Strategic Worming Species: Horses       Categories: Worming, Routine care

Strategic Worming in, Rotational worming out

A worming program is an integral part of keeping your horse fit and healthy. Worm burdens in horses can result in disease such as weight loss, diarrhoea, poor performance, colic and even death. Here at Vet Cross we recommend a strategic approach to worming all horses and ponies over 2 years of age.

What is strategic worming?

Strategic worming involves taking a faecal sample from your horse and counting the amount of eggs present. This information can then help us determine how frequently your horse should be wormed, and with what product. Not all horses shed the same amount of worm eggs, therefore do not all need to be wormed on the same blanket schedule.

Traditionally, worming was done every 6-8 weeks however we now know that this is an over use of worming medication in some horses, and has also helped increase the resistance of worms to our available drugs. By utilising strategic worming you and your horse will discover many benefits.

Why do we prefer this method?

• It helps us to identify high and low shedders in your herd
• It helps target treatment, reducing the amount of wormers used each year
• It saves you money!
• It helps prevent further resistance to our current worming medications; once worm resistance has occurred on a property it is impossible to reverse!

How is it done?

Faecal samples will be taken by one of our friendly veterinarians at your property and analysed at our clinic. We recommend faecal egg counts be performed on your property once to twice per year, preferably in the spring and early autumn. A program will then be tailored specificaly for your horse and reminders will be sent to inform you when your next wormer or test is due.

For more information

This service can be utilised on its own, or as part of our Equine Complete Care Package. Please enquire for more details, or for more information regarding property management to reduce worm burdens. Vet Cross is here to help you and your horse stay happy and healthy.