Towcester Equine Vets Worming Options

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.

Abi Jennings BVM BVS (Hons) MRCVS

Protect your horse against sycamore poisoning (Atypical Myopathy) this autumn

One of Towcester’s equine vets, Gwen Davies, shares some important seasonal information on Atypical Myopathy.  Discover what it is and what you need to do to prevent or deal with the symptoms of this life threating condition. 

What is Atypical Myopathy?

Atypical Myopathy, also referred to as Seasonal Pasture Myopathy, is a rare but often fatal muscular condition seen in horses and ponies in the UK. It is caused by ingestion of sycamore seeds, seedlings or leaves, which contain the toxin Hypoglycin A (HGA).

Atypical myopathy It is most commonly seen in horses grazing bare pasture in the autumn when the sycamore seeds have dropped, or in the spring when the seedlings are growing. Some individuals seem to be more susceptible than others, especially young adults, but several horses in the same group grazing the same pasture can be affected.

If you suspect your horse has ingested sycamore seeds/leaves or if you spot any of the clinical signs below, please contact our vets immediately.

Contact our equine vets now

What are the symptoms of Atypical Myopathy (Sycamore Poisoning)?

• Weakness and difficulty walking or even standing
• Stiffness
• Muscle tremors
• Profuse sweating
• High heart rate in the absence of exercise
• Difficulty breathing
• Depression and low head carriage
• Brown or dark red urine

Can we treat Atypical Myopathy?

Affected horses can deteriorate within hours, and prognosis is generally poor. For this reason, veterinary assistance must be sought urgently for suspected cases.

Intensive treatment is critical to maximising the chances of survival, including intravenous fluid therapy, glucose and vitamin supplementation, pain relief and nursing care.

Horses that remain standing, eating and survive for 10 days are more likely to recover.

How can you prevent Atypical Myopathy?

The safest method of prevention is to remove toxin-containing seeds and seedlings from the environment to stop ingestion. During the autumn months clear sycamore seeds from pastures or fence off areas where sycamore seeds have fallen. Be  aware that even fields without sycamore trees can still have seeds blown over. During spring, the most up to date recommendation is to mow and dispose of all sycamore seedlings. Some herbicides are available on the market to kill sycamore seedlings, but it has been found that the toxin can remain in dead seedlings for many months, so these must still be disposed of appropriately.

Other ways to reduce the risk include supplementation of forage if the pasture is bare, ideally feeding hay/haylage off the ground (using mats, tubs or feeders), and limiting the grazing time to less than 6 hours per day.

For more information or if you have any concerns reading sycamore seed ingestion, please don’t hesitate to call the practice on 01327 811 007 and speak with one of our veterinary team.

Gwen Davies BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS is one of Towcester’s team of equine vets, you can find out more about Gwen and our other equine vets on our Team pages. 

The Role of an RVN/SVN at Towcester Equine Vets

Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) and student nurses play a vital role in providing your horse or pony with outstanding care at Towcester Equine Vets. Whilst they are instrumental in caring for our hospitalised patients at the clinic and assisting our vets on the road, they are also able to use their valuable knowledge of patient care to provide several veterinary services. With this being said, you may start to see them out and about on visits to your yard.

RVNs spend 3-4 years training, either whilst working as Student Veterinary Nurse (SVNs) or on a placement year from University during their degree.

Here at Towcester Equine Vets, we have a range of experienced nurses who are either fully qualified or currently studying towards their exams.

Each member plays a vital role in the care of patients both in and out of the clinic.

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, registered nurses are permitted to carry out many roles within the clinic and out on visits such as:

• Bandage changes following injury or surgery
• Suture removal
• Post operative home care such as help with administering medication and offering help and advice with box rest.
• Taking blood samples on the request of a vet.
• Taking samples such as hair plucks and skin scrapes.
• Medication administration at the request of a vet such as intravenous antibiotics or sedation when required g. clipping, dentists, farrier, travelling.
• Taking radiographs at the request of a vet. This can be following a lameness investigation, acquiring images for the farrier for remedial shoeing or laminitis. Whilst the nurses can take the images, they are unable to make a diagnosis, a vet in charge of the case will see these later on in the day.
• Laser and shockwave therapy, which would have been recommended by the vet beforehand.
• Nursing clinics covering various areas:
  • Biosecurity advice and assessments
  • EMS and weight clinics
  • Equipment demonstrations.

A student vet nurse would be able to do all the above in clinic under the supervision of a Veterinary Surgeon.

