Worming

Proactive Worming Control Programs for Horses in Brisbane, Ipswich and Lockyer Valley

Regular worming every 8-12 weeks will protect the health of your horse.

Without worming, high worm burdens can lead to serious health problems, like colic, diarrhea and severe weight loss. When managed effectively, your horse can live in relative harmony with worms.

However, the key to effective worm control is targeting the parasites present on your property. This begins with a faecal egg count, followed by a faecal egg count reduction test. Both are services we offer at our practice.

How often should I worm my horse?

Worming is advised every 8-12 weeks. However, regular worming is most effective when combined with other forms of worm control, including correct pasture management.

Removing manure from your horse’s pasture at least once a week will reduce the number of larvae present. Resting paddocks during hot, dry weather will also help protect your horse.

What wormer should I use?

Horses are susceptible to different parasites at different stages of their lives. Choosing the right wormer means selecting a wormer with the correct active ingredients to counter these parasites.

The only way you can create an effective worm control program is by identifying the worms present in your horses with a faecal egg count, followed by a faecal egg count reduction test.

What dosage does my horse require?

Worming doses are administered according to weight. It’s crucial that you estimate your horse’s weight correctly as under-dosing can lead to worm resistance. Using a weight tape is one of the best methods to calculate weight correctly if you don’t have access to weight scales.

How soon should I start worming?

Foals should receive at least four worming treatments in their first year to protect against the potentially fatal large roundworm. If large roundworms are found on your property, you may need to start worming as early as one month of age.

What is worm resistance?

With only three classes of drugs available – the Benzimidazoles (BZ’s), the Tetrahydropyrimidines (THP’s) and the Macrocyclic Lactones (ML’s) – worm resistance is on the rise.

To make matters worse, many horse owners worm without identifying which worms they should be targeting. This, in effect, leads to ineffective worm control and possibly worm resistance. Identifying the worms present in your horse and dosing correctly are the two methods that will counter worm resistance on your property.