Quick worming question.

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risky business

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Hey guys quick question hopefully, will speak to a vet later today but was hoping some quick replies might clear things up!

Done a worm count on the yard and its come back very high for a couple! It's been suggested they be wormed with equimax and have a steroid injection.

My question is what is the steroid injection for? I'd ideally like to worm asap but unsure where the steroid bit comes in!

As I say I will speak to my vet later just wanted some clarification as getting conflicting opinions on it!
 
It is probably to counteract the possible inflammatory response of removing a lot of worms in one go (only a guess though!)
 
If you're worried about shifting a lot of worm in one go, then I'd use a cheap GP wormer - then 3 weeks later, use the Equimax. But - I always use Equimax in the autumn - and has been as many as 100+ horses amongst which a couple MUST have had a high worm burden - and never had a problem. Funnily enough, we had a discussion about worm counts in my own tack room just this morning. Of course the test in done on a VERY small part of one poo - and worms do live in clusters. So it's a bit hit and miss counting just a fraction - you could get 5,000 - or 50 - and both results probably totally wrong and it should be 200 if the whole thing was counted.

As you might guess, I don't do worm counts. Just worm routinely: Equamax after first frost, Equest early in the spring, and then two more through the end of spring/summer/earl autumn with the cheapest of the GP wormers - usually Eraquell. Obviously take care to avoid pasture build up: harrow and rest for at least 8 weeks, get muck heap piled up to extreme heat (even right now, it has smoke rising, lol. And the pheasants and crows help pick up the odd worm when I'm spreading it.
 
*points to previous posts suggesting use of cement mixer for multiple droppings :p. They lay eggs at certain points in the day which contributes to the aggregation. But the high should always be considered high and treated as such.
 
My girl came back with a VERY high worm burden last year. She had developed a stomach infection because of it. The vet advised she needed to be wormed with pramox, but due to the high level or worms there was a danger such a strong wormer could cause inflammation which could cause her to colic. So the vet advised a steroid injection to help prevent this
 
Thanks guys!

I've spoke to the vet and just as above it's just to protect from inflammation, so they have the steroid then get wormed! Hopefully this will clear whatever's there.
 
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