Worms! to Test or to Treat? That is the question
- Thread starter CrimsonDivine
- Start date
The Jokers Girl
Well-Known Member
Depends on what you consider a "small amount of money". For starters it costs the same, and in some cases more than the actual wormer (really don't see why they don't call it DEwormer). Also not all of us consider it a "small amount" in general, each to their own. However.. don't get me wrong here, I am interested in everyone's point of view and may even be more inticed to try it for myself, should the feedback be fruitful, but of course I have views of my own to throw in. And no this isn't a debate but there's two sides to the same coin as they say, again each to their own on that particular subject is all I'm going to say to that and hopefully leave that there.. Also WTF is "footy"? XD I'm sorry but this seems like an awfully funny term to me, never heard anyone even say it before. Do they start kicking a ball around?
£6.50 per month from Westgate for all worming tests needed throughout year including the tapeworm test twice a year. They also will include other non routine ones, I.e. liverfluke if you graze with sheep for instance. That is not too expensive for anyone.
My horse comes back at <50 epg so they always advise me not to worm. I am waiting to do the tapeworm one, but you can either pick summer and winter or spring and autumn for that, they will send the test twice a year.
If you do need to worm they also include a 2nd testing kit and ask you to test again, I think 2 weeks after worming with details of the wormer used so they can monitor for resistance.
I am.glad I worm test rather than give a random wormer as the damage the wormer does to their insides is only a necessary evil and should be avoided as a routine if possible. As others have said it also pollutes the land and causes resistance of given when not needed
ETA I think there are other companies that also do subscriptions so you may get cheaper than Westgate as an all in annual price I'd you shop around. If I post mine off on a Monday morning I usually get my result texted through by Tuesday afternoon, weds morning at latest.
EETA "footy" is a term most horse owners use to describe a horse that is tender on its feet, slightly lame, short strides, hesitant to walk etc etc, I use it in relation to mine having previously had laminitis and watching like a hawk for any signs of "footiness" to get her straight back on box rest, a lot of people that are barefoot also look for signs their horse us footy as they then review their horses diet or change the ground they walk on or use hoof boots to make the horse more comfortable
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Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Depends on what you consider a "small amount of money". For starters it costs the same, and in some cases more than the actual wormer (really don't see why they don't call it DEwormer). Also not all of us consider it a "small amount" in general, each to their own. However.. don't get me wrong here, I am interested in everyone's point of view and may even be more inticed to try it for myself, should the feedback be fruitful, but of course I have views of my own to throw in. And no this isn't a debate but there's two sides to the same coin as they say, again each to their own on that particular subject is all I'm going to say to that and hopefully leave that there.. Also WTF is "footy"? XD I'm sorry but this seems like an awfully funny term to me, never heard anyone even say it before. Do they start kicking a ball around?
Footy is a general term, usually about barefoot horses, where they can feel their feet. It generally means a shortened stride and toe first landing as opposed to hopping lame.
CrimsonDivine
Well-Known Member
Not looking for vet advice, just wanted consumers/owners opinions on the subject to give their views.
Last Spring Bimectin and last Autumn Eraquell, no idea why now that I know what it's for and same for Spring this year.. Please don't judge, a woman at the previous place told me to use it and I assumed it was exactly what it was meant for. Pardon my ignorance, yeah I know I should have looked into it more.. Though one would like to assume those you are sharing with might give you sound advice, though recently I have learnt you can't trust any of them, not even her.
Oh ok. I've been riding barefoot for over several years and it's the first time I've ever heard that term. Mind you hardly anyone rides barefoot around here, infact most poke fun of me about it because they are too set in their ways to try anything other than shoes as they solely believe that horses can't be ridden without them... lol. Although judging by what The Jokers Girl said I'm guessing it's not just about barefoot riding.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
A Suitably Qualified Person need not be a vet. The law changed some time ago to try to combat resistance to wormers, they used to be available generally at a tack shop. They changed the law so a tack shop can still sell them, but there needs to be a Suitably Qualified Person. A friend did the qualification, it was quite comprehensive.
I would rely on one of these people, who have studied, over a person who you share with, who presumably have not kept up to date with new vet science.
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
I do exactly this.
I do tapes early winter aswell though as we have harvest mites in summer which carry tape worm apparently.
Griffin
Well-Known Member
I use PooPost for worm counts and they are cheaper than Westgate for multiple horses (I do three at a time), although their tape worm tests are the same price.
Worm counting the three horses cost about £15 which is cheaper than if I wormed them all just in case. Usually, I don't need to worm, so it is a cost saver.
Worm counting the three horses cost about £15 which is cheaper than if I wormed them all just in case. Usually, I don't need to worm, so it is a cost saver.
