Egg Worm Count Question

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!CobsCan!

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This might be a stupid question, but when getting a fecal egg worm count done, do you need to collect and test a sample from each horse in the herd or just one if they are all on the same grazing? TIA!
 
Samples from each horse, each horse can have a different result. Many older horses have a higher result than the younger ones. Not always though, I have a 27 year old a 22 year old & their readings are always low however both are grazed in single paddocks .
 
!CobsCan! said:
This might be a stupid question, but when getting a fecal egg worm count done, do you need to collect and test a sample from each horse in the herd or just one if they are all on the same grazing? TIA!
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From each horse and small amount from 3 different droppings from one horse and so on.
 
After three consecutive incidents of mild colic at roughly the same time of year, I read every bit of information of the webpage of one of the leading labs, and deduced that red worm could not be differentiated from other worms, and the current recommendation was to worm at least annually for encysted red worm. I am now questioning whether to continue worm counts if I still need to use wormer.
 
Highmileagecob said:
After three consecutive incidents of mild colic at roughly the same time of year, I read every bit of information of the webpage of one of the leading labs, and deduced that red worm could not be differentiated from other worms, and the current recommendation was to worm at least annually for encysted red worm. I am now questioning whether to continue worm counts if I still need to use wormer.
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Similar experience. Horse on the yard had a very high encysted redworm burden despite clear on roundworm egg counts, was only caught when he was scoped for ulcers. Has put the owner off egg counts, and made me look like a bit of a wally for suggesting them, but I will still be doing the FEC during the year so I don't have to worm other than in the winter for encysted redworm. It's one dose instead of potentially four.
 
Highmileagecob said:
After three consecutive incidents of mild colic at roughly the same time of year, I read every bit of information of the webpage of one of the leading labs, and deduced that red worm could not be differentiated from other worms, and the current recommendation was to worm at least annually for encysted red worm. I am now questioning whether to continue worm counts if I still need to use wormer.
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My DWB has been regularly wormed I. January with Equest Pramox for the last 7yrs but when I had him blood-tested last November he had a high encysted reading. He had no eggs seen in poo sample and was negative for tape. My other horse was negative on all worm tests. So even with regular worming for encysted it doesn’t mean it’s working.

He was done with EP in December and I’m planning on re-testing to see if count has changed in case there is a resistance to EP.
 
On my old yard the policy changed to worm counts every three months plus blood test once a year for redworm if worm count low. This was after a couple of horses tested positive for red worm during other investigations.
 
Highmileagecob said:
After three consecutive incidents of mild colic at roughly the same time of year, I read every bit of information of the webpage of one of the leading labs, and deduced that red worm could not be differentiated from other worms, and the current recommendation was to worm at least annually for encysted red worm. I am now questioning whether to continue worm counts if I still need to use wormer.
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I believe that unless you blood test then the advice is to worm with Equest for encysted redworm even if FEC and Equisal are clear.

Mixed responses back from Westgate though. My Appy has had clear FEC and Equisal for years but they suggested I blood test for encysted (I just wormed her instead). A friend in exactly the same boat was told not to worry about using Equest and the horse could be left. I did ask her if that was definitely what she was told and she's insistent its correct.
 
SEL said:
I believe that unless you blood test then the advice is to worm with Equest for encysted redworm even if FEC and Equisal are clear.

Mixed responses back from Westgate though. My Appy has had clear FEC and Equisal for years but they suggested I blood test for encysted (I just wormed her instead). A friend in exactly the same boat was told not to worry about using Equest and the horse could be left. I did ask her if that was definitely what she was told and she's insistent its correct.
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Westgate do put a lot of emphasis on individual risk assessment. So possibly the way her horse was kept was seen as lower risk? Consistent herd mates, lower stock density, different worm burden history, whatever. Or the person she spoke to just did a different risk assessment to your person with the same info.

Just worming is definitely the easier option. You're trying to do the right thing with wormer resistance and it turns into a bloody headache 🙄
 
I have this issue every year
Sat in the field for 2 hours one day waiting for everyone to poop
No stables so couldn’t bring them in and come back later 🤦🏻‍♀️ had to see what belonged to who!
I wish you luck
 
thank you everyone for your help, the more I read the more of a minefield it becomes 🥹. will be worming all for encrypted redworm to be safe and the rest according to their individual results 👍
 
smolmaus said:
Westgate do put a lot of emphasis on individual risk assessment. So possibly the way her horse was kept was seen as lower risk? Consistent herd mates, lower stock density, different worm burden history, whatever. Or the person she spoke to just did a different risk assessment to your person with the same info.

Just worming is definitely the easier option. You're trying to do the right thing with wormer resistance and it turns into a bloody headache 🙄
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We have exactly the same set up which is why it's odd. Both small closed herds, daily poo pick etc. I'm not sure I'd ever advise not doing Equest for encysted but she's happy with that approach so 🤷‍♀️
 
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