Covilife 1.87% Oral Paste for Horse

Covilife 1.87% Oral Paste for Horse is a veterinary ivermectin formulation manufactured for equine antiparasitic use. Each gram of paste contains 18.7 mg of ivermectin in a flavored oral gel base designed for administration to horses by mouth using a graduated syringe applicator. A standard tube of veterinary ivermectin paste delivers enough drug to treat a 1,250 lb horse at the manufacturer-recommended dose of 200 micrograms of ivermectin per kilogram of body weight.

Ivermectin is a macrocyclic lactone with broad-spectrum activity against nematodes and ectoparasites. It works by binding to glutamate-gated chloride channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells, which causes paralysis and death of the parasite. Mammalian cells lack these channels at physiologically reachable concentrations, which gives ivermectin its wide therapeutic window in horses, cattle, dogs, and other species (PMID 28749905).

What this product treats in horses

The standard equine indication covers large strongyles, small strongyles, ascarids (Parascaris equorum), pinworms (Oxyuris equi), hairworms, large-mouth stomach worms, lungworms (Dictyocaulus arnfieldi), and the intestinal stages of Strongyloides westeri. It is also used against bot fly larvae (Gasterophilus species) and certain external parasites including ticks and lice. The 1.87% formulation is the most widely available veterinary ivermectin presentation worldwide.

Important note on intended species

This product is a veterinary medicine intended for use in horses by the dosing schedule on the manufacturer label. It is not a human medicine. Veterinary ivermectin paste and human ivermectin tablets contain the same active molecule but the formulation, excipients, and concentration are different. This is exactly the point covered in our detailed explainer on ivermectin horse paste for humans and the broader analysis of why ivermectin paste is not the right choice for human treatment. Human ivermectin treatment, when clinically indicated, uses precisely dosed oral tablets prescribed by a clinician (see our ivermectin dosage guide and complete tablet guide for the human protocol). If you are looking at this product page for a human indication, you should be looking at the human-dose tablet instead. We carry Ivercor 12 mg (ivermectin) and Ivercor 6 mg (ivermectin) in the human formulation.

Dosage and administration in horses

The label dose is 200 mcg of ivermectin per kg of horse body weight, administered orally as a single dose. The graduated syringe delivers paste in increments calibrated by horse weight (typically marked in 250 lb increments). Insert the syringe into the corner of the horse's mouth and deposit the paste on the back of the tongue. Routine deworming intervals are 6 to 8 weeks for adult horses and more frequent in foals or in management systems with high parasite pressure. Veterinary protocols vary by region and parasite resistance profile.

Adverse effects in horses

Adverse effects in healthy adult horses are rare at the label dose. Hypersensitivity-type reactions can occur when treating horses with very high parasite burdens due to mass parasite die-off, particularly with onchocerciasis. Neurologic toxicity has been reported in horses with MDR1 (now called ABCB1) gene defects, although this is more relevant in dogs (collies, Australian shepherds) than horses.

Storage and handling

Store at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Keep away from children and non-target animals. Do not contaminate water sources or feed troughs with leftover paste, as ivermectin is toxic to aquatic invertebrates at low concentrations.

For related human-dose antiparasitic options, see Ivercor 12mg, Ivercor 6mg, Ivercor 24mg (higher-strength), Wormiza 444mg (fenbendazole), Wormentel 888mg (fenbendazole higher dose), Mebex 100mg (mebendazole), or Zentel 400mg (albendazole). For a full safety comparison before you switch from veterinary to human formulations, see our ivermectin side effects guide.

References

1. Campbell WC. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2012. PMID 22039780.
2. Geary TG. Trends Parasitol 2005. PMID 16040274.
3. Mealey KL et al. Pharmacogenetics 2001. PMID 11668219.

Related Guides

• Ivermectin Horse Paste for Humans: What You Need to Know
• Ivermectin Paste: Why You Shouldn't Use It and What to Take Instead
• What Is Ivermectin? Complete Guide to Uses and Safety
• Ivermectin Tablets: Complete Guide (Human Formulation Alternative)
• Ivermectin Dosage Guide: Safe Use Instructions
• Liquid Ivermectin Dosage for Humans
• High Dose Ivermectin Guide
• Ivermectin Side Effects: Complete Safety Guide