Worming- very Confused

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chrisharri

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Hello!
I bought my mare in August from a dealer, and she was in ok condition. I wormed her when I got her back to my livery yard, but I can't remember what with. She seemed to improve condition. Then iwormed her again on 14/11 with Equimax and she put plenty of weight on. Then I moved yards. She started to drop weight and I just figured it was due to winter, change of routine, etc. I had the vet out, she did a worm count and blood test and the results have come back that my mare has tape worm. So I nipped to my local tack shop today and got her another Equimax. What do I do next? Where have the worms come from? Do I need to do a double dose and what exactly is a double dose? Thanks! xx
 
I would worm with something different every time, so that the worms dont become immune to the drugs.

So if you used equimax last time you could use strongid p as that uses pyrantel rather than praziquantel as the active ingredient, if i remember rightly!

A double dose is simply twice the recommended dose for your weight of horse, ie with strongid P if you are only worming for strongyles then its one dose, if you want to tackle tapes as well you double it.

Best thing would be to get a pack from westgate labs and do regular worm counts, they will then advise on what to worm with, rotating the wormer is best to stop resistance to them and if you have a low count you then dont worm at all.

http://www.westgatelabs.co.uk/
 
Tapeworms are not the same as other parasitic worms they are not passed on from horses in they same way but are passed on from a mite that is present on the land. You will not kill them with all wormers and testing can only be done by blood testing.
 
Actually tape worm eggs are picked up in poo counts so they are well worth doing. However, just because eggs are not picked up does not mean tapeworms arent present, theyre just not in the egg laying stage.

The wormers get rid of them from the horse, but if they are still grazing pasture/bedding infected with them they will obviously just pick them up again.
 
Tapeworm eggs often show in a worm count, but it is not a reliable test for them. Obviously if we see them then they are reported, but a horse can have tapeworm and no eggs show. This is why you should always add at least one dose a year and sometimes two, to cover tapeworm.
To the OP, if you wormed with Equimax in November then that was a good choice to treat tapes. The tapeworm blood test is an antibody test so it is just possible that your horse still showed tapeworm antibodies from before that dose. Wise to treat tapes again though just in case, following that result. However, a better choice of wormer at this time of year would be Equest Pramox as that will cover encysted redworm as well as tapeworm. Lots more could be said but that's enough for here.

Pic of tapeworm egg as seen in dung samples here:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...35487861.33102.145661218836446&type=3&theater
 
Thank you for all of your replies. It's very complicated! Do I need to get rid of all of my horses bedding? Could these worm eggs be in the haylage? What shall I do next? Do i just wait now and see if she puts weight on ( might be difficult as she also has a broken jaw!!) or do I get her an equest pramox in 10 days and give that to her? I have nevere had a horse with tapeworm before, and its very difficult to know what to do.
 
Dont worry too much about the worms, it is probably enough to worry about her having a broken jaw:eek:
The bedding does not need removing and there is no need to worry about the haylage, once she has had the treatment she should be clear and can be done again spring and autumn to keep on top of things, although it is likely that she has had the burden since before you bought her and as the other tests were ok you have done well so far.
If she is on box rest while recovering she will at least be at no risk from picking up any more.
 
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