FAECAL WORM EGG COUNTS
Second only to providing your horse with clean, plentiful water and quality feed, parasite control has to be a management priority.
Internal parasites (or worms) can be silent thieves and even killers. Susceptible to a wide variety of internal parasites which can differ with the age of your horse, amount of exposure to other horses, the turnover of horses on a paddock and the condition of the soil. Controlling the worm burden in your horse is an essential part of your seasonal management program, whether it is anthelmintic control, pasture management or a new herbal method. The effects of internal parasites on a horse range from a dull coat and wastage to colic and death. Internal parasites lower your horse's resistance to infection, rob the horse of valuable nutrients, and in some cases, cause permanent damage to the internal organs. |
A chemical wormer is, by nature, a toxic substance, manufactured to kill parasites and hopefully not cause too much damage to the host animal in the process. Finding the trick of dosage and frequency in each situation is important. One size does not fit all! Worming more often than is necessary can contribute to liver toxicity which stresses a horse unnecessarily. This would actually weaken the body making it more of a target for parasitic infestation.
Insects and disease are nature´s rubbish collectors designed, in the great scheme of things, to stress and eliminate the weak and unhealthy animal or plant. But wholesale worming by the calendar is not the answer. This is where fecal egg counts can be invaluable.
Our fecal egg count service is not to bypass vets and save money, but to provide a proper count service - double checking each sample we are sent and giving actual figures in order that you may correctly address and control any worm incidents in your horse, and assure that your methods to eradicate them are working, through subsequent testing - with recorded numbers. Testing is recommended every 3 months.
We can not advise on treatment, though recommend sanitation to be the best way to minimise parasite damage. Rotating paddocks, leaving them fallow, harrowing, and of course removing manure as should be done daily for stabled horses. Over crowded paddocks are often the worse for suffering worm contamination. Feeding hay in slow-feeders, not on the ground, is another deterrent, along with regular removal of bot eggs from the horses coat. Worms can also develop a resistance to some dedicated products, it is therefore wise to consult with your veterinarian and consider using a different chemical anti-parasite each time you worm. Of course, if you worm test first, and find your horse has a count below 200 the need for worming, and putting chemicals unnecessarily into their system, is avoided.
If a count is over 200 eggs per gram we advise you seek veterinary advise to create a worming schedule according to your horses needs. If your horse is at livery it is always advisable that all horses at the yard follow the same worming schedule.
Tapeworm can currently only be tested via a blood sample here in Spain. A tapeworm burden will not always be picked up in a faecal egg count. An anti-body test for tapeworm every 2 years is advised by most veterinarians.
Insects and disease are nature´s rubbish collectors designed, in the great scheme of things, to stress and eliminate the weak and unhealthy animal or plant. But wholesale worming by the calendar is not the answer. This is where fecal egg counts can be invaluable.
Our fecal egg count service is not to bypass vets and save money, but to provide a proper count service - double checking each sample we are sent and giving actual figures in order that you may correctly address and control any worm incidents in your horse, and assure that your methods to eradicate them are working, through subsequent testing - with recorded numbers. Testing is recommended every 3 months.
We can not advise on treatment, though recommend sanitation to be the best way to minimise parasite damage. Rotating paddocks, leaving them fallow, harrowing, and of course removing manure as should be done daily for stabled horses. Over crowded paddocks are often the worse for suffering worm contamination. Feeding hay in slow-feeders, not on the ground, is another deterrent, along with regular removal of bot eggs from the horses coat. Worms can also develop a resistance to some dedicated products, it is therefore wise to consult with your veterinarian and consider using a different chemical anti-parasite each time you worm. Of course, if you worm test first, and find your horse has a count below 200 the need for worming, and putting chemicals unnecessarily into their system, is avoided.
If a count is over 200 eggs per gram we advise you seek veterinary advise to create a worming schedule according to your horses needs. If your horse is at livery it is always advisable that all horses at the yard follow the same worming schedule.
Tapeworm can currently only be tested via a blood sample here in Spain. A tapeworm burden will not always be picked up in a faecal egg count. An anti-body test for tapeworm every 2 years is advised by most veterinarians.
Tests are 15€ per horse. Results are sent via email within 48 hours of receiving samples, except where holiday weekends or days may upset the postal service, and providing we have received payment beforehand. Please email us for payment details, with the words "WORM TEST" in the subject line, and we can also then confirm any fiestas that may give cause to delay sending samples. You may also send by courier service. Be sure to note the different address for this service.
To send your horse dung for testing you will need;
One ziplock bag
One glove
One large sticky label or a suitable pen to write on plastic
One Jiffy bag
Write your horses name, the date and your name on the label, along with your email address very clearly written, and stick it on to the ziplock bag, or write directly on to the bag.
With your gloved hand, collect FRESH dung from your horse (approximately 3 golf ball sized pieces), and place in the bag. Please be sure it is free of shavings or any other debris. Be sure to remove all air as you seal the bag, trying not to totally squash the dung balls.
Place the bag inside the Jiffy bag and post the same day as you collected the dung to;
Tracey/Espiritu del Viento
Apartado de Correos 212,
Sabinillas, 29692
Málaga.
To send via a courier service the address is
Espiritu del Viento
Paraje de los Molinos, s/n
Ctra. Gaucin A377 Km. 9
Casares, 29690
Málaga
To send your horse dung for testing you will need;
One ziplock bag
One glove
One large sticky label or a suitable pen to write on plastic
One Jiffy bag
Write your horses name, the date and your name on the label, along with your email address very clearly written, and stick it on to the ziplock bag, or write directly on to the bag.
With your gloved hand, collect FRESH dung from your horse (approximately 3 golf ball sized pieces), and place in the bag. Please be sure it is free of shavings or any other debris. Be sure to remove all air as you seal the bag, trying not to totally squash the dung balls.
Place the bag inside the Jiffy bag and post the same day as you collected the dung to;
Tracey/Espiritu del Viento
Apartado de Correos 212,
Sabinillas, 29692
Málaga.
To send via a courier service the address is
Espiritu del Viento
Paraje de los Molinos, s/n
Ctra. Gaucin A377 Km. 9
Casares, 29690
Málaga