Worm infestation in horses is one of the main causes of economic loss in horse production.
Worms can cause severe internal damage with no apparent signs.
Formulating a parasite control programme is of paramount importance in maintaining healthy horses.
The most significant internal parasites we deal with in Ireland are;
.Small strongyles
.Large strongyles.
.Tapeworms
.Roundworms
.Pinworms
.Lungworms
.Threadworms
.Bots.
Small strongyle larvae burrow into the lining of the intestine and become encysted for several months during which time they are resistant to most wormers.
The larvae can cause severe damage when they are emerging from the cystic stage in the wall of the intestine. Rapid weight loss, colic and diarrhoea are commonly associated with this infestation.
Large strongyles in the larval stage burrow through the wall of the intestine into the blood vessels that supply the intestines causing extensive damage. Severe infestations can lead to fatal colic.
Tapeworms can cause colic if present in large numbers in the horse’s intestine.
Roundworms can cause colic, coughing and poor body condition.
Faecal egg counts are essential to the determination of the level of infection in your horse or on your farm. The worming programme can be tailored to suit the horse or the entire farm depending on the faecal egg counts.
We perform numerous egg counts for our clients in our laboratory and advise them on suitable worming programmes.
This involves collecting two or three fresh manure balls from the horse and put into a sealed labelled bag.
The results are measured in eggs per gram of faeces.
Recent research by parasitologists has suggested that a low level of worms is probably useful in the horse as it may confer some degree of immunity to the horse. On this basis it is generally agreed that worm egg g counts less than 200 eggs per gram are not treated.
We generally advise clients to treat horses with worm egg counts greater than 400 eggs per gram.
No single worming programme suits all horses and all situations so it is essential to carry out regular faecal egg counts
