Horse wormer to become POM

Honestly I just bought wormers and a poo count off my vet at a normal visit cos I’m lazy, our yard normally bulk buys them and takes the vet recommendations anyway. In terms of the vet seeing the horse I imagine 90% of vets would happily prescribe to regular clients anyway? My vets will put drugs up for me off of a free convo/text/picture/video exchange anyway, if it’s a horse they’ve seen in the last 12 months, as most vaccinate chances are they’ve been seen in the last year?

I have to say I’ve only seen one post from a supplier about it and under it was loads of people calling them out for not stating it was the Republic of Ireland only, so there maybe a little bit of profiteering from those suppliers? I think someone said it was to bring it inline with EU regs so we may be safe for now?

Though I can understand the thought behind it. I’m traumatised over resistant worms and their nearly deadly, and very expensive consequences right now. 😩 My poor baby was clear after his surgery, clear 4 weeks later and here we are 6 weeks after and he has a high count. We nearly didn’t count but I was worried as his discharge sheet advised to double dose this time and vet suggested steroids if he had any burden to lessen colic risk. 😬😰 we were all pretty shocked it came back high. Only thought now is something on the yard is carrying a particularly resistant stock and he is particularly vulnerable. But that’s an issue for after the next few days to try and address. I will honestly say as an owner though the technicalities of parasites are not something I’ve ever deeply researched beyond regular counts/yard wide worming at certain times of year. So I would understand any push to legislate it a bit more if it helps with reducing resistance, tragically like others have said there are many who neglect vet care and would simply not bother.
 
I know this is ROI but given my 13yo mare expelled crab apple induced roundworms despite a clear FEC 6 weeks earlier I'm now going to throw a summer wormer down mine too - Westgate said they aren't always picked up in FEC.

Pony lost her bloated look after being wormed and got much more glossy too.
 
SEL said:
I know this is ROI but given my 13yo mare expelled crab apple induced roundworms despite a clear FEC 6 weeks earlier I'm now going to throw a summer wormer down mine too - Westgate said they aren't always picked up in FEC.

Pony lost her bloated look after being wormed and got much more glossy too.
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I've heard that the fecal counts just aren't accurate and frequently give false negatives.
 
FionaDenmark said:
I've heard that the fecal counts just aren't accurate and frequently give false negatives.
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They can only count the eggs in a given sample, which is why its important to sample from as many different poos as possible. If we don't trust the result, we can retest. I'm always suspicious when one of mine comes back clear, so I test her more often.
 
I can’t see this is such a big deal, won’t it just be like dog wormers and when they have their booster you can get a script or the practice can then issue on request.
When you think if the harm indiscriminate worming does.
 
My vets charge £30 per prescription, and are an independent practice so drugs from them are expensive as they don't get the discounts larger chain vets do. I worm twice a year and fec in between but for 2 horses that would be £120 a year, so I really hope it doesn't come over here.

Edit - my 2 are already on POM so I already have to pay for the 6 monthly check (about £50 each) anyway, but this would be another additional cost to consider too.

I can see conscientious owners doing it because they have to, and the less conscientious just simply not worming.

If resistance is a problem there's got to be a better approach to managing it. And surely noone nowadays is still whacking a wormer down every 6 weeks or whatever was traditionally advised?!
 
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chaps89 said:
My vets charge £30 per prescription, and are an independent practice so drugs from them are expensive as they don't get the discounts larger chain vets do. I worm twice a year and fec in between but for 2 horses that would be £120 a year, so I really hope it doesn't come over here.

Edit - my 2 are already on POM so I already have to pay for the 6 monthly check (about £50 each) anyway, but this would be another additional cost to consider too.

I can see conscientious owners doing it because they have to, and the less conscientious just simply not worming.

If resistance is a problem there's got to be a better approach to managing it. And surely noone nowadays is still whacking a wormer down every 6 weeks or whatever was traditionally advised?!
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You’d be surprised!! Many still do this!

I would imagine vets would want you to use their worming surveillance programme and prescription cost would be factored into the cost of you needed it, would certainly cut down on people worming with the wrong thing or ad hoc rather than when it’s needed!
 
I’m actually not massively bothered if it did happen.
All my horses are on a vet plan which includes FEC, saliva and one wormer a year and is competitively priced.
I’ve bought additional wormers from my vet and they have only been about £1 more than the shops (and I’d save that in diesel from not having to go get them!)
 
ihatework said:
I’m actually not massively bothered if it did happen.
All my horses are on a vet plan which includes FEC, saliva and one wormer a year and is competitively priced.
I’ve bought additional wormers from my vet and they have only been about £1 more than the shops (and I’d save that in diesel from not having to go get them!)
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Yes lots of vets do this now it’s very good value
 
Nocturnal said:
Something to consider when buying a young horse from Ireland now I suppose.
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I can't see it making any difference tbh. Anywhere reputable already does egg counts and worms accordingly and will continue to do so. The ones that won't bother are the ones that most likely already don't bother worming (and will tend to be be the low end type). I actually think that, although slightly inconvenient, it's a good thing as wormer resistance is becoming so prevalent.
 
IrishMilo said:
Who is doing this... and why?!
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found this and it seems true people are actually taking horse wormers in the belief they have parasites!
 
cremedemonthe said:

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found this and it seems true people are actually taking horse wormers in the belief they have parasites!
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Oh my god I’ve seen it all now! Someone has ivermectin they are about to take 😳 You do have to wonder…! Bonkers
 
cremedemonthe said:

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found this and it seems true people are actually taking horse wormers in the belief they have parasites!
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Not just parasites. Ivermectin does modulate the immune system and in animal models helps restore myelin around neuronal sheaths. I have a friend who brought a load back from the US, where you can get it far too easily. She gave it to me because she couldn't stand the taste (she does have MS), but I did give her a lecture on anthelmintic resistance and not consulting her medical team before throwing wormer down her neck daily!
 
Clodagh said:
I can’t see this is such a big deal, won’t it just be like dog wormers and when they have their booster you can get a script or the practice can then issue on request.
When you think if the harm indiscriminate worming does.
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It pushes the cost up and a lot of people won't bother. In order to issue a prescription they'd need to have seen the horse within the last 6 months. How many horses never see the vet? Mine only sees the vet for a tetanus vaccination every 2 years (fingers crossed), so that's a lot of extra cost, aside from the prescription charge itself, which my vets charge around £23 for.

Yet again the responsible owners are penalised because of the irresponsible ones.
 
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