worming 'drama' - any ideas?

[LCG]

Was wondering if anyone had come across anything similar, or knew what is going on.....

I've had one horse (16.3 IDxTB) for 8 years and the other (15.3 TB) for 1 year. We worm the boys regularly (and TB was wormed religiously before coming to me). We gave them a double dose of Strongid P back in mid Nov which was fine (although it shifted a tapeworm in the TB which was a REAL
surprise). Then gave them the recommended dose 2 weeks ago of Equest-Pramox (we are on that regime this year!), a wormer I have never used before, but right time, right dose etc.

Within 3 days both boys had developed huge 'hollows' just in front of their hindquarters - really quite badly tucked up. Absolutely no signs of colic, and they are both bright,
shiny etc etc. Hollows v v slowly filling out now.

I did wonder if it was particularly noticeable this time as neither is carrying much fat, or whether being a new wormer had shifted a load of previously unshifted worms? Checked the manufacturers etc and no side-effects or mention of anything similar.

Anyway, they are fine and filling out now, but all very dramatic and they don't look great!

Thanks for your ideas!!

LCG

 

[darksecret99]

Havent seen that, but I know a horse that suffered anaemia following worming with a new wormer... the day after worming he was really drowsy and not himself at all, kept lying down etc... we thought it was colic, but the vet said he was probably anaemic from where the worms came away form the intestine lining and caused bleeding.... soon sorted out with a few pints of guinness / stout!! The other horse, who followed exactly the same worming routine showed no side effects at all (but still enjoyed some guinness!!)!

I'm not sure if that helps, but I guess it shows that different brands must have different effects on different worms and horses etc...

Hope they are back to normal soon!

 

[henryhorn]

we had a problem with a horse on wormer a long time ago, the owner had only ever used one type of wormer and when we did the mare with a tapeworm wormer she was incredibly ill and ended up in the equine hopsital.
They said the wormer had caused a mass migration through the stomach wall of the horse and made such a mess she got ganrene .
After she had recovered I contacted the worming company and asked why they were recommending a wormer that only got the first lot of worms which are in the lumen, apparently a second lot emerge three to five days later from the stomach wall (or could be the opposite way round, it was years ago), they admitted to be effective you needed to worm again five to seven days later, but that it would then be so expensive no-one would buy their product..
Pramox is very strong compared to other wormers so I think you're right, a previously missed batch have emerged from the wall causing this loss of condition.
If I were you I would stop worming now and do worm counts fro a while instead, only worming when and as you need to. There may be damage to the stomach that will need time to heal.
Our livery mare never got burdened again with worms as far as we knew, but did drop dead suddenly one day at a young age, I often wonder if worms had something to do with it.
I have stopped mass worming and do counts instead most of the time, partly so when we do worm it works, and partly because of the expense.

 

[brightmount]

My experience isn't exactly the same but this is something I was considering posting about to ask for ideas.

Mare came back from stud in September, not pregnant, and was wormed with Equest Pramox, the yard wormer for autumn. No ill effects.

In January she was wormed with standard Equest, and had colic a couple of days later. The vet attended and did a rectal. There was no obstruction and after jabs she relaxed and was fine the next day.

This month, before going back to the stud I had to worm her and had the choice of Pramox or Equimax. I decided on Equimax after her last reaction to Equest. The next day, colic again. This time worse and very tucked up. The vet attended, did a rectal, did jabs and the horse passed a lot of wind. Again she was fine the next day.

I can't be facing vets bills for out of hours attention every time I worm my horse, so I need a strategy for next time. I don't know why my horse has reacted the last 2 times to different products. She hasn't had colic before. She has always been wormed 4 times a year, the yard is very strict on such matters.

 

[flyingfeet]

I was advised that if you think your horse has a high worm burden to use panacur equine guard.

The 5 day course doesn't assault the system like paramox, its a much 'gentler' way to get rid of worms if they are there. Only hitch is you still need to vary wormers, so may not help the one who is having a reaction.

Interestingly the stud near me are using a herbal / homeopathic worming system and have been very impressed with the low worm counts. So something like vermex might be worth trying.

 

[brightmount]

Thanks Cotswold, I have looked up Verm-X, but in my case I won't be able to use it as my mare is going to stud and it isn't safe for in-foal mares. Worth knowing though if she doesn't take.