worming and worm counts

[moomin]

Forgive me if this has been done to death but a searched and couldn't find an answer.

I am looking into worm counts done by online companies . I have moved my horse to a large yard where very few , if any , worm . my vet offers a worm service but at £60 one year and £100 the next I know people won't do it .

I have seen a website that will email you the results and only charge about £7 per count . my question is how do I know these people won't just say I need to worm ?Is there a qualification or society they should be part of ?

Thanks

[Dragonmaster]

Westgate Labs
www.westgatelabs.co.uk/ and www.facebook.com/Westgate.labs?fref=ts

Run by Gill, a lovely lady who is actually a member on here though she rarely posts.

Totally unbiased results. Mine usually come back no eggs seen. They will offer impartial advice on worming if you ask, but they are not tied to any company.
Totally recommend them.

PS I posted a sample on a wednesday morning and was emailed the results thursday morning.

[moomin]

Ah thanks for that !

[Deleted]

I use Westgate too, they're really helpful and as DM says very quick with the egg counts. I don't think they sell wormers (I've cretainly never bought any from them) so have no interest in telling you to worm if you don't really need to.

[specialized]

Just remember that worm egg counts will not identify tapeworm or encysted strongyles which both need to be controlled by chemical worming

[sharonh]

Another vote for Westgate here.

[mags]

And a vote for Abbey Diagnostics. I've used both Westgate and Abbey Diagnostics. Both have offered good service and advice via the phone. Westgate is faster (results within a day), but costs more. If I'm not in a rush, I tend to go with Abbey to save some money.

The labs have nothing to gain by telling you you need to worm, since they don't sell you any worming chemicals. The test costs the same, no matter the outcome, so there's no advantage for the lab to tell you you need to worm.

[gwenoakes]

We use intelligent worming, think they are down in Wales. Not the cheapest, but they are very good and have been doing it for a while no and all our three are no eggs and clear, but we worm for tapeworm etc. still.

[sundance]

Westgate brilliant and they have nothing to gain to tell you to buy wormers if you don't need them. I worm once a year, if egg counts clear or low, for encysted worms and tapeworm which wouldn't have shown up, and recently had a problem with pinworm so had to worm single dose panacur as an extra.

[pip]

Our vets ran a worm count service for one year and found that virtually all the horses tested needed worming. Since it was the same price for a "worm count" service (plus the cost of wormed if needed) or the usual "wormer at the correct time" service, they no longer offer the worm count service.

As a matter of interest, both my animals that have been kept together for years and had exactly the same worming regime - same product, same day - restulted in one needed worming and the other didn't.

[Hannah]

pip, really? My vets did a huge worm count survey of 509 horses/ponies over 4 years old. See the results below.

"Of the horses tested initially, all were regarded by their owners as due for worming.
509 horses were tested. 64(13%) had a WEC of 200epg or greater and were
wormed with Equest. All except one of these 64 were negative for worm eggs when
tested again two weeks later.
• 82 horses were positive on their second WEC three months after the
first.
• 75% of the horses tested were negative for worm eggs on both tests
three months apart.
• 2% of the horses were positive on both tests.
• 13% of horses that were negative on the first test were positive on the
second test.
• In a situation where over 1000 doses of wormer would have been
given, usage was reduced to 146 doses. An 86% reduction in the the use of
chemical wormers without any detriment to horse health.
The horses that were positive on both tests could be regarded as persistent high egg
shedders and these individual horses can reasonably be given regular
wormers once identified."
www.georgevetgroup.co.uk/pdf's/WormingSurvey2011.pdf

[Hannah]

moomin, I have used Westgate who are quick, and Abbey diagnostics who are slower but cheaper and do a loyalty scheme too, I think the 10th or 11th test is free. Neither sell wormer so it is not in their interests to "find" worm eggs

[mags]

mags, really?

I take it that was supposed to be in response to pip's post, not mine?

My gelding has come back as "no eggs seen" everytime I have done a worm count over the past 4 1/2 years. The worm count (at least with Abbey Diagnostics) is cheaper than a wormer, so I feel I'm doing the right thing (not using unnecessary chemicals) and saving money.

With my senior mare (whom I got just under a year ago), I've admittedly spent more money initially than I would have by just treating at regular intervals. She started out with a very high count, and I did follow-up counts to ensure there's no resistance. But her last count came back low (meaning I didn't need to treat her), and I'm hoping this coming year, she'll also be able to go on a minimal worming programme. Works for me!

[KimT]

I do my worn counts through my vets but they recommend worming once a year even if you get negatives to take care of any worms that don't show on an egg count. Thankfully they do a deal of 4 tests for £32 ish. Thats a years testing for one horse.

It should be easier for us from next month becasue we will have our own fields so only our horses will be on it, we will poo pick and no other horses will be rotated into our herd as is the case now.

[Hannah]

Jan 11, 2013 9:40:02 GMT 1 mags said:

I take it that was supposed to be in response to pip's post, not mine?

Ooop, yes sorry.