Sand test results from Westgate Labs are expressed as a percentage to give a quantitative measure of any amount found. While it’s not desirable to find any sand in faeces, some healthy horses are not affected by a small amount. For this reason positive tests should be discussed with your vet on a case by case basis. Together you can determine whether other symptoms such as diarrhoea/colic are also present and devise an appropriate management and/or treatment protocol.
With the variables of gut movement it is possible for the test to generate a false negative and show no sand in the faeces of horses that are carrying a burden. For this reason we include two kits.
- If no sand is detected in the first sample then take a second a week or two later.
- If sand is detected in the first test then the second can be used to retest the horse following management adjustments.