Faecal egg counts

. 'During April to September it is advisable to check on the effectiveness of your control programme by asking your vet to perform egg counts on samples of dung taken from every horse on your premises. Samples should be taken on the day of worming. If the programme is effective worm egg counts should be no more than 200 eggs per gram.'

COLIC and its prevention. Hoechst Roussel Vet, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes, MK7 7AJ.

Resistance

'Worms can develop a resistance to some active ingredients in wormers, particularly if they are used repeatedly. Resistance to benzimidazole products is widespread and it would be wise to check whether or not it is a problem in your grazing area. You can ask your vet to do a faecal egg count reduction test to find out if there is a problem'

A Practical Guide to Worming Horses. Pfizer Animal Health, Ramsgate Rd. Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ.

Strategic Worming

'Check that the anthelmintic is effective by doing a faecal egg count reduction test (i.e. do faecal examinations on the day of worming and again 10 to 14 days later) using a representative number of horses, all of which should have positive egg counts of at least 200 eggs per gram before you start. Monitor egg reappearance times, particularly on studs or in groups of young horses (especially weanlings and yearlings). Effective treatment intervals vary between different groups of animals, and within a group.'
Strategic Worm in Horses.

Hoechst Roussel Vet Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes, MK7 7AJ.Control

Worming Do's and Don'ts

'Do monitor the number of worm eggs in the faeces. The first count should be done before you treat, again two weeks later, and thereafter regularly, particularly in spring and autumn, to ensure the programme is working. In general, levels of 50-100 eggs per gram of faeces need not be treated. Indeed, some contamination is a good thing as it will help to induce some immunity in the population of horses, but above that level a degree of control will be needed, with treatment of the individual and a review of the programme.'

Veterinary Clinic. Horse & Hound 19th November 1998.

American Advice

'The only way to know if a horse has a heavy infestation of internal parasites is to take a feces sample to the laboratory and let them examine it for the presence of parasite eggs. External appearance of horses will not always reflect the presence of internal parasites. Parasite control methods are numerous and should be used in conjunction with proper management practices.'

Health Management for Your Horse. Mark Russell PhD & Amelia Woolums DVM, Purdue University, West Lafayett, Indiana.

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