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Parasite management

Get advice on parasite treatment and robust parasite management programmes.

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We offer comprehensive advice on worming programs to keep your horses healthy. 

We also offer bespoke yard worming programs, inclusive of an on-yard risk assessment for parasite management – please get in touch for a tailored package.

Many horses do not need routine wormer treatments. The unnecessary use of wormers contributes to increasing anthelmintic (wormer) resistance in equine parasite populations, and environmental contamination with anthelmintic drugs which are harmful to many wild invertebrates (e.g. dung beetles).

Individual horses differ in their own response to worm infections, and identifying those that are high egg shedders to target for worming treatments when needed, along with good pasture management, helps to keep our horses’ worm burdens at a healthy level.

This can also help to reduce pasture contamination and re-infection rates and protect the  wormers we use against the development of resistance, so that we can continue to use them when needed to prevent worm-associated disease.

While many horses do not need routine wormer treatments, the risks of ignoring a horse’s worm burdens are significant. 

Symptoms

Gastrointestinal parasite infections can cause serious disease if left unmonitored, with symptoms including:

  • Colic (medical and surgical).
  • Weight loss.
  • Diarrhoea.
  • Restricted growth (youngstock).
  • Blood vessel blockages.
  • Intestinal damage, potentially causing life-long nutrient absorption problems.
  • Itching and discomfort around the anus and tail-head (pinworms).

What’s included in our worming programmes?

  • Individual assessment of a horse’s worm “risk” and egg shedding level.
  • Focus on management to reduce egg shedding, pasture contamination and the need for wormer treatments.
  • Inclusive post-treatment testing ensures any wormer treatments given are effective (and if not, swift interventions and tailored plans can be made if resistant worm populations are identified).
  • Expert advice given on when to test, when to worm and what drugs to choose.

For more information, please contact our team.

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