Worms and Worming

What worms affect adult horses?
Traditionally large strongyles were a problem but with current worming methods these have largely been controlled. Now the small strongyles (Cyasthostomins) are the major worms causing health issues in adult horses.

What worms affect foals?
Parascaris and Strongyloides are the worms more commonly affecting foals both can cause diarrhoea which can cause telescoping of the gut requiring surgery.

What worms affect adults and foals?
Tapeworms live in gut and can cause inflammation at the site of attachment. This can cause an obstruction at the junction of the small and large intestines. They can also alter motility and result in telescoping of one piece of gut into the other.

Bots
Flies that lay eggs which are ingested, develop in the tongue and mouth then are swallowed into stomach where they attach to the stomach wall.
Cleaning off the eggs with a bot knife or regularly wiping legs with warm water will remove eggs before they enter the body and is the ideal control method. Once a year ivermectin administration in autumn will kill larvae in the stomach.

How to reduce worm numbers in your horses
By far the best option is to remove horse droppings from the pasture at least twice a week and strategic use of anthelmintics/wormers following faecal egg counts. Cross grazing with sheep and cattle is another way to reduce pathogenic worm larvae on the pasture. Unfortunately, our climate does not produce temperatures hot or cold enough to kill larvae on the pasture effectively. 

What services can we offer

• Faecal egg counts and faecal egg reduction tests
• Blood tests to check for low red cell count or low proteins
• Weight tapes to ensure correct dosage of products used
• Advice on worm prevention measures based on FEC results and history
• Appropriate worming products for your horse.

Faecal egg counts and faecal egg reduction tests allow us to inform you on the when to administer wormers and what products to use.
It is essential to use the correct wormers at the right time to avoid resistance developing on your pastures and therefore increasing the risk of severe illness in your horses.

Drop samples in at the counter and fill out the form with the receptionist. A vet will call you with the results and recommendations.