Resistance to wormers is now common.

Routine worming may not be keeping your horse free of internal parasites!

Intestinal worms affect your horses’ health, appearance and performance. Worms in horses can be fatal.
Worms cause:

–        Colic

–        Weight loss

–        Reduced stamina

–        Poor coat and body condition

–        Reduced performance

–        Diarrhoea

What and when to drench your horse depends on the individual horse, their environment, their feed and other variables. This means there is no “one-size-fits-all” policy when it comes to worming. The advice on worm products is for an “average horse” but what exactly is an average horse??

Important points you need to consider when worming your horse:

-         Rotate the worming product used regularly (decreased risk of drug resistance) But look carefully at the list of active ingredients, just because it’s in different packaging doesn’t mean it’s a  different wormer.

-         Each type of horse has different worming requirements (young, old, pregnant etc)

-         Dose of wormer actually swallowed must match their weight

-         Rotate paddocks and remove manure regularly if stabled (decreased risk of re-infection)

-         The only test for worms is examination of manure with specialised equipment. This is called a faecal float and is carried out by your vet. A fresh sample of manure is collected and put through a process whereby the eggs are exposed; these are then examined under a microscope. Annual testing will tell you immediately if your worming program is successful or if you’re wasting money buying the wrong wormers.

Talk to the vets at Vet Cross for any queries you may have about your worming program. Ph: 07 41515044