Worming advice

[horseylass]

Hi all. Just a bit of advice on worming. Ive always been on yards where the YO sorts out worming dates, and what wormer to give.

But now i have my own little yard and need some advice on when to worm, and what to give??

I've got a few worming programmes from different places, but they are all different??

 

[dwi]

I use Equest/Pramox as it has the longest worming interval and has no known resistance.

 

[horseylass]

Do you use it all year round? And what months do you give it?

 

[dwi]

If you're ready to worm now then you should be giving Equest in February and then Pramox 13 weeks later. Your vet can help you draw up a programme if you're not sure.

 

[Gillb]

Bear in mind the recent advice from the BVA http://www.bva.co.uk/1698.aspx

Only use wormers when you really need to. Save moxidectin for encysted worms in winter. No more blanket worming or interval dosing advised.

 

[KS1]

I do worm counts all year round and only worm if the worm count is over 200. I also give an equitape twice a year for tapeworm.

Less wormers less chance of becoming resistant to them and less chemicals going into the system.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

This programme may be of interest to you.

http://www.poolhousevets.co.uk/equine_worming.html

 

[Sistersedge]

Have a look on Equest or look up encysted worms, there is a lot of info on the web. Mine has jsut spent time at the equine hospital with Low Protein form the early satges of encysted worms and i have learned that some wormers although they say will treat encysted worms they don't.... Encysted worms (if left untreated) can be a killer especially in young stock who have less immuninty. I would vary the wormers you se throughout the year. and make sure everyone regularly poo picks especially after you've had a worming session as the worms can live in the ground. Worm counts DO NOT show up up encysted worms as at this stage they are obvioulsy encysted and will not be coming out in the droppings. I have learnt the hard way. If you have youngsters and they get depressed,diareah (sorry not sure how to spell it) lose weight etc, best thing is to get blood tests done ASAP. Its bot all doom and gloom and regular worming is the Key, just be watchfull and good luck

 

[Gillb]

McSedge of course you are correct that worm counts do not show encysted worms, everyone using a worm count programme should be made aware of that. And yes a poorly youngster should be straight to the vet.

However beware using that as a reason to not use WECs, properly that is. Read the BVA link above which does emphasise that regular worming is no longer the key, whatever Fort Dodge tell you on their website.

If we keep on with interval dosing for the many horses who do not need it then soon even Moxidectin will not work on encysted worms (and it is the only one which really does at present ).None of us want that.

 

[ester]

OP to start are you poo picking regularly, once a week in winter and twice a week in summer is sufficient to break the cycle.

The sensible option to me is to worm for tape worms october and/or march with either pyrantel or praziquantel (if use pyrantel use prazi next time as some reisitance to the former)

Worm for encysted redworms with moxidectin decemberish.

then throughout the summer grazing season take regular worm counts and treat as required........ If counts are consistently low you are unlikely to have a problem with the encysted but tbh I would not be happy risking not treating.

Due to my mothers anality about daily poo picking I don't do the summer worm counts but would if elsewhere, I normally use a single ivermectin treatment mid summer just in case and as I am no longer able to do my own worm counts its financially not really viable IMO and I am not 100% convinced on the methods used giving a fully representative idea of a horses burden.