Worm egg counts, which company to use?

[Paint it Lucky]

As title really! I'd like to get my horses tested, there seem to be a lot of different places that do it so just wondering who everyone uses and how good they are? Thanks

 

[milliepops]

Always had good service from Westgate labs.
My vets offer some FECs as part of an annual health bundle so I use them too.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Westgate.

 

[HashRouge]

Westgate. I didn't even know there were other options! But seriously, the service Westgate offer is really, really good.

 

[Jnhuk]

another vote for westgate

Did my lot today and first time with the saliva test too

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Westgate look good, I have 3 horses, is it worth getting 3 of the 4 count packs? Seems the best value way to do it. We've recently moved yards to somewhere where they have their own field having previously been in a shared one on a big yard. I would like to test them regularly.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I use the 4 count packs for my 3 .

Westgate were super helpful when my rescue foster filly unexpectedly threw up a high count (3250 epg) despite a reguiar previous worming programme, and provided ongoing support and advice.

 

[Fiona]

My vet does it....

Fiona

 

[{97702}]

Westgate every time - excellent service, brilliant advice

 

[case895]

Mole Valley.

 

[popsdosh]

A high proportion of Vets use Westgate. Even though you think their doing it.

 

[HashRouge]

A high proportion of Vets use Westgate. Even though you think their doing it.

Yes that was my understanding too.

 

[Procrastination]

I use my vets, who I know do it themselves. Costs around £5 so far cheaper than westgate

 

[Fiona]

A high proportion of Vets use Westgate. Even though you think their doing it.

My vet did it, he showed me when I was up in the surgery that afternoon....

Very well priced too

Fiona

 

[Wagtail]

I have a lady who comes to the yard and does it in my tack room. You get to see the eggs yourself under the microscope (if any are present). She also has a weigh bridge and advises on the worming of each horse individually. Some owners choose to have the saliva test done too. She only charges £10 per horse for normal worm counts. £17.50 for tapeworm (saliva) counts.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I would always use a lab like Westgate (as it happens, I do my own). Not many practices have dedicated lab staff or even staff that are not pushed for time or trained in good laboratory practise. For rigorous testing and reproducibility, you need a decent lab imo.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I was going to start doing my own WEC's, as I'm lab trained so could follow the protocol pretty easily. However, whilst it's easy to pick up an adequate s/h microscope on ebay, Westgate also centrifuge their samples, and I decided that it was easier to let the experts keep on doing their job rather than go centrifuge hunting as well.

Maybe if I had lots of horses I'd rethink it, but with only 3, it wasn't going to be worth it. I pay £30 for a 4 count pack, so £7.50 per test. The on going advice over several months that I had from Kristy at Westgate for my foster filly was excellent, too.

 

[Sealine]

Another vote for Westgate. They were recommended by our vet practice. They are very helpful and give advice if you get abnormal results re: what you wormers you need to use etc.

 

[Champers and Co]

I sent a sample to Westgate and never heard back! Although looking at this thread that must not be the norm....

Although to be fair its probably mostly my fault as I never really followed it up.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Another vote for Westgate. I used to use Abbey Diagnostics however they take so long to send the result to you & every time they have some excuse as to why it took that length of time. They are totally unproffesional, cheaper than Westgate but they are not reliable!