Help with worming

Summit

Summit

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I’m getting my new horse next week after a ten year break and Im out of the loop on wormers. I would like to do worm counts but for moving to a new yard what do you recommend and when would I start to think about worm counts? I’d forgotten how confusing it is :eek:

His last one was pramox
 
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When was the pramox?

does the new yard have any requirements?

worm counts work well, particularly when you have a few under your belt, there is a risk of false negatives though so you need a good sampling technique and preferably a good worming history when you start. They don't pick up tapes so there is a saliva/blood test for those, and you need to make sure you treat encysted redworm at some point in the winter before the spring emergence. The more worm count results you have the better picture you start to have.

There is quite a lot of resistance to fenbendazole (panacur) but it is a gentler encysteds version when required, the only other encysteds option is equest (moxidectin) or pramox (which is equest + praziquantel).

For tapes you need to use pyrantel embonate (pyratape/strongid) at double dose (there is some resistance) or praziquantel at single dose- this has been withdrawn recently as a single drug (equitape) so is now only available combined with ivermectin or moxidectin. I use the ivermectin option as I don't generally want to be treating tapes and encysteds at the same time. Historically tapes were treated october and march but this isn't advised so much anymore and a lot of people have moved to just treating once a year (or testing).
 
Thank you.....I don’t know when he had pramox and there is no requirement from the new yard. We have individual grazing.

I think I’ll get a count done to see what’s going on then take it from there
 
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I would suggest signing up with a company like Intelligent Worming. They will take the guesswork out for you and use counts etc to inform choice of wormers.
 
Summit said:
Thank you.....I don’t know when he had pramox and there is no requirement from the new yard. We have individual grazing.

I think I’ll get a count done to see what’s going on then take it from there
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A single count really won't give you enough information to not worm him if you cannot find out when he was wormed with pramox.
 
ester said:
A single count really won't give you enough information to not worm him if you cannot find out when he was wormed with pramox.
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But surely there must be loads of horses bought with no idea of a previous worming programme? I need to start somewhere so I’ll be guided by the lab
 
Yes of course, but as I said in my first post it is not best practice to then rely on a single egg count to make a decision not to worm them.

This is because of the small sample size tested and the egg laying behaviour of parasitic worms which can cause aggregation in the droppings, so that even taking pinches from different droppings can mean that a significant burden can be statistically missed. The lab test is very simple and accurate but the sampling of droppings can cause this problem- which leads to people getting multiple low results and not worming and then having a problem that they weren't aware of.

The usual recommendation for no worming history is to use 5 day panacur equine guard and a tape worm dose at the end of this. This is because panacur is a bit gentler than using a pramox. This might not be the best option/necessary for your horse if it has indeed had a pramox treatment recently.

I have tried to explain the reasoning fully in both of my posts so I do hope they have been helpful at least a bit!
 
Summit said:
But surely there must be loads of horses bought with no idea of a previous worming programme? I need to start somewhere so I’ll be guided by the lab
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Any horses that come in here we worm count initially, if they require worming they are given a combination wormer also treating tapeworm , if not they are given tapeworm only wormer (although these are about to be discontinued) we then worm everything with equest over the winter.

In your circumstances you could do a worm egg count and the saliva test for tape worm and then worm accordingly, ensuring you treat for encysted red worm in the winter.

It very much depends on your set up, any history known and how the horse will be managed. Your best off calling one of the egg count services (I use westgate who are fab) and asking for their advice on your individual situation to make sure you are covering all bases and types of worms
 
I know :), especially when you find lots of people will do things lots of different ways. If you aren't sure the various companies like westgate are definitely worth talking too for guidance :).
 
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