziquantel 14.03%, dosed at "200 μg ivermectin/kg and 1500 μg praziquantel/kg body weight"; the 6.42 g syringe "will treat up to 600 kg body weight". Its indication is "For the treatment of parasitic infections due to nematodes, cestodes, and gastric bots in horses and ponies", and the parasite list includes "Tapeworms: adult stage of Anoplocephala perfoliata".
Eqvalan Gold (DIN 02290162, Boehringer Ingelheim) uses ivermectin 1.55% with praziquantel 7.75%: "Each syringe delivers 120 mg of ivermectin and 600 mg of praziquantel sufficient to treat 600 kg", at "200 µg of ivermectin per kilogram of body weight and 1 mg praziquantel per kilogram". Its indication is "for the treatment of parasitic infections due to internal parasites, including bots and tapeworms." The label adds that Eqvalan Gold "has not been tested in foals younger than two months, in pregnant mares, or in breeding stallions."
The two products reach the same ivermectin dose per kilogram; they differ in the praziquantel dose per kilogram (1.5 mg for Equimax, 1 mg for Eqvalan Gold). Both are labelled for tapeworms.
Moxidectin gel: Quest and Quest Plus
Quest Gel (DIN 02231660, Zoetis) contains "20 mg of moxidectin (2% w/v)" per mL and is dosed at "400 µg per kg of body weight". Quest Plus Gel (DIN 02276763) adds "125 mg of praziquantel (12.5% w/v)" per mL, dosed at "0.4 mg moxidectin and 2.5 mg praziquantel/kg body weight", and its parasite list adds "Tapeworms (adults) Anoplocephala perfoliata". Both come in SURE-DIAL syringes "calibrated in 25 kg increments, up to 575 kg", and both labels restrict use to "healthy horses and ponies, 4 months of age or older". The Quest Plus label goes further: "Do not use in foals less than 4 months of age or in sick, debilitated and underweight horses." Both labels warn that overdoses "may manifest themselves as transient depression, drowsiness and ataxia" — which is why the dial should be set to an actual body weight, not a guess.
Pyrantel pamoate: Strongid-P
Strongid-P (DIN 00433780, Zoetis) is the one product here that is neither a macrocyclic lactone (ivermectin, moxidectin) nor combined with praziquantel. "Each 23.6 g (20 mL) syringe contains the equivalent of 3.6 g pyrantel base." The indication: "For the treatment of parasitic infections caused by the adult stage of large strongyles, small strongyles, pinworms, ascarids and the common tapeworm in horses and foals over 8 weeks of age." Note the two dose rates on the label: "6.6 mg pyrantel base per kg body weight for infections of roundworms" and "13.2 mg pyrantel base per kg body weight for infections of tapeworms" — the tapeworm dose is double, so the label's table calls for two syringes per 540 kg horse at that rate. The label also says: "Fasting prior to or following treatment is not required."
Fenbendazole: Safe-Guard Paste 10% (a fifth active, listed separately)
One more active ingredient sits outside the seven syringes above. Safe-Guard Paste 10% (DIN 02069490, Intervet Canada Corp. / Merck Animal Health) is a fenbendazole paste — a benzimidazole rather than a macrocyclic lactone or pyrantel — in a 25 g graduated syringe. Its Canadian label lists large strongyles, small strongyles (luminal adults and fourth stage larvae), ascarids and pinworms, and it "is indicated for the treatment of equine larval cyathostomosis induced by the encysted early third stage (hypobiotic EL3), late third stage (LL3) and fourth stage (L4) larvae of cyathostomes (small strongyles)." The dose is "5 mg of fenbendazole per kg of body weight. This is equivalent to one syringe per 500 kg (1100 lb)"; foals and young horses under 18 months get 10 mg/kg for ascarids, and the larval-cyathostomosis regimen on the label is 10 mg/kg "during five consecutive days." Like the others it is weight-dosed from the dial ring, not for horses to be slaughtered for food, and to be kept out of reach of children. It does not list tapeworms or bots. The same active is sold as Safe-Guard Suspension 10%, a 250 mL drench registered for cattle and horses (DIN 02113171) at 2.5 mL per 50 kg.
What every label has in common
Read the seven labels side by side and the same lines repeat. None of these drugs may be given to horses that are to be slaughtered for food. Every ivermectin and moxidectin label warns that the product "should not be used in other animal species" because of "fatalities in dogs" — keep dropped paste away from farm dogs. The ivermectin and moxidectin labels say to keep the product out of reach of children, and every one of the seven is dosed by body weight from the syringe markings, which is the argument for a weight tape or a scale. The Powermectin, Equimax and Eqvalan Gold labels add "Store below 30°C".
Can you buy horse dewormer paste without a prescription in Canada?
For the eight horse dewormers in this guide, yes. Health Canada's Drug Product Database lists each of them under the non-prescription drugs schedule, with horses as the species and a status of marketed: Powermectin (DIN 02279002), Panomec (DIN 02237867), Equimax (DIN 02276593), Eqvalan Gold (DIN 02290162), Quest Gel (DIN 02231660), Quest Plus Gel (DIN 02276763), Strongid P (DIN 00433780) and Safe-Guard Paste 10% (DIN 02069490). They are veterinary drugs labelled for horses, so give them only as the label directs, and ask your veterinarian to help set a deworming plan for your horses. (Schedule, species and status checked in the Drug Product Database, October 2026.)
Choosing between them
The label facts above are the parts a retailer can tell you. Which active to use, when, and how often for your horses is a question for your veterinarian, who can account for the age of the animals, the pasture history and any testing done on your farm. Pipestone Farm Supply lists all seven products in our horse dewormers category, part of our horse supplies, for pickup in Millet, Alberta or Canada-wide shipping. Read the label before use and follow it.
Sources: Health Canada Drug Product Database entries for DIN 02279002 (Powermectin), 02237867 (Panomec), 02276593 (Equimax), 02290162 (Eqvalan Gold), 02231660 (Quest Gel), 02276763 (Quest Plus Gel) and 00433780 (Strongid P), and the Canadian product labels linked from those entries or published on Drugs.com, viewed September 2026. Safe-Guard Paste 10% and Safe-Guard Suspension 10% labels via the Health Canada Drug Product Database (DIN 02069490, DIN 02113171; DPD codes 18695 and 19286), viewed September 2026.