Equine Worming Information

The key objectives of a worming programme are to minimise the worm problem that your horse has to cope with, and so to help to optimise the horse's health and performance. Also we are trying to make the pasture safer for the horses to graze on.

Worms can cause fatal colic, weight loss, poor performance, rough coat, pot belly and stunted growth.

It might be worth getting advice from your veterinary surgeon to develop a worm control policy. This will be based upon many factors including your geographical location, the types and ages of horses that you have, your stocking density and the frequency with which horses come and go at your premises. Effective parasite control depends upon both management of grazing to minimise worm egg and larval contamination and the use of wormers to remove parasites from the horses’ intestines. One cannot be adequately effective without the other.
 

The best known practice has been to worm horses every six to eight weeks.  This is known as interval dosing. There are a number of ways that horse owners can reduce the frequency of treatment with worming drugs without putting their horses at risk of parasite disease:

• Read the dosing instructions on the wormer packet carefully.  Don't use more than that recommended.

• Use diagnostic test, such as that below, to find out whether your horse needs worming.

• Use pasture hygiene methods (picking up droppings) to help stop the spread of worms.

A new approach, Diagnosteq (set up by the  Equine Division of Liverpool University's Veterinary Faculty), helps identify which worms are affecting a horse at any particular time, allowing owners to worm with the most effective drug at the time the horse needs it most. This service is available to all vets and tests cost between £8 and £16. For details contact Diagnosteq on tel: 0151 794 6184.

Abbey Diagnostics  - laboratory which specialises in equine worm-egg counts.

Westgate Labs for a friendly reliable postal worm count service. Est 1999 we help more owners and yards to sort out their worming problems. Fully qualified staff.

Wormers Direct offer a Strategic Worming Program. Individual programs to yard registration schemes. Call 01267 241136 or Email: info@wormersdirect.com. They also offer advice on how long to keep your horse stabled after worming.

 

Basic Rules Drugs & Their Brand Name Foals New Horse on the Yard Pasture Hygiene Resistance Suppliers & Manufacturers Types of Worm & Effective Drugs Weight Table What is on the Wormer Packet Worm Count Worming Plan Worms

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