Extremely high worm count broodmare…

[DPDOT]

I recently purchased a broodmare that I was told was wormed before foaling, I have just had a worm count done (per vets advice 3 months after she was last supposedly wormed) and it’s come back at 4750 epg…

Absolutely horrified and very stressed at this result!

I’ve been in contact with my vet whom has told me what to worm with and have asked for a fecal sample to be dropped in so they can WEC the foal.

Their field is poo picked&cleared daily, on a very rare occasion it may be every other day. The field just has them in it.

Foal (now 3 months old) was wormed at 2 months with panacur as per vets advice.

Apart from following vets advice re worming mare and testing the foal, is there anything else I can do to help?

Thanks,
a VERY stressed owner!

 

[gallopingby]

Don’t panic and retest as directed, times vary but the lab who did the tests - l use Westgate, others are available, will provide advice.

 

[DPDOT]

Don’t panic and retest as directed, times vary but the lab who did the tests - l use Westgate, others are available, will provide advice.

Test was done via the vets.

Just to add also, the mare looks in brilliant condition. Does not look wormy at all! Also had a clear health check from the vets 2 weeks ago!

 

[gallopingby]

If your vet is advising you, and they are equine vets, then follow the advice. Normally it will be to worm again in x weeks with a different wormer and then retest two weeks after. Some horses for whatever reason can appear to have an unexpectedly high worm count, it may take time to sort things out but it’s not impossible. If your grazing is clean you shouldn’t have too much of a problem now that you’re aware. It may be a good idea to consider borrowing / acquiring some sheep to help the grazing.

 

[marmalade88]

I was speaking to my neighbour and we’ve both had trouble with worms this year. The vet says lots of people have had trouble. Ours has both been tapeworm though.

One thing to consider is if you’re feeding hay/haylage is parasite can also spread via that.

I cross graze with sheep which I hope helps.

 

[maya2008]

I also just had a high (nothing like yours though!) worm count despite daily poo picking. Out of curiosity, what did your vet advise?

 

[sideshow]

This year has been particularly kind to parasites, I’ve seen counts over 5,000epg a few times this summer. The weather has a LOT to do with it - warm temperatures and plenty of rain really helps them, they can hatch quickly, moult and get onto your grazing surprisingly quickly.

Take care of where your muck heap is sited, as hatched, 2nd & 3rd stage larvae can glide onto your grazing and poo picking won’t stop them.

 

[dorsetladette]

It's easier said than done, but don't panic. Follow vets advise and worm and re-count. Chances are that the first count isn't necessarily a representation of the whole picture, just of the sample sent in. It's hard to get a complete picture from the small sample given.

What else did your vet advise?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Another don’t panic advisor here! Follow vets instructions and keep poo picking.

 

[DPDOT]

I also just had a high (nothing like yours though!) worm count despite daily poo picking. Out of curiosity, what did your vet advise?

To worm the mare with ivermectin and a syringe of quick fix, take in a sample for the foal to be worm counted. Re test the mare 4 weeks after worming.

 

[DPDOT]

This year has been particularly kind to parasites, I’ve seen counts over 5,000epg a few times this summer. The weather has a LOT to do with it - warm temperatures and plenty of rain really helps them, they can hatch quickly, moult and get onto your grazing surprisingly quickly.

Take care of where your muck heap is sited, as hatched, 2nd & 3rd stage larvae can glide onto your grazing and poo picking won’t stop them.

Muck heap is far away from their field. That is a good point to consider though!

I am just very worried about the colic risk to the mare by worming when the count is this high…

I’m not sure if there is anything I can do to reduce this risk though? Asides from keep a very close eye on her and give the quick fix as recommended?

 

[maya2008]

Muck heap is far away from their field. That is a good point to consider though!

I am just very worried about the colic risk to the mare by worming when the count is this high…

I’m not sure if there is anything I can do to reduce this risk though? Asides from keep a very close eye on her and give the quick fix as recommended?

Have you been using panacur? If so I guess they are assuming resistant to that so ivermectin is the next mildest.

 

[Jambarissa]

Is the vet suggesting a gentle wormer or just going in guns blazing? I would be wary of colic too.

However one of my horses had a count of 1500 and 600 and 200 from 3 different poos over less than 24 hours so you may have just picked a lump with a ton of worms, retest.

 

[BronsonNutter]

Is she in foal currently? If you are very worried you could ask your vet to give some steroids prior to worming (to reduce colic risk from dead worms) but this is not suitable if she is currently in foal. That would be all I would potentially add to your vets advice. And worm in the working week in case there's any issues!

'Gentle' wormers are only 'gentle' because there is more resistance to them so they are less effective at killing worms = less inflammatory reaction as less dead worms. Doing a repeat sample will help show if there's any resistance to the ivermectin so definitely get that done.

 

[jojo5]

Definitely retest - my old boy once had a stratospheric worm count whilst appearing in full bloom of health - but it was just this once and when retested in the next few days had a totally different, and way, way lower count……..

 

[DPDOT]

Is she in foal currently? If you are very worried you could ask your vet to give some steroids prior to worming (to reduce colic risk from dead worms) but this is not suitable if she is currently in foal. That would be all I would potentially add to your vets advice. And worm in the working week in case there's any issues!

'Gentle' wormers are only 'gentle' because there is more resistance to them so they are less effective at killing worms = less inflammatory reaction as less dead worms. Doing a repeat sample will help show if there's any resistance to the ivermectin so definitely get that done.

Not currently in foal, but has a just turned 3 month old foal at foot.

Vet mentioned steroids but didn’t want to give them as the foal was feeding from the mare.

 

[DPDOT]

Is the vet suggesting a gentle wormer or just going in guns blazing? I would be wary of colic too.

However one of my horses had a count of 1500 and 600 and 200 from 3 different poos over less than 24 hours so you may have just picked a lump with a ton of worms, retest.

I was only told to worm with Animec (ivermectin) per her weight and to retest her in 4 weeks and to bring in a sample for the foal to be tested too.

Was no discussion of any other wormers

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I don't trust alot of the worm counts I've done so many and taken from various piles only weeks apart and the results have been so varied I just don't trust it.

I now just worm my horses and vary the wormers each year.

I know it's down to resistance and all that and I will be shouted down but I just don't trust the worm count thing.

 

[tristars]

Have they suggested blood test? At some point

Every time I test mine they come back zero except one horse who had 1 egg, even one who for whatever reason showed worms in poo

In the past they have been around 200

 

[SantaVera]

I don't trust alot of the worm counts I've done so many and taken from various piles only weeks apart and the results have been so varied I just don't trust it.

I now just worm my horses and vary the wormers each year.

I know it's down to resistance and all that and I will be shouted down but I just don't trust the worm count thing.

Same here

 

[canteron]

Sheep - my horses counts have dropped dramatically since my 5 woolly friends arrived. (Cross grazing controls the worms).

 

[DPDOT]

Have they suggested blood test? At some point

Every time I test mine they come back zero except one horse who had 1 egg, even one who for whatever reason showed worms in poo

In the past they have been around 200

Are you thinking blood test for Redworm burden? I could possibly request a blood test. She had a clear health check from the vet 2/3 weeks ago.

Sheep - my horses counts have dropped dramatically since my 5 woolly friends arrived. (Cross grazing controls the worms).

They are on livery so unable to get any sheep unfortunately .