Worming for Tapeworm and Encysted Redworm

patchwork puzzle

patchwork puzzle

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So, I've used eQuest for my two in the past along with worm counts but now with the negative and worrying stories which are emerging around this wormer, I don't want to continue to use it.
I'm wondering what recommendations would be for alternatives please :-)?
(Previous to this I was still in the camp of worming regularly throughout the year)
Thank you :-)
 
You can test for tapeworm now and may not need to worm for it but if you do you can use equitape for tapeworm and then a few weeks later use the plain equest. I'm assuming you mean the equest pramox has had negative stories.
 
The only other wormer licensed for use for encysted redworm is Panancur 5 day guard, BUT there is widespread resistance to this drug group...if your horse hasn't had a probelm with Equest I would continue using it as a winter dose. You can worm separately for tapeworm with either a double dose of Strongid P or a single dose of equitape.

Current thinking is to use Equest (moxidectin) just once during winter and base the rest of your plan around testing, now, say you had a horse tested every 6-8 weeks and a tapeworm saliva test twice a year and for the last 3 years all had been negative, it would be safe then to drop the winter dose,But this would require a few years of testing and impeccable pasture management.
 
After a nil worm count done......I have brought Equitape to deal with tapes....I'm still skeptical on worm counts TBH.....As regularly did a worming program,but where I was she liked using the SMART system.....SMART = Simply Monitor, Assess the Risk, Treat accordingly.
 
I've been told we must blanket worm (thereby increasing resistance) and even if worm counts are clear, wormers must be used as a 'preventative measure'. It's a joke. One imagines that very soon, wormers will only be available via prescription if people insist on blanket worming.

The BHS recommends a max of 3 products to be used annually, a study from Bristol university says once for encysted red worm only as you can saliva test for tapes. I would agree with this, chucking chemicals down my horse for no good reason (when fields aren't even poo picked!!) strikes me as ridiculous and discounts the welfare of the horse, which should be top priority.
 
The unconfirmed negative publicity about equest paramox, comes from having two drugs in one (the encysted and tape) - plain equest is realistically the only option for encysted worms - so if you are worried I would use equest - not the paramox version, then some time later test or treat for tapes

I'm not aware of an issues with plain equest
 
maisie06 said:
The only other wormer licensed for use for encysted redworm is Panancur 5 day guard, BUT there is widespread resistance to this drug group...if your horse hasn't had a probelm with Equest I would continue using it as a winter dose. You can worm separately for tapeworm with either a double dose of Strongid P or a single dose of equitape.

Current thinking is to use Equest (moxidectin) just once during winter and base the rest of your plan around testing, now, say you had a horse tested every 6-8 weeks and a tapeworm saliva test twice a year and for the last 3 years all had been negative, it would be safe then to drop the winter dose,But this would require a few years of testing and impeccable pasture management.
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^^this is my routine, though up to now I've been worming for tape rather than using the test. One of mine always comes back with a nil count, the other shows up a low count after 6-12 months so we will continue to worm in the autumn/winter & monitor the rest of the year.
 
So fantastic that people are finally getting it with worming! Some fab responses here and correct information. We are currently having a discussion about the need to worm for encysted redworm on the Westgate FB page. Apparently in other countries, notably Sweden where one of the contributors works as a parasitoligist there is no history of treating in winter for encysted redworm!

Cinnamon toast I am flabberghasted that anyone would insist on blanket worming horses where there are few worms. What planet is this? Resistance here we come.

The tapeworm test is really proving its worth and will become the norm in the future. Thousands of our customers are already using this and I do with my own small herd too. So useful.
 
Oh dear now I am confused.

My horse came back with a medium count for redworm this week. Today I was planning on worming with equvalan (then doing tapeworm next week after the tape test) but from what I have now seen, todays worming wont cover encysted redworm?!

I do have equest pramox but am a bit wary to use it as my horse has had colic in the past (although not necessarily linked to worming) I just was planning on using two seperate wormers to be gentler on my horses system.

What should I be doing?!
 
Speak to the people who did your count - they and other licenced wormer retailers are really the only people qualified to give you advice

Personally in your situation and if you don;t want to use paramox, with the resistance to Panacure I would do normal equest which will get the encysted ones and then separately test or treat for tapes a little later on
 
Haphazardhacker said:
Oh dear now I am confused.

My horse came back with a medium count for redworm this week. Today I was planning on worming with equvalan (then doing tapeworm next week after the tape test) but from what I have now seen, todays worming wont cover encysted redworm?!

I do have equest pramox but am a bit wary to use it as my horse has had colic in the past (although not necessarily linked to worming) I just was planning on using two seperate wormers to be gentler on my horses system.

What should I be doing?!
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I wouldn't worry about encysted just yet - treat for them around end of dec/early jan, it is way too warm and early to worry just yet! the fact you have a medium count still shows your horse has egg laying adult worms - these don't encyst it's the larvae that do....so treat with the eqvalan now to kill the adults and carry on with equitape as normal, then equest in january..... (P.S I'm qualified to give this advice!)
 
I'm very keen on my worm counting now, although I don't think I do as many counts as you're supposed to but that's because our two always have super low counts (as in, nothing found) and they only graze together. Think I've only done one this year. I did the tapeworm test for the first time in September (very easy and efficient) and that came back clear too so I will just be working for encysted redworm in Dec/ Jan. I've been on yards where blanket working is done and hated it. I like managing my own with worm counts :)
 
Ok, I have wormed with an ivermectin this morning. Will get thr tape worm test and go from there. I am now sort of in charge of the worming of the field my horse is in, so have said to the other owner it is best to do equest pramox when its much colder, she is fine with that.

The other winter field has just done equest pramox this morning, glad i got the right advice.
 
Haphazardhacker said:
Ok, I have wormed with an ivermectin this morning. Will get thr tape worm test and go from there. I am now sort of in charge of the worming of the field my horse is in, so have said to the other owner it is best to do equest pramox when its much colder, she is fine with that.

The other winter field has just done equest pramox this morning, glad i got the right advice.
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Glad you have got sorted! I have just done the tapeworm test for mine - all clear so no need for me to worm until december equest dose! So that only means one wormer since january!!
 
Borderreiver said:
Cinnamon toast I am flabberghasted that anyone would insist on blanket worming horses where there are few worms. What planet is this? Resistance here we come.

The tapeworm test is really proving its worth and will become the norm in the future. Thousands of our customers are already using this and I do with my own small herd too. So useful.
Click to expand...

I know, we're all despairing, plus the fields aren't poo picked, so there seems zero point in blanket worming. Now there's a tapeworm test, I'd rather do annual for encysted red worm and worm count the rest of the time. I don't want to shove chemicals down my horse for no reason, but all we get told is it's yard policy. We don't want to be awkward, but the welfare of my horse has to come first.
 
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