What do you think of year pack wormers?

[mrsjcmking]

I was looking at wormers for a horse Im hoping to get soon.

I've seen the Equest/Equest Pramox year pack and wonder if you would recommend this or whether you think it's better to buy the individual ones?

What are your recommendations for wormers?

 

[Rollin]

I have 13 horses to worm. I worked out that it was cheaper to worm for the season and type of worm. Some wormers do everything but with so many the costs are too high - for me.

 

[makkapakka]

When I first got my horse the Equest/Pramox seemed a very simple solution - 1 product 3x year and then pramox in autumn. Sorted. Its 12 weekly frequency must(?) make it more economical than using those which are 6-8 weekly. But have not looked at costs of all products.

However, whatever you use this year, you will need to find a different regime/family of wormers for following year and ideally for 3rd year as well to avoid resistance. Something I am trying to plan out myself.....if anyone has suggestions for rotation (with added complication of a foal/lactating mare this year)?

Those who worm count claim it is ultimately the cheapest after the initial cost of testing - think there is a thread elsewhere on it.

Equest is also only one of two wormers licenced to kill encysted redworms, so probably need to use it at least once biannually (alternating with other product).

In terms of pasture management and looking at alternatives, I also read that ivermectin wormers work against invertibrates breaking down the dung, so removing dung from pastures is required rather than harrowing. Something else to consider when looking at worm control holistically.

I would do at least one year of equest/pramox, as it seems so simple, then alternate with other solutions (unfortunately not as simple) to meet requirements for redworms, roundworms, tapes and bots at different times of year.

 

[trakehnersrock!]

I like the year pack, get it and you're set for the year, even get little stickers to put on your calendar to remind you when to give them. Don't forget to change your type of wormer every year to avoid resistance.

 

[Donkeymad]

If you don't worm count, the year pack is perfect, and you can use it several years running if you want, or you can seek something different the next year.

 

[mrsjcmking]

Thanks!

 

[HelenS1]

CWG do a 4 year worning plan which you can download from their equi cub section of the website, saves all the hassle of trying to work them out and gives dates products etc

 

[SazzyB]

Also, it is worth getting a worm count done initially, so you know what your new horse has.
2 on our yard have been seriously ill with tape, and this year we did a worm count - loads came back high for tape and most nil for everything else.

There are only 2 different chemicals for tapeworm so make sure you change chemical and not only the brand, when you do your rotation.

And don't assume that because your horse looks healthy he hasn't got worms! Mine looked stunningly healthy right before he ended up in horsepital for a week!

There is huge resistance to wormers now, and no new wormers being developed, which is why it is really important to only worm count if you can. It costs around £7 and is really easy - just buy a pack from Westgate or similar. You just send a sample of poo in their envelope and get results within a day or so. If comes back low/zero then you don't worm.

You do still need to worm once a year for tape (unless you are having annual blood count for tape - can be done by your vet with your annual jabs), and also need to worm in winter for the encysteds etc.

 

[Glayva]

our yard of over 40 horses has been doing worm counts and so far in over a year only 4 horses have needed wormed! Save yourself money, and stop putting chemicals into them when they might not need it and see about switching to worm counts.

 

[ISHmad]

We worm count twice a year and worm twice a year with Equest and Equitape. (Horses don't like the Pramox). Worm counts do not test for tapeworm, you would need blood tests for that if you were worried about tapes.