A Vet Technician assists a vet directly with any procedures in clinic and out on the road, they do not work independently like a RVN would.

All the nurses have different roles within the equine team, and these roles reflect their individual strengths and areas of interest: 

Chloe Goddard RVN PgCertAVN (Clinical Lead) – theatre and intensive care

Georgina Moses (Logistical Lead) – managing equipment & organising the nurses’ diary. Breeding services including artificial insemination, semen collections.

Emma Chapple-Hyam RVN – lameness and poor performance exams including riding assessment if needed. Laboratory work.

Becky Price SVN – inpatient care, lameness and poor performance exams including riding assessment if needed.

Kelle King – lameness and poor performance exams including riding assessment if needed.

Charlie Coyle BSc (Hons) MSc MNAVP – Veterinary physiotherapist, especially DSP surgery and rehabilitation.

Otti Riganti – assistant to Vet Andy Hayes

It is important to note that the nurses are unable to carry out certain procedures such as:

• Appointments where a diagnosis is required
• Microchipping and passport certification
• Dentistry
• Medicating joints
• Vaccinations (due to the need to be certified by a vet)

The role of the ambulatory Equine Nurse (RVN) is very different to that of the Equine Veterinary Surgeon. Equine nurses are not able to make a diagnosis, however they are able to obtain the vital information such as samples, radiographs, and assessments that in turn provide our vets with the information that they need to support our patients as well as advising, teaching and supporting owners through their horses’ conditions.

If you would like to speak with any of our equine nurses please contact our team.

Author Emma Chapple-Hyam RVN

Veterinary Surgeon Holly discusses Mud Fever

Veterinary Surgeon Holly Gimmler, discusses the symptoms of Mud Fever (Pastern Dermatitis), how to treat it and importantly how to prevent it.

Mud Fever also referred to as Pastern Dermatitis, is a common non-contagious skin condition which typically affects the lower limbs of horses following exposure to wet, muddy conditions. Horses can suffer in summer but as the name suggests, it is more common during the winter months.  Mud Fever occurs where a breach in the skin allows bacteria to enter, causing a painful flare up. Cuts or mite damage to the skin may also exacerbate the onset of the condition allowing the bacterial infection to establish. Mud Fever can be extremely frustrating to treat and action is required quickly to get things under control.

If you are a horse owner then learning how to prevent or identify and treat Mud Fever early, will save you time and stress. It will also save affected horses considerable discomfort.

Identifying the symptoms of Mud Fever

Mud fever is commonly seen at the back of the pastern, between the hoof and fetlock, but some scabs may spread higher up the legs. Unpigmented skin on white legs is more susceptible. Typically, affected areas appear as crusty scabs, areas of matted hair or loss of hair, with raw skin underneath. In severe stages there may be a cream-yellow discharge oozing from the area. This can develop into heat and swelling in the lower limb which may be painful.

Mud fever can also occur on other areas of the body where it is called “Rain Scald”.

Treatment of Mud Fever

What can you do if you think your horse has Mud Fever? Well, there are a number of actions you can take before deciding if you need to call our equine vets. Firstly, bring your horse out of wet, muddy or dirty conditions. Clean the affected area daily and keep it dry. If your horse has feathers, these can be clipped to reduce wet contact time on the skin.

If your horse is suffering from more severe lesions, please contact our equine vets for further advice. They may prescribe:

• A gentle shampoo
• A steroid based cream which is applied to the skin
• If mites or fungal infection are implicated, we can treat either or both
• Pain relief and anti-inflammatories
• In complicated cases, your vet may take a swab for culture and sensitivity in order to select the appropriate course of antibiotics

How to prevent Mud Fever

• Limit the amount of time spent standing in wet conditions or mud. This may involve rotating pasture or stabling your horse to avoid muddy exposure
• Reduce the risk of pastern injury where possible e.g., overreach boots
• Barrier creams can be helpful
• Always dry your horse’s legs

Most of all, please do inspect your horse’s legs daily to identify problems. This is by far the best way to save you all a lot of time, stress and discomfort.

For more information or if you have any concerns regarding the management of pastern dermatitis, please call one of our equine vet team.

About the author

Holly Gimmler BVSc MRCVS has been at Towcester Equine Vets since July 2021 after graduating from the University of Liverpool. She enjoys all aspects of equine veterinary work, you may meet her working with the team at the Paulerspury clinic near Towcester or out on the road. Holly particularly enjoys lameness investigations and medical cases.

Holly is a very active person and a talented long distance runner, she is often accompanied on her daily travels by her gorgeous Saluki named Figgy.