Help - yearlings look wormy but worm count is negative?

muckypony

muckypony

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 August 2012
Messages
1,563
Visit site
Hi all.

Both of my shetland yearlings look wormy (I think they do anyway). They look a little fat (not particularly overweight though) but you can feel their ribs without even pressing, one more so than the other.

I have wormed with advice from my vet since I got them and had a worm count done which today has come back negative. Although it doesn't cover tapeworms my vet has said I have wormed for that so they shouldn't be a problem.

My vet reccomends having their teeth checked.

What would you do? I have a really awful feeling that I've taken the term 'shetlands live on nothing' a bit too far and been a bit too obsessed with their weight... They get a small hard feed in the evening (hi-fi and pony nuts with a sludge of veg oil) a big soaked haynet to share overnight and graze 8-6 on quite sparse grazing.

Any advice will be welcomed!!
 
ChristmasSparkles said:
Worm counts don't show pin or tape worm. Are they clear for that?
Click to expand...

As above, I've treated all I can for tape and my vet confirmed that.

I'm pretty sure they have pinworm and (again with vet guidance) I'm treating them for it. But as far as I'm aware pinworm doesn't actually affect them like other worms do, they make their hindquarters itchy and is unpleasant for them but shouldn't be affecting them inside.

At a loss!
 
I'd drop the vegetable oil - it's mostly from GM crops and is highly chemically processed. It's also high in omega 6 which is pro-inflammatory. You're better off feeding ground linseed if you want to add fat/oil to the diet - it's good for adding condition, a shine to the coat and boosting immunity.
 
There was a letter in the H&H that a horse had a bad colic which was caused through an over burden of worms despite the fact that they had regular worm counts and blood tests for tape worm.

I have never been that certain of worm counts. I tried but, found I was getting clear counts and yet the horses did not look as they should. Looked better after they were wormed.
 
Thanks

I've never done a worm count before, and they will be wormed with the 5 day again this week so if it has missed any then that should get them.
 
worm counts are fraught with potential inaccuracies so I wouldn't completely trust them ;).

Are you able to summarise what you have wormed them with and when though am sure vet was right.
 
Fortunately I know exactly what they've had and when!

At the beginning of Feb they had a 5 day panacur
End of Feb they had Equest Pramox
Beginning of April they had a double dose of Strongid-P
 
Id say they are probably clear too. Young growing horses' weights can fluctuate quite significantly As they have growth spurts, could that be it?
 
They've had pyrantel embonate, praziquantel, fenbendazole and moxidectin. Either you've got very resistant worms, or they're covered ;)

Out of interest, hire do you manage their grazing?
 
I hope its their weight changing as they grow... Do horses do this like children do, as weird as that sounds..? I don't have children myself but I'm sure I've heard people say they go out and then up?

I haven't got masses of of land to manage if im honest, but its poo picked every day. I need to find somewhere bigger but its easier said than done!
 
Oh and yes, they have growth spurts like children do, hence why the could be putting their calories into growing up not out right now :)
 
Thanks :)

I've just spoken to their breeders who are fab and have said the same thing so feeling a bit better about it now.

This is the downside of having a private yard... no one to tell me to man up! :rolleyes:
 
muckypony said:
Fortunately I know exactly what they've had and when!

At the beginning of Feb they had a 5 day panacur
End of Feb they had Equest Pramox
Beginning of April they had a double dose of Strongid-P
Click to expand...

That is a very strong worming treatment, especially so close together. I would be amazed if there's a strong worm burden left after that. Pramox in particular lasts a long time in the body which is why there is a 13 week window between wormers. It's actually so strong it's killing off dung beetles! If you get really worried, try them on a pre and pro biotic, just like people need those yoghurt drinks after antibiotics.

Yearlings are proven to be the highest egg shedders of the horse population so poo picking regularly is really important. Stick with the egg counts and worm accordingly, in my opinion. Also agree with the growing up and not out, especially this time of year.
 
If you have yearlings with pot bellies the usual cause once worms are ruled out is lack of protein in their diet. A suitable youngstock feed, combined with a probiotic should sort this out in no time. My advice is do not feed to the level suggested on the bag however, use in moderation as you do not want the yearling to get fat, just to utilise the nutrients properly.
 
Think you've got the worm aspect covered,but have you looked at diet to ensure they are getting enough vitamins & minerals which are essential for youngsters.would drop the h&p nuts,as you are probably not feeding or going to feed at the recommend amounts[due to lami] & replace with hifi balancer,a course of probiotics would help after all the chemicals[wormers]to re establish bacteria in the gut,protexin probiotics are excellent.
 
You mention that your vet suggests that their teeth are checked. Have you noticed them quidding? Also look at the length of fibres in their dung - lots of long fibres will mean they are not chewing well and then teeth could be a contributing factor.
 
Teeth must be done as yearlings anyway, if teeth are not wearing properly food wont be chewed properly so the bulk will go straight through the stomach instead of it doing its thing and getting the goodness out of the food, if teeth are not done due to bad chewing horses and ponies get colic. So get teeth done. Shetties will always look like their stomachs are too big due to gravity until they are actually doing work ie driving, being ridden when the stomach muscles will tighten up with fitness. Are their hip bones covered with some flesh if they are then thats good, but if not then you need to take action.
 
Sorry I have not replied... Phone troubles and had not realised I'd had so many replies! Thank you!

In answer to a few of the questions...
Their hip bones are covered, they don't strike me as abnormal.

Their poo also looks normal, fibres aren't long, ones is a little harder than what I would think is ideal but they don't have much grass so aren't getting masses of moisture from that (I tried him on pro/prebiotics, soaked hay and bran to try and loosen him up, nothing changed and hes fine in himself so not too worried - should I be?

I haven't seen them quidding whatsoever.

I have put them back on a youngstock supplement (I took them off it as the spring grass started to come through, shouldn't have as thinking about it I think its since about then that they have started looking poor!

Very grateful for all your advice. All in all they seem 'healthy'. Coats are shiny, they have plenty of energy to play with each other (very rough I must say!). I have been advised by several people who have young shetlands that they need feeding more than adults do, I have put them on some speedybeet to see if that help - yet I have the only shettie in the world who isn't bothered about food and he isn't keen on it!!

I will keep you updated... Due to go to a Shetland show on Sunday and although they aren't likely to do well I want them to go for experience as well as to see what other yearlings are looking like!

:)
 
Well as per usual I seem to be in exactly the same place as you, in fact I was going to start a thread about it!

My two have got huuuge bellies but like yours I can easily feel their ribs and I can feel their hips bones etc. I did a worm count last week which was positive although the numbers were still pretty low, so I wormed them a few days ago. I'm thinking mine have a grass belly rather than a worm belly and I found an I thread on here from a few weeks ago suggesting that a grass belly is more common when ponies are on poor grazing as they retain the forage in their system for as long as possible to extract as many nutrients as possible. This would fit with my situation as our grazing, I would say it pretty poor quality and full of weeds.
Like you I'm also wondering if I need to be giving them a hard feed again, I stopped too when the grass started coming through...might have to start a new thread about that :o
 
I actually think you have excessively wormed! The only benefit of giving panacur guard is to do encysted redworm, which the pramox also does. So to give both within one month is way too much.

I dont think you have a worm problem by the sounds of it.
 
muckypony said:
I have put them back on a youngstock supplement (I took them off it as the spring grass started to come through, shouldn't have as thinking about it I think its since about then that they have started looking poor!
Click to expand...

I breed and raise youngsters. I know of what I speak, hence my saying it is lack of protein :) Very glad to hear you have put your youngsters back on a suitable feed, they should start to look better within the next few weeks.
 
Spring Feather said:
I breed and raise youngsters. I know of what I speak, hence my saying it is lack of protein :) Very glad to hear you have put your youngsters back on a suitable feed, they should start to look better within the next few weeks.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I hope so!

Its so difficult but I'm trying not to worry - their coats are looking fab which is obviously a good sign, and they play with each other so much that they definitely aren't lack in energy! They are due to go to their first show on Sunday, I'm still going to take them as its a Shetland show so will be good for them - even if I get told they are horrendously skinny, its all experience.... :eek::p

mel_s - the extra 5 day was for treating pinworms, all been done under vet guidance so shouldn't have done any harm!

And kat.... I'm sure were living the same life.... Our ponies need to meet one day, they must be long lost soulmates or something haha!! :p:D One day we'll look back and laugh... I mean, remember those manky lice!?
 
We so are!!! But to be honest I'm kinda glad you are going through all the same troubles as me, makes me feel better hehe :p although I hope yours don't go lame too, I'll just take one for the team on this haha :)
 
I have a miniature yearling and she is exactly like yours and worm count was clear but vet suggested we wormed anyway just in case. She is definitely looking better having been wormed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top