Worm counts - who has them done?

S

SpruceRI

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 July 2006
Messages
5,369
Visit site
In the last 18months I've started having regular worm counts done, as I've always religiously wormed with the correct product type at the correct time of the year, but gave up the all year round weekly poo pick-ups a few years ago.

It was a bit of an experiment with a friend who never wormed, but picked up her poo every day, rain or shine.

Was surprised to find that mine had nil evidence of worm eggs [for the types of worms they CAN test for in poo] and my friends ponies, one had a medium burden and the other low.

So, I take it that her ponies had harboured the worms for the number of years she had them, but the poo picking had halted the spread or them getting any worse, and the products I was using were being effective?

I've recently introduced a youngster and she's tested as having a low count, so they'll all be wormed until she comes up with nil, and then I'll go back to having regular worm counts and only worming for bots and tapeworm eggs/larvae for which don't show up on the count.

Does anyone else do it this way?
 
Some horses never build up a resistance to worms and can carry a burden as 'normal' for them despite good field management.

But mine are frequently egg counted alongside poo picking daily and we get <50 epg. I do tapes and de-bot after frosts though.
 
I also work this way. The counts come back as <50epg which is basically too few to count and is the lowest result possible. I worm for tapes only if its indictaed on a blood test (normally works out to be around every 2 years) and worm for encysteds as normal.

I do use a herbal wormer as well plus I poo pick whenever I can but I cant be religious about it in the winter.

Ive been keeping horses this way for many many years now and the system really does seem not only to work but suit horses and grazing land better than banging chemicals through them every 8/12 weeks whether they need it or not.
 
I do it this way too, always wormed regularly when I was in livery but now they are at home & my field management is very good I do worm counts, but obviously worm for tapeworm anyway.
 
I worm for Bots too because we get a lot of the little blighters laying eggs on the ponies. I scrape the eggs off where I can, but as fast as I do it, they're back.

As I said, on the poo picking post, I only poo pick the summer pony paddocks. The winter fields get 6 months off and I harrow and roll them when they're dry enough. I think it's the resting and rotating of the fields that helps more than anything.
 
In the summer I poo pick every day which is great & looks neat as well but now the winter is here I can only poo pick weekends. I have 2 horses grazing together. It works much better for me this way. The cost of the worm count can be as dear as the wormer but what's the point in worming if they don't need it. I harrow, roll & fertiliser in the spring and try to keep one good field for the "proper winter".
 
I have daily poo picked and worm counted for five years now, and always get <50 epg results. I then worm for Tapeworm when required. We never seem to get bots!
 
I do similar - I don't worm throughout the year, but do egg counts and worm for tapeworm Spring and Autumn and Bots at Christmas time. I haven't had a positive worm count since I have been doing this.
 
I poo pick daily, and worm count regularly. Two of mine are on 0, and the other has a minimal count as she was grazed in the corner of a wormy field when she was on box rest recovery.
I worm in autumn for encysted small redworm, tapeworm and bots...
S
laugh.gif
 
I recently posted about worm counts as i keep my two in a field on their own and regulaly poo pick. I worm every 6 weeks, and the additional wormers required at the relevant time of year. Now am i right in thinking that to do a worm count, the poo is best collected and tested just before the next wormer is due??

Also i have been considering the above programmes of worm counts and then worm for tapeworm, bots and encysted small redworm but i go to many shows in the summer and wondered whether Inky could pick anything else up if he grazed on the showground?? Would i still be able to do the above programme or would regular worming be better?

Hope this makes sense!
 
Yes, you do a worm count just before the next worming is due, then you can worm or not acording to the count. Going to shows shouldn't increas the risk too much, but the worm counts will show up anything she does pick up.
 
I've done this once. As my horse is at livery, the fields are religiously poo picked every day and he is on a worming routine. He has his own paddock.
I do believe that you have to get these counts done at different periods of the yr to get a true reflection of the burden of all worms.
 
It is great to read that so many people are going over to a programme based on counts now. I've been trying to get the message over about over use of wormers for years now and helping people to understand that we have an alternative.

At home we have been running on counts for over ten years now, initially with our vets until we started the lab. If your horses live in good clean conditions then they don't need as many wormers as a full programme might suggest. They do of course need the right wormers at the right time. We test lots of horses on worming programmes and they still have worm problems.

Some of the horses who have come to live here over the years have started out with horrendous counts too, one was 6500 epg and looked fine.

If you want any help with worming we are qualified SQP's and will always do our best to sort things out.
 
[ QUOTE ]
helping people to understand that we have an alternative.

If you want any help with worming we are qualified SQP's and will always do our best to sort things out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the offer of help...but I find your post just a little patronising
frown.gif
Are you an expert in parasitology?
S
smile.gif
 
Shilasdair, this is the person that runs/owns Westgate labs, one of the worm count companies. (as per advert in signature)
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry if you feel that way it's not meant at all.
The fact is that many people have trouble understanding worming.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the general move to strategic worming rather than the old fashioned worm every 6 to 8 weeks idea has been promoted by vets and other bodies, too. Didn't mean you 'worm county' people don't play a part...but there are other drivers to horse owners' behaviours too.....that's all.
Blame my chocolate deficiency for my grumpiness.
It's a strange question, I know....but do they know why onagers don't have horsey worm problems yet? Just curious!
S
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Shilasdair, this is the person that runs/owns Westgate labs, one of the worm count companies. (as per advert in signature)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, the advert in the signature would have been a hint...but obviously it can't be there really, as advertising is not permitted in the T & C's....
grin.gif

But, no offence to Westgate people...but worm counts aren't that challenging (even I could do my own worm counts if I wasn't so lazy
wink.gif
) so by themself they aren't proof of expertise, if you understand me.
S
smile.gif
 
I do a worm count every 12 weeks or so and worm accordingly - but haven't had to worm for anything other than tape for two years. Going to give them Equest Pramox this winter to deal with any encysted redworm. We don't poo pick as the fields are way too big - we'd be there all day, every day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top