Fact Sheet
ISSUE
2 SPRING 2009
MILTON equine veterinary clinic
Focus on worming When Worming is Required
Askerswell & 4Maiden StepsNewton to avoid
Types of Wormers Tapeworms
Worms in your horse
1. Pick up droppings daily during the grazing season and twice weekly over winter 2. Obtain regular, 8 week, worm egg counts during the grazing season
Worm Egg Counts Beating the Credit Crunch
Askerswell
Worms and Methods of Prevention There are many different roundworms that
10 degC, for a reduction in parasite burden.
parasitise horses but essentially they have a
Similarly, harrowing must only be carried out in
Dorchester very similar life cycle. This means they can all 12 miles be treated in a similar manner. This life cycle
these conditions or this will worsen the parasite build up.
involves the horse eating the larval forms of the 3. Treat for round- and
roundworm on the pasture, once eaten this
tapeworms over winter
develops into a worm within the horse. This adult worm then lays eggs and these eggs are
7/3/07 12:38:17 pm 4. When treating for roundworms change type of wormer on an annual basis
passed out in the horses faeces contaminating the pasture. It is the migration and development in the horse of these larvae that causes damage to the horse through, for
Example of worm eggs. Source: Liverpool University
example, colic or poor growth. The only effective way of monitoring whether Tapeworms are different, they live in the
your horse needs worming is to have regular
WORM EGG COUNTS
caecum [part of large intestine] of the horse,
[8 week] faecal analysis for worm eggs.
What to do
produce eggs passed in the horses faeces,
These tests are relatively new practice, although
and these are eaten by a forage mite. It is
many people have heard of them, as of yet not
when the horse eats the grass with this mite
everybody makes use of them. These tests tell
that the horse becomes re-infected.
us how many eggs active worms have laid in a
1. Collect a fresh heaped teaspoon size sample and label it clearly. 2. Drop off at surgery
small sample of dung, hence indicating whether Control for roundworms is best achieved by
or not worming is required. A recent survey
removing the eggs from the pasture i.e.
[Liphook, pers.comm..] suggested 85% of those
3. The nurses will ring you
‘picking-up’. Pasture management is more
horses wormed did not require worming!
with your result the
effective than using anthelminthics [wormers]
Worming horses unnecessarily is expensive,
same or following day
at controlling the worm burden. Picking-up
wastes a medicine and encourages wormer
and advise you if any
should be done daily in the grazing season
resistance. Roundworms do not produce eggs
[late Feb-early Nov.], twice weekly over winter.
over winter, so egg counts are not reliable at this
Other methods of reducing pasture
time, hence this is when we recommend
contamination are mixing with other stock e.g.
treatment. Monitoring tapeworm can be done by
cattle or sheep [worms do not affect different
a blood test. We recommend giving an annual
species], or paddock grazing. However, to be
tapeworm treatment, at the same time as
effective paddocks must be continuously dry
roundworm in the winter. This seems logical as
for at least 3 weeks, with a temperature above
there is no reason to treat in the spring/autumn.
action is required. 4. Repeat in 8 weeks time
More details on sending in samples on the next page
Wormers What type of wormer should I use when worming is required? Roundworm medicines are grouped in 3 different classes: avermectins / benzimidazoles / pyrantels. It is advisable to alternate between these different classes on an annual basis. However, we would normally recommend treating young foals with an avermectin for their efficacy on ascarid worms. If worming a heavily pregnant mare we would advocate a 5 day benzimidazole course. It cannot be over-emphasised that an over-reliance on using wormers [particularly avermectins]
Beating the Credit Crunch
resistance. There are no new types of wormers being developed for the near future
you
have
so wormer
resistance must be avoided at all costs.
We are sure you are all fed up of hearing about the dreaded credit crunch - but to be topical we have come up with ways to save on your vets bills during this difficult period:
Ensure
leads to wormer
Diagram
Medication There are 3 types of roundworm medication: 1. Avermectins Eqvalan Equest Eraquell Panomec 2. Benzimidazoles
Panacur Telmin
3. Pyrantels
Strongid P Pyratape P
a
comprehensive first aid kit on hand - being prepared could
2 types of tapeworm medication: 1. Praziquantel Equitape 2. Pyrantels [require double dose]
well save on calling out the vet. We provide a comprehensive not-for-profit first aid kit at cost price of £28. Please call or see our website for further details.
Source: Pfizer Animal Health
This diagram shows the most common equine parasites and the damage that they may cause to
Perform the worm egg counts throughout the grazing season - at just £8, this could save you considerable money on wormers over the year and is far less than the cost of your horse getting colic.
Join the health plan and spread the cost of essential vaccinations, dentals and worming programs over the year.
Starting from £11 per
month, its a good way to spread the cost of vets bills.
your horse.
And combination wormers: Avermectin & Praziquantel Equimax Equest Pramox Eqvalan Duo
Our Worm Egg Protocol As a practice we believe that prevention is better than cure and it is for this reason that we recommend these routine faecal samples throughout the grazing season. Even if you have wormed your horse for years this is no guarantee that it will not have worms, checking is essential.
Sending in the sample Firstly call or email the surgery and we will send you a free worming pack with a full collection kit. Then collect a fresh dung sample, a heaped teaspoon amount will suffice. Label the sample with the labels supplied and then drop off at the surgery. If you prefer to send in your sample by post then contact us for postal regulations. Fresh samples are important and when collected it is also advisable to keep the sample cool.
Getting the results Annika or Carol will ring you either the same or following day to you dropping off your sample and advise as to whether any further action is required.
Cost At just £8 per sample, the cost of having a worm egg count is considerably less than that of a wormer, particularly considering the research that demonstrates the vast majority of time worming is unnecessary.
Health Plan A worming program is included in the Milton health plans, including an annual wormer and worm egg counts throughout the grazing period.
There are a number of health plans to suit the requirements
Milton Equine Fact Sheet Issue 02 April 2009
of different horses and riders. Again, please call or visit the website for further details & an application form. Design: Joanna Scammell MSc, BSc
01308 814433 01305 814318 mail@miltonequine.co.uk www.miltonequine.co.uk
For further information on worming, health plans, first aid kits or anything else mentioned in this newsletter, please do not hesitate to call our nurses Carol & Annika at the surgery who will be happy to assist you.