High worm count - retesting

[maddielove]

My mare has had consistently high worm counts over the past 18 months, escalating to a count of 2400 on the latest one! I follow our yard program which is provided by a practice that I am not a part of, it's usually a test then worm accordingly situation, never had any follow up testing after worming however with such a high count this time I would like to retest to see that the worms are actually responding to treatment.
I've received conflicting advice from my vet practice (2 vets with different approaches) and from reading online, just trying to gauge if this is a "no right answer" sort of situation but any guidance would be appreciated.
We are currently 10 days post worming and possible options are:

• Restest asap and worm accordingly via Westgate (not done this before so unsure if they recommend which wormer to use)
• Worm again with same wormer (eraquell) at 3 weeks then retest 10 days later
• Wait until 4 weeks post worming then retest and worm accordingly

Any advice welcomed!

 

[SEL]

Speak to Westgate. They are incredibly helpful and will advise how quickly to re test. They will also advise on the product to use because it sounds like you've got resistance there.

What's the paddock maintenance like? It could be the chemicals are doing there job but your horse is getting reinfected from the field.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Agree with SEL. Speak to Westgate.

I had a young foster pony who kept returning high worm counts despite regular worming, and they were super helpful in devising a strategy to help her. They don't sell wormers themselves, but will advise you as to which products to use and when.

You'll probably be asked to do another count shortly to check where you are post the latest worm dose, and then more counts in the next few months alongside the worming protocol.

 

[rabatsa]

Retest two weeks post worming. If the count is still high then you have resistance to that wormer and you need to use a different drug.

It would also mean not using the drug that the worms are resistant to again.

Westgate are very good at advising on your worming protocols, which drugs are in which brands of wormer ect so I would use them and follow their advice.

 

[maddielove]

Thanks all - Westgate it is!
I spoke with another livery last night who is in a similar situation, their horse also repeatedly has high counts but she has retested clear previously through Westgate, put it down to horse being a good host so hopefully it's the same situation for us.
Paddock maintenance could be better but it's handled by the yard, fields cleared every week-ten days. About half of the herd tested low or clear so not awful I don't think.

 

[JackFrost]

High counts aren't necessarily about resistance. I have a horse that regulalry gives counts in the thousands (4200 was my record!) while the others test at nil or the low hundreds. I have had conversations with various vets, westgate and others. It seems that some horses have high burdens as their normal. My wormy one will come down to a nil count immedaitely after worming, but goes back up to the higher numbers after a couple of months. This horse has never been ill, a poor doer or colicky, but does get soft droppings when the counts are high, and I am able to see the worms in droppings after a worming. It doesn't seem to affect the others on the same grazing. From my experience, I'd say don't panic about it, keep on top of counts and good practice but your mare is probably just one of the wormy ones.