Worming wwyd

[chaps89]

I have had 1 mare for a number of years, always had clear worm counts.

Got a gelding companion earlier this year, they grazed together for a bit and both had clear counts (0 egg seen) start of April.

Mine went onto box rest late May, her count has just come back clear.

As she was on box rest, I've had a yearling companion for the companion.

My gelding companion has come back this time with a medium egg count.
I didn't do a count for the yearling companion as owner didn't want me to.

I am due to be putting mine back out with the 2 companions this weekend, and the other companion is due to leave sometime within the next month (I'm hoping sooner rather than later but who knows!)

1, how much do I need to worry about mine picking up worms? Should I worm her to be on the safe side once she's been out with the companions for a while?

2, do I worm the companion now, or wait until the 2nd companion has gone and do it then?

3, how long after worming do I re-test?

Never had anything come back with an issue so I usually only worm twice a year for tape/bots!

 

[little_critter]

Maybe discuss it with whoever you do the counts through, they'd be best placed to advise.

 

[chaps89]

That's a sensible idea... it's been a long day! Thanks

 

[SEL]

Personally I'd worm the one with the known count now then test both him and your other horse once the yearling has gone home. I'd want the yearling tested too but I guess that's a toughie

 

[ester]

So I am not surprised your gelding has some with a yearling companion

For retests it is usually 2 weeks after worming if you want to check that wormer has definitely worked instead of routine 6-8 weeks.
I would worm your gelding now, and count your mare and gelding in 6 weeks, if it were me.
(Are they going to worm the yearling....?)

 

[chaps89]

Can we keep fingers crossed for the yearling going please?! She's so sweet but I don't want/need 3 to clear up after when I can only half ride one of them.

I have bought a tube of equest after speaking to the helpful lady at my feed shop. It should be enough to worm both of them (companion is 12.2 though built like a brick outhouse, yearling about 10hh and really dainty, I'll weigh tape them too for a rough idea before I assume it will do both!)
Plan is to chuck the wormer down them both in the morning, poo pick daily as normal, mine will join them on Sunday afternoon and re-test in 2 weeks and fingers crossed. Hoping yearling will be gone before then.
Does that sound ok?!

 

[Gloi]

Personally I wouldn't have let the yearling get away without a worm count. That's the one shedding so you really need to see how bad he is because you are suffering the consequences of grazing with him now and your grazing getting contaminated.

 

[chaps89]

Yes, kicking myself now for not just doing it anyway.
But she's only supposed to have been here on a short term basis, and me and the owner have different approaches to these things.
If I had worm counted and it came back high, I wouldn't have been able to say anything because she'd want to know why I'd tested her too.
By that time the damage is already done to the grazing and companion. I suppose at least this way she gets a wormer :-/

 

[paddi22]

I'd just worm test the yearling on the sly? at least you k now what you'd be dealing with

 

[chaps89]

How long for the wormer to do its job?
Bigger mare was supposed to do 3 nights in the sick bay to get her used to overnight turnout again then back in the field with the other 2 companions on Sunday night, which I figured gave a reasonable period of time for the wormer to do its job and me to poo pick twice a day.
Only she ruined that one by jumping out of the sickbay into next doors field last night so is now back in her box so I could do with getting her out sooner rather than later...

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would put her out now. Modern wormers cause any worms/eggs inside the horse to disintegrate before they are expelled, afaik. Those wormers that advise keeping the horse in for 3 days do so because the wormer can be damaging to insects etc. In your position I would be more concerned about the mare's well-being than the insect life in this instance.

 

[chaps89]

Perfect, that is music to my ears!
I used Equest so should be one of the better ones I'd hope.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Perfect, that is music to my ears!
I used Equest so should be one of the better ones I'd hope.

Yes as far as the disintegration is concerned but i think it is one that recommends keeping in for the benefit of the wildlife - Pramox certainly does. One reason why I don't use it nowadays.

 

[dorsetladette]

How long for the wormer to do its job?
Bigger mare was supposed to do 3 nights in the sick bay to get her used to overnight turnout again then back in the field with the other 2 companions on Sunday night, which I figured gave a reasonable period of time for the wormer to do its job and me to poo pick twice a day.
Only she ruined that one by jumping out of the sickbay into next doors field last night so is now back in her box so I could do with getting her out sooner rather than later...

I've always worked on the assumption of 3 days. ie new horse arrives is wormed and isolated for 3 days before going out with anything else. But this states 48hours. https://horsefaqs.com/how-long-does... depends on,hours after the worming procedure.

 

[chaps89]

Unfortunately no option to bring them both in
I didn't know that about damage to insects etc, that's sad. I only ever worm twice a year for tape/encysted and worm count the rest of the time and she's always been clear so this is very new to me.
48 hours was what I was always bought up to believe, so having wormed this morning, I was thinking fine by Sunday morning. She's usually in during the day and out at night so figured Sunday night would be perfect.
But that was based on having the sick bay to use the next few nights so she could still get out. Grr, what a pickle.
Have had a Google and can't seem to find the manufacturer site, just lots of sites selling it so will dig the paperwork out of the box when I go back to the yard in a bit and see what it says specifically.

Ets have tried calling westgate who did the worm count, and also wormers direct as they've been helpful in the past but can't get througb

 

[milliepops]

yes it's really about the wildlife, the horses will be fine.
this page on westgate's website may be helpful.
https://www.westgatelabs.co.uk/info-zone/management-tips/managing-your-horse-after-worming/

 

[chaps89]

Thanks, that's really helpful.
I also managed to get through to Westgate who were really helpful, apparently Equest was probably a bit strong She suggested given the circumstances I turn mine out tomorrow night which will be 36 hours, 48 would be ideal but keeping her in the box any longer is less ideal.