Worming via stomach tube

[SuperHorse]

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has any experience of getting their horse stomach tubed as a means of worming and what are your thoughts on it? I'd never heard of it before, but one of my horses is currently with a pro rider and he got the whole yard done. My horse has always been on a conventional worming program, but he's never looked at his best this time of year - but he now looks as good as I've ever seen him. I'm considering getting my 3 year old done, as he's quite poor and seems to find it hard to put on condition.
Does anyone else do this or have any thoughts on it?
Thanks!!!

 

[alsiola]

It used to be commonplace when easy to use syringe wormers weren't available, and a large volume of solution needed to be got into the horse. I guess it could still be useful for a horse that spat wormers out, or was otherwise impossible to worm with normal wormers, but other than this I can't see any reason to do it.

 

[Angelbones]

Do you mean just delivering the standard worming drugs via a tube direct to the stomach rather than giving the same drugs into the mouth?

I may be missing something here but I can't see what difference it would really make - surely the drugs don't reduce in effectiveness before they reach the stomach if given by mouth?

Personally I wouldn't want to put my horses through tubing 4 times a year just for that. I can see that some horses find worming drugs unpalatable and this method would avoid them spitting it out and avoid the battle that comes along with trying to administer wormers to such horses, but it seems a very drastic way around it when there are many other methods than can trick a horse into taking wormers orally but I accept that sometimes needs must.

 

[SuperHorse]

I'm not too sure what medication is used - it's not normal worker (as in conventional paste) just delivered via a tube, but I'm sure the active ingredients would have to be much the same. I think the tubing might be a stronger solution and therefore more effective though? And afaik it only needs to be done once a year... It's not something I'm necessarily considering using as a standard worming method, just wondering if it might be worth getting my youngster done as a one off to try and improve his condition and then continue with conventional worming / worm counts going forward?

 

[amage]

Yes we do it twice a year. We use Oramec with warmed Carron Oil and it turns them inside out they look fabulous after it. We always follow it up with 2/3 days of natural yoghurt. We do this before the racehorses are let off for the summer and when they come in off their break. It's a very old school thing and we always see super results with it hence why we keep doing it. Even a horse that looks perfect comes on after it. Our vet is very very good at tubing which is important