Fatal colic due to worms

J

JillA

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 May 2007
Messages
8,173
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
I can't find it now, but there was an item on FB I wanted to share. A vet showing HUGE ascarids he extracted from the gut of a colicking mare he had had to euthenase. Poor mare was in an aggressive worming programme - the point being these parasites had developed a very effective immunity to even the most modern wormers.
Did anyone else see it - those ascarids were the size of small snakes!
Please do FECs and only worm when absolutely necessary
 
I wonder why the mare had no natural immunity? Horses develop natural immunity bit she clearly had none. Sounds like there was more wrong with her than drug resistant worms.

Totally agree with not over worming.
 
some of the comments on the FB post are a bit alarming :( Is that just a dodgy sample of people commenting or are we a bit more advanced with our worming methods in the UK?
 
I think that we are more advanced here in the UK about things like this. Recently I have been feeling fed up with the FEC programme at our yard, but this has galvanised me into action, to remember the very important reason why we do it. thank you for sharing
 
A, few years ago in the US strongid P used to sell a daily a DAILY wormer. I never did get my head around that one. I don't know if they still do.
 
Very sad to read this article but thanks for putting the link up. The problem is that roundworms, that is ascarids, are often resistant to ivermectin and even moxidectin. As the article states this mare had been 'well wormed with ivermectin', allowing this terrible build up of resistant ascarids. The best first wormer for a youngster or foal is Panacur. So often you read of resistance to Panacur and yes there is massive redworm resistance to Panacur but for ascarids, the most dangerous worm of young horses then it is the best choice. Ivermectin or moxidectin can come next.

There are some appallingly ignorant comments on that link, posted as good worming knowledge and advice. Just shows again how important it is not to rely on dodgy sources on important subjects.
 
I remember a talk given by someone who said they had seen an Oaks winner at stud dead on the ground through a worms problem. This was a long time ago and just as it was being realised that there was resistance to wormers.

It got so complicated that I go along with the vet's worming programme as they alter the active ingredient and do dung testing too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top