PapaverFollis
Well-Known Member
CD- you might not be looking for vet advice but detailed advice about worming should really only be given by (or taken from) a vet or an SQP. You've asked about worming so have 'de facto' asked for vet advice. It's fine to gather opinions if you so wish, and fine for people to share what they do themselves, but anyone needing proper guidance to formulate a worming programme should speak to a vet or an SQP. I'm not just aiming this at you. Other people read threads so it is general advice for anyone who has found their way here via Google.
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paddy555
Well-Known Member
I don't understand your comments. You say you are not looking vet advice but owners/consumer advice. The you comment about giving the wormers a woman at your previous place told you to. Why would you assume that owners/consumers would be able to give you sound advice. They may not even know enough to be able to do so.
Surely the best way to educate yourself about a subject is to look at the correct info supplied by vets/testing companies etc. In this case you will find all the info you need on the the advice section of Westgate site. You will find similar info on any of the vet's web sites. Far better to take advice from experts. All the information of course being free. No one is trying to sell you anything just to educate you on the current thinking.
It is not a case of "trusting" anyone but finding the info out for yourself then you know you are on the right track.
In your case I would do worm counts on both horses in your field to see what the current position is and take it from there..
PurBee
Well-Known Member
This is interesting.
My land is grazed extensively all year round by wild deer. When my foal was around 4 months old - i tested fecal for worm count and he was very high in roundworm, yet his dam wasn’t - who had been pre-foaling wormed anyway. He was subsequently wormed. Next test again showed high roundworms. Wormed again. Damn had presence but lower than foal - she was wormed.
I am wondering whether the deer poop, which is everywhere, is causing cross contamination of roundworm eggs with my horses and theyre ingesting the eggs And becoming constantly infected.
Theres no way i can poop pick deer droppings!
The deer do have roundworm issues as hunters regularly poach this area and i once found a fresh ‘field dressed’ guts of a deer with its intestines bursting with roundworms - sorry ...i hope youre not eating while reading this!
So the cross contamination of deer worm eggs on my pastures worry me, and i think are the reason for their roundworm egg counts - is this possible?
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
foals are more susceptible to picking up a (esp round) worm burden anyway, as i understand it - when I was looking into it when mine was born even westgate advocate regular worming from 1 month. i wormed mine monthly up to 6 months which is what most of the vets and SQPs suggest.
interested to hear if anyone know re the deers specifically though, with other cross grazing it's generally said to break the cycles.
interested to hear if anyone know re the deers specifically though, with other cross grazing it's generally said to break the cycles.
rabatsa
Confuddled
Most worms are species specific, an exception being liver fluke.
ownedbyaconnie
Well-Known Member
Worm counts are also great because you’re treating the horse in front of you. My mare and another mare in her field use the same wormer egg count company and her tapeworm count came back high whereas Rosie’s came back virtually non existent.
Horses all have different immune systems and a personalised targeted plan is hands down the best way to combat something like worms. my plan including wormer costs me less than £10 a month.
Horses all have different immune systems and a personalised targeted plan is hands down the best way to combat something like worms. my plan including wormer costs me less than £10 a month.
AandK
Well-Known Member
Who do you get your subscription from please?
ownedbyaconnie
Well-Known Member
Intelligent worming ? really recommend! Very quick turnarounds and helpful on the phone.
Westgate are also good.
PurBee
Well-Known Member
That’s why i wondered how my foal picked up such a large burden. The land they were on was virgin grazing land - hadn't been grazed by cattle, horses, sheep for 50 years - just wild deer and badgers/foxes/pine martens had the run of the place.
I too thought cross contamination not possible until the foal’s count -the mare had a count too but due to her mature immune system she probably fought off a high burden.
CrimsonDivine
Well-Known Member
Just so you all know I spoke to a vet on the phone this morning and she said that I needed to wait 3 weeks after giving them Eraquell. Which is fine as I had given it over 2 weeks ago now not to mention I intend to get a testing kit based on the responses in this thread and the vet agreed on testing over treating, needles to say. However some don't as it's all the same to them as money is business so selling wormer is often more within their interest. Infact they did want me to get a blood test, which to me isn't really necessary vs test kit, and feces sample. Though I opted for the latter as they were generally pleasant and helpful. Cost £8 per horse for the feces egg count.
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
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milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
^ this illustrates what happens when you UI all the helpful people, then threads don't make sense to the OP.
AandK
Well-Known Member
My question was to someone who mentioned they have a subscription to a service that provides worm counts and wormers. If you have them on UI, then you won't see the post I responded to.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Faeces count will not tell you tape or encysted redworm, which may be why your vet suggested testing blood.
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CrimsonDivine
Well-Known Member
Ohh.. Yeah, probably. I actually had a subscription like that once called healthy horse club by Scarsdale.
COldNag
Wasting my time successfully....
Westgate Labs do an annual kit which has 4 worm counts and 2 Equisal tapeworm tests for £70. That works out pretty good value- less than £6 a month.
Hollylee1989
Well-Known Member
I usually do a worm count (my two geldings are the only ones in the paddock together). Last month I treated as I forgot to purchase a kit