Worming horses which havent been (bit long)

[1alex1moose]

Im usually quite good at this sort of thing but i'm stumped. I've just taken on helping with two young horses. The owner is lovely but rather clueless. They are definitely of the shape that would suggest they are rather wormy. I'm going to worm them but as they haven't been done in a while (no idea how long) i dont know which one to use (double doses etc) and am also slightly concerned about the risk of colic.
At the moment I think Equest pramox is probably the best option as it nukes everything but then not sure about double doses?? Horses are 4 and 7 and get no feed except grass. I have another field and am tempted to worm them and then move them a couple of days later so as not to re-contaminate them.
Suggestions advice much appreciated!!

 

[ISHmad]

If they are in poor condition or appear to have a worm burden I personally think Pramox would be too much for them at this stage. If you read up on the net about it, I think you will find the manufacturers would agree with you.

Don't know what to suggest, but I would definitely be looking for something less powerful than Pramox right now. I think the sensible thing to do would be to speak to a vet perhaps?

Lucky for these horses that you are there to help now, worm damage is a dreadful thing and there really isn't any excuse for it these days.

 

[kerilli]

i'd have worm counts done, faecal samples and blood samples, and then you'll know exactly what worms to worm against, or not. only way to be absolutely positive you're doing it right tbh.

 

[AmyMay]

Why not give your vet a buzz and see what he suggests??

I double dosed my new horse with Strongid P when I first got him - and then did a 5 day guard six weeks later. He hadn't been wormed for quite some time.

He moved fields 24 hours after the initial double dose (having dumped his worms). And moved again after the 5 day guard.

 

[Laafet]

Agree with amymay, I used to help at a dealers yard and we always wormed everything with a five day course of Panacur equine guard when they arrived and then a wormer for tapeworm four weeks later. This didn't seem to upset the horses too much. I worry about Equest and Equimax sometimes as they are quite strong intense wormers. PEG saved my horse's life, he had only been wormed with cow wormer before I bought him and even though we wormed him to a schedule set by the vet over the winter he lost lots of weight and was really lethargic even though I was feeding him competition mix, barley and sugarbeet. I gave him a course of PEG after talking to my vet and he put on weight and returned to his normal self within a couple of weeks. Would also recommend talking to a vet.

 

[vicijp]

3 days of Guard, then Pramox.

 

[1alex1moose]

Thanks everyone - Have called the vet as I'm just not sure and think it's probably best just in case. I don't think they've been wormed for maybe a year and I just dont want to take any chances. Will tell you what happens.
Ta.

 

[Llwyncwn]

I take on rescue cases as and when I am able. It is never advised to give Pramox to a horse with unknown worming history as it is so strong. The gentlest wormer is Panacur 5 Day Guard. As the others have suggested, best option is to speak with a good horse vet. Good luck.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
3 days of Guard, then Pramox.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just curious as to why you'd only do 3 days of Panacur 5 day?
Or was it a typo?
S

 

[vicijp]

On vets advice, shifts the start of the burden slowly. Then the Pramox clears them right out.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
On vets advice, shifts the start of the burden slowly. Then the Pramox clears them right out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, but which worms do you mean? Small strongyles?
S

 

[henryhorn]

I wouldn't use Pramox just yet.
Panacur Equine Guard (I use the cow/sheep version, same stuff but cheaper) for five days, the initial worming removes them from the lumen, the last worming normally gets the next hatching lot in the stomach wall.
Then after a month double dose strongid.
you can use pramox once the initial heavy worm burden has been removed, but I think if you check with your vet he will advise the gentler method first as above.

 

[oln]

definitely panacur guard

 

[1alex1moose]

Spoke to the vet - He said hit them with the Pramox and call him if they look peaky.
They were fine!
All my flapping and they were no bother at all! Interestingly they do both look a bit skinnier though....
Still keeping an eye...
Thanks for the advice everyone! In future I'll probably go with the 5 day for piece of mind!