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Individual & Team Finalists in the National SQP awards 2021
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Individual & Team Finalists in the National SQP awards 2021

Equine SQP of the Year and Special Achievement Awards

There is double the excitement this week as we're really proud to say that both the lab team and Director Claire are finalists in the National SQP awards 2021! Claire is shortlisted for Equine SQP of the Year and the Team are up for the Special Achievement Award.

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A four week old foal with a surprising worm egg count result!
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A four week old foal with a surprising worm egg count result!

Effective worming is a vital part of giving young horses a healthy start

Foals are born free of parasites but get exposed to them within the first few days of life and we recommend proactively worming foals from four weeks old, every six to eight weeks. With wormer resistance increasing it can be advisable to put a couple of worm egg counts into your programme during this time but we don’t often get samples to test from very young foals. But as this handsome chap, a Quarter Horse foal called Maverick, belongs to one of our team, we were of course straight in to take a peak in his poo and were surprised at what we found!

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Autumn Parasite Control 2021
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Autumn Parasite Control 2021

for your horse

🍁 Warm weather has extended well into September this year which is helping parasites to remain very active on the pasture through these autumn months and could also extend bot fly activity too. To help protect your horse remember to get those worm egg counts for redworm and ascarid into the lab this season to keep on top of any potential infections. If you haven’t tested or treated for tapeworm in the last six months it’s also time to think about that now. ☑️ Worm egg count for redworm and roundworm ☑️ Decide whether you need to EquiSal test for tapeworm ☑️ Keep an eye out for bots and pinworm activity

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We're supporting The Great Big Green Week
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We're supporting The Great Big Green Week

to celebrate doing our bit for a greener, healthier future

We’re joining The Climate Coalition for #GreatBigGreenWeek to celebrate doing our bit for a greener, healthier future. Not only is targeted worming the most sustainable way to manage parasite control for your animals but here at Westgate we also put a lot of thought into making good environmental choices too!

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Tapeworm should be considered a significant pathogen in young horses:
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Tapeworm should be considered a significant pathogen in young horses:

findings presented at recent equine colic symposium

A paper presented at a recent equine colic symposium has highlighted the dangers of tapeworm infection in young horses and raised questions around potential resistance to praziquantel. This follows four cases of serious colic from tapeworm infection in which two of the yearlings unfortunately died and an investigation into wormer efficacy was carried out. Up until now tapeworm resistance to praziquantel has not been documented. The findings highlight the need for proactive treatment in youngsters pre-weaning and thereafter regular tapeworm testing at least every six months for every horse post-weaning. (The EquiSal test is only recommended post-weaning of foals). It also again proves the adage that we can no longer rely on simply giving wormers - test first to see if treatment is necessary and re-test following treatment (known as a reduction test) to double check the dose has been effective.

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Review of All Seasons Subscription
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Review of All Seasons Subscription

Award Winning Subscription Service

Our award winning subscription service has been under review this month and featured in Countryside Magazine. Laura Szuca, our Brand Ambassador, gave her thoughts on All Seasons. Read on for more info and a discount code 😉

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Livery Yards - Finding A Better Way!
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Livery Yards - Finding A Better Way!

how to test yards of 10+ horses

🐴🐴🐴 The more horses kept together the more important good parasite control becomes. Basing your worming on counts can work really well for yards - large and small - and prove cost effective too. Customers with 10 or more horses to their account can access the Westgate worm count service at our commercial rate. 🤓 Laura Szuca, our Brand Ambassador, keeps her horse Mikey on a yard with 40 other horses. The livery yard owner found the thought of making a change to a targeted parasite control programme a bit daunting, but with our support they took the plunge and have found a better way!

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Summer Parasite Control 2021
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Summer Parasite Control 2021

2021

🌻 For a healthy adult horse we usually recommend thinking about parasite control as a seasonal thing. So as we head into June and the transition to Summer, Hurrah! it's a good time to consider our plan for the season ahead. ✅ Worm egg count every 8-12 weeks ⚠️ If you tapeworm tested or gave Equest Pramox in the winter it's time to do an EquiSal Tapeworm test. ✅ Look out for bots, pinworm and ticks ✅ Control flies and other insects

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Limitations on the sale of wormers in Ireland
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Limitations on the sale of wormers in Ireland

won't affect the UK

Here in the UK and in Ireland we currently make use of legislation that allows certain animal medicines like wormers to be sold over the counter in feed merchants and saddlers as well as being prescribed by Vets and Vet Pharmacists. However, from 2022 there are changes ahead to remove these privileges in Ireland and adopt the EU regulation with the aim of tightening the sale of wormers.

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