tapeworm

[jovi_y2k2]

Star was last wormed on 25th September with Equest Pramox, with this lasting 