Worms on fields.....

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ecrozier

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Hi All

Bit of a long question here sorry!
Background is that we have been on our yard for a year, the fields had barely been grazed for the six months previously.

Our horses are regularly wormed, as far as I know everyone sticks to worming programme. None have had any weight/health issues this year until the autumn when one dropped off a bit but according to owner he always does every year and has now put weight back on having started on haylage (had grazed 24/7 on one small feed a day over summer). We have about 10 acres on winter field for 6 boys, most of whom are in at night and the field is poo picked with a machine approx once a month.

So a new horse arrived a couple of months ago, and from the first couple of weeks the loaners who brought him up there have been struggling to keep weight on him. Eventually last week they got him blood tested, vet has come back and said results point to the problem being worms. Owner has now told loaner (really really nice kid) that tthe horse is no longer allowed out on our paddocks, and that she either wants him back or he has to be moved to a yard with individual turnout and daily poo picking.....

What I'm wondering is should I be worried?! We have only had our youngster 6 months, he's three and had been in a closed herd previously so had only been wormed for tapeworm, and we wormed him on arival before turning him out. Surely if there was some major problem with a worm burden on the fields he's have been a prime candidate? And he's the picture of health!

We are getting the fields cleared this week and worming whole yard this weekend! Could the new horse have picked up enough of a worm problem in 6 weeks to be causing this weightloss virtually from day one? When all the others are fine? Is there anything I can do to make sure mine are OK apart from worm them this weekend and then worm count a week or so later!?
 
I suggest you get all the horses poo samples worm counted. This will show up most types of worms, unfortunately it will not show up tapeworms and similar types. If poo samples come back with low/medium counts I would be tempted to double dose with either Pyratape P or Strangid P. The blood test for worms costs around £75 per horse and has to be sent off to a specialised laboratory it cannot be tested by vets. Your vets can advise you what to do but would think that the new pony already had worms before it came to your yard.
 
See thats what I think eoe, seems to be very sudden for it to be our fields to blame. I will definately be getting our three worm counted and will suggest to all that it would be worth doing I think. best to do after our next wormer this weekend though I guess?

ETA we double dosed with pyratape in September....
 
Do the worm count BEFORE you worm, results will be back very quickly and then you can target any specific worms if required, however you might be better off doing a pramox or something anyway.

I would hazard a guess that this horse actually arrived with the worm burden
 
Will suggest that thanks Ben_and_Jerrys, horse in question has just been given a pramox! We have a three year worming schedule thingy on rotation on the yard and last year was equest/pramox, this year is the strongid/pyratape/panacur types and then its another of the chemical groups next year. But if we need to we will change the routine!
 
If the horse was blood tested and the vet has indicated worms, chances are he is referring to tapeworm. The blood test picks up the tapeworm antibody and would indicate the infestation has been present for some time.

Doing fecal egg counts on the rest of the horses would show any general worm problem but wouldn't show tapeworm so I wouldn't rely on this method.

If the horse has been out on the fields with the other horses and has been proven to have tapeworm then you should worm the whole herd and I would suggest Pramox.

You can use Equest/Pramox every year as there is no evidence of resistance and it is the most effective worming programme.

My horse had a blood test once and tapeworm antibody was picked up, she had been on the pyratape/strongid programme that year.
 
Not sure exactly what was said, bloods taken last Thursday I believe and all I got (third hand) was that his Liver count was highlighted and white blood cells - I believe they said it 'indicated a worm problem' so not sure they've definately tested for tapeworm yet? Hmm will try and find out more - would pramox be OK despite the fact we double dosed pyratape in Sept? Thats a tapeworm one isn't it?
 
Yes, looks like you need to speak directly to the vet who took the bloods and ask their advice on worming the rest of the herd. A vet's opinion on how long the worms have been present will carry more weight with the owner too.
 
Definately!! But the plot thickens slightly there - apparently the vet is a friend of the owner and has only spoken to her not to the people who have the horse on loan.....
TBH I was thinking of having bloods run on my gelding as a precaution anyway, so will get that done and get a tapeworm check on him and the 3 year old. Mare hasn't been in any fields where new horse has been and none of the mares have shown any signs of problems, and all were double dosed for tapeworm in September, and were due to be wormed again this weekend, so probably won't get her done unless particular cause for concern at any point!
If we get bloods run for tape and do a faecal egg count that will tell us exactly what problems there are, if any, is that correct?
 
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