Worm Count - Advice Please

[neighneigh]

I'm just about to move to a yard which allows you to choose how and when you worm (rather than having a strict programme). The horses have individual turnout and the fields are skipped out religiously too.

I have decided to worm count as my horse reacts quite badly to wormers (they upset her stomach) so that way I only have to give her a wormer if she really needs one.

Could anyone answer these few questions for me please? (Any advice very welcomed!)

1. Which worm count companies would you recommend?

2. What is the process and how long does it take to get the results?

3. I understand you need a blood test to detect some types of worm. How often do you have the blood test and how long does it take to get the results?

4. How often do you worm count?

5. How much does it cost? (Cost won't stop me at all, just wondering!)

6. Anything else I should know!?

(Tea and cake or wine and chocolate for those who got this far!!!)

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

1. Which worm count companies would you recommend?
I use Westgate labs, very pleased with the service. I get the 4 test pack.
2. What is the process and how long does it take to get the results?
You ring or email them and order however many test packs you want, if you get the 4 pack you get a calendar thing too to record whats what. You get little clear boxes for the poop, disposable gloves, padded envelope for sending back. I choose to get my results by email and it is usually only a couple of days.
3. I understand you need a blood test to detect some types of worm. How often do you have the blood test and how long does it take to get the results?
You will need to either worm or blood test for tapeworms at least once a year in winter. I get vet to blood test when hes here anyway doing teeth and jabs, sort of annual MOT! Blood test is better as it minimises wormer resistance and chemicals in horse, you only worm if a positive result, my vet said any positive result means you should def blood test annually, if negative you could have longer spacings between tests as they are probably more resistant to the tapes if they are sharing grazing with a horse with a positive result and yet stlll manage to be negative. Results take longer for the blood test I find as they are sent away and done at the lab in regular batches not as soon as they come in, usually 1-2 weeks for result.

In addition you will still need to worm for encysted stage of redworm once a year as that doesnt show up on worm test and they havent yet developed a blood test for it. If you dont all the encysted worms can be released all in one go which can be v dangerous. NB if horse is a bit iffy with wormers avoid the combination Pramox type (which treats encysted redworm and tapeworm all in one), you can get single wormers with the same ingredients, use them 2 weeks apart to hit each worm type in turn, lower risk.
4. How often do you worm count?
I normally do it quarterly

5. How much does it cost? (Cost won't stop me at all, just wondering!)
oops cant remember that. I think it works out similar to worming but your wormers when used are likely to remain effective for you due to not building up more and more resistance so better value in long run!
6. Anything else I should know!?
Westgate are really helpful and will answer any queries, so dont worry about asking.

 

[brightmount]

Ditto everything lachlan says. If your YO has an arrangement with Westgate though, you get the worm counts cheaper, I think its around the £6 mark rather than £9 or thereabouts.

(There is another well known worm count company who charge a lot more. Nuff said).

 

[neighneigh]

Thanks both, that's really useful.

I used pramox in November (she had a particularly bad reaction to that one) but hopefully that means she should be ok for tape and red worm then.

The vet is coming in 2 weeks for teeth etc. so I'll ask him to run a blood test then and send off the the four kits from Westgate!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Westgate Lab is just one of the worm count companies. There is another, Abbey Diagnostics. Both give good service & I have used both. At the present I am using Abbey Diagnostics because they are the cheaper supplier at present. Their prices are from £6.25 per count against around £8.25 for Westgate at the present.

You post the sample off, first class postage & you normally get the result within a couple of days or so.

Having received the result, if there is anything you don't understand you can just phone them & they will tell you anything you want to know & they will also give advice regarding worming etc.

In my mind they are both very similar & the main difference is the difference in amount payable.