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New report raises fresh concerns over equine de-worming practices


detailed report on equine deworming was issued in January 2019, highlighting the ongoing concern professionals hold about the rise of wormer resistance in the UK. A panel of experts expressed their concern around insufficient measures being taken to halt the spread of this worrying trait. They identified key recommendations we should be implementing to help keep our horses healthy into the future.


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More so than ever, we are urged to follow targeted worming practices, protecting horses by testing rather than dosing regularly. If you’ve never taken a worm count for your horse, or have fallen out of sync and into the ‘I’ll just worm this time’ approach, let this motivate you to get that poo off to the lab.


We need to make changes to practices now before it’s too late. Wormer resistance is one of the biggest challenges facing veterinary medicine today and yet is seldom talked about, probably as it’s a bit icky. With only five medicines licenced to treat worms in horses in the UK, and all of them showing increasing levels of resistance, a black cloud is looming.


 Test before treating; healthy adult horses can follow a simple programme of worm egg counts every three months, spring, summer and autumn, tapeworm tests every six months and a dose for the possibility of encysted redworm in late autumn/ winter. Those with weaker immune systems, such as foals, young stock, rescues and older horses, will require more frequent monitoring.


 Preserve key medicines; moxidectin is our most effective treatment for treating larval stages of the small redworm, identified as the horse parasite most likely to kill. To maximise its usefulness, it should only be given to target these parasites. Use alternatives for adult small redworm burdens.


 Check drug efficacy; worm count reduction tests should be carried out regularly to monitor resistance and ensure treatment can be relied upon.


 Pasture management is critical; look at mechanical, not chemical, ways to break worm lifecycle. Poo picking, along with minimising over grazing, resting/rotating fields and being aware of sources of parasite infection.


Westgate Labs simplify best practice parasite control for horse owners


To celebrate their twentieth anniversary, postal worm count specialists Westgate Labs, are launching a new subscription service to make following a best practice programme even easier.


Commissioned by UK-Vet-Equine, the paper ‘Equine de-worming: a consensus on current best practice’ was produced from a


round table discussion of vets, university professors, biologists and parasitologist, supported by Virbac, The Horse Trust and


VetPartners. Authors: David Rendle, Corrine Austin, Mark Bowen, Ian Cameron, Tamzin Furtado, Jane Hodgkinson, Bruce McGorum, Jacqueline Matthews.


The All Seasons service is a tailor made test plan designed to take the guess work out of it.


For one monthly payment, clients receive all the tests needed to target the right parasites at the right time sent to their door. With subscriptions starting from £6.50 per calendar month, the All Seasons service is an affordable option, too.


The subscription service spreads the cost of a parasite control programme and gives All Seasons peace of mind that potentially harmful parasites can be identified and dealt with. As with all Westgate’s services, free veterinary approved follow-up advice from friendly experts is available. www.westgatelabs.co.uk for more details.


Westgate Laboratories POSTAL WORM COUNTS & TESTS


anniversary 1999 - 2019


• EASY, reliable service for parasite control, • discounts for multiple horses, • commercial rates for +10.


• SAME DAY testing & results


• FREE, veterinary approved advice from our friendly SQPs


NEW!


Worm egg counts


Test every 3 months to target your horse’s red and roundworm control. £9.95* per test.


*£2 P&P per order passionate about good parasite control for your horse or pony


contact us


01670 791994 info@westgatelabs.co.uk | www.westgatelabs.co.uk


For advertising telephone 01380 734373 | MARCH 2018 19


EquiSal tapeworm test


Test every 6 months to revolutionise your tapeworm treatment. £17.95* per horse.


Subscription Service


A complete, bespoke test based worm control programme for your horse from £6.50 pcm.


Service Rated 144 reviews


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