All about worming

Why worm count?

We do not have any new wormers on the market, therefore over use or unnecessary worming results in resistance to the drugs.

We already have a significant amount of resistance to all of the drug classes. Drug use should be strategic and part of a controlled management program. There is usually only a small proportion of a herd which has a parasite burden. This small number reinfects the rest of the herd. If you identify these individuals through worm egg counts it is much easier to control parasites; this way the whole herd benefits.

High parasite burdens can cause weight loss, colic, performance issues and even death, parasite monitoring and strategic control can save you money in the long run.

Your vet will be able to give you a tailored worming protocol for your yard; get in touch with your local practice and get the advice you need to keep your horse healthy and also save you money!

When to worm?

Round worms

Monitoring the worm egg count will tell you how often during the grazing season but, if the counts remain high, rotating the wormer drug class every six weeks may be necessary to get parasite populations under control.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are slightly different. Again, there are accurate ways of finding out whether your horse has a burden and I would advocate having either a blood test or saliva test done to check the levels of parasite burden. However, we still recommend that tapeworm treatment is done twice a year, in spring (March/April) and autumn (September/October).

Round woms

Horses should also be treated for encysted redworm, for which there is now a new blood test available to test for, typically around December. Make sure you choose a wormer that is effective against encysted redworm as not all wormers are.

Test your livestock today for from just £5 per count