Towcester Equine Vets Worming Options
November 15, 2024
Worms in horses can cause serious problems, including (amongst others) diarrhoea, colic and weight loss. Now is the time to be thinking about your equine worming schedule. To help you understand why, we asked Abi Jennings, one of our equine vets, to explain a little bit about the Towcester Equine Vets worming programme.
Review your current equine worming programme
Taking a little time to review your worming programme will almost always pay dividends, as a seasonal check will ensure that you are using the most suitable equine worming products at the most suitable time of year.
Adopt a seasonally targeted approach
A seasonally targeted approach will be beneficial for every horse, pony and donkey because Anthelmintic (de-wormer) resistance is an ever-present threat that we are now encountering on a more frequent basis. Routine use of de-wormers is now an out-dated and irresponsible approach. Whilst targeted use of the right wormer at the right time is now at the forefront of the decision-making process we go through.
Towcester Equine Vets Original Worming Programme
Towcester Equine Vets now recommend using a targeted deworming programme. We only treat those horses that are identified as requiring deworming, through the use of faecal worm egg counts (WEC) and other diagnostic testing. This approach can help reduce the use of drugs by up to 80%.
Whether it be for your yard or for individual horses, our worming programme can be tailored to best suit your needs. We have developed the programme to make monitoring and managing your horse’s worm burden as easy and simple as possible. The programme is made up of four elements:
1. Three faecal worm egg counts
These should be performed every 2-3 months throughout the Spring and Summer months, e.g. March, June, September.
Horses only need to be wormed if high worm egg burdens are identified – saving money on wormers and reducing resistance to the drugs we have available. Results are usually reported via email the next day, along with veterinary advice on the best wormer to use, if needed.
2. Equest Pramox
To be used in late autumn, targeting tapeworm and encysted redworm (larval stages) that cannot be measured by faecal worm egg counts. Young horses, those with a history of a high tapeworm burden or colic may also require worming for tapeworm in Spring.
3. Equisal Tapeworm Saliva Test
To be used in late Spring, this is an easy to perform test that owners are able to do themselves. Samples are analysed by an external laboratory to identify those horses with a higher tapeworm burden despite deworming over Winter, so they can be treated again if required. It is often useful to combine this with a faecal worm egg count at the same time, so the most suitable product can be selected depending on both results.
4. Use of a worming year planner
To help you keep track of when faecal worm egg counts and worming treatments are due.
Annual cost: £81.60 per horse inc VAT
NEW FOR 2025 – The ‘Wormer-Free’ Monitoring Programme
Alongside our existing worming programme, we are pleased to introduce a wormer-free monitoring programme. We aim to help you monitor your horse or pony’s worm burden and manage them appropriately to enable the lowest use of drugs possible. Whilst maintaining your horse’s health, this programme follows latest veterinary advice to promote responsible use of wormers and reduce the risk of resistance developing.
The wormer-free monitoring programme includes:
• Three faecal worm egg counts
Monitoring of adult roundworms and redworms every 2-3 months throughout the Spring and Summer grazing season. Collect your faecal samples and either drop them into our Plum Park or Onley clinic, or post to us. Results will be emailed within 24 hours, along with veterinary advice on whether to worm and what product is most suitable.
• Annual Equisal saliva test kit
Monitoring of tapeworm burden performed at the end of the grazing season in Autumn. This is performed by owners and sent off to the lab.
• Annual blood test for redworms
Monitoring of juvenile, encysted redworm burden via a blood test performed by the vet in late Autumn.
Alongside testing, veterinary advice is always available to help you manage your horses and aim to maintain a completely drug-free worm management strategy.
The package doesn’t include:
• Any wormers required depending on the results of faecal worm egg counts.
• A repeat Equisal saliva test to use in Spring if required (depending on Autumn result).
• Visit charges to perform the redworm blood test; this can be done on our discounted zone visits, at the clinic, or at your yard on a day or time of your choice with a normal visit fee.
Annual cost: £129.60 per horse inc VAT
This programme is great for low-risk horses such as those in a stable herd, with good pasture management and no history of worm-related colic. We recommend speaking to one of our vets if your horse is under 4 years of age as this may not be the most suitable programme for them; our targeted worming programme remains available for £81.60.
Find out more
If you would like more information on our programmes available or want to pick up a ‘Worming Pack’ today, please contact the clinic on 01327 811007 or 01788 52300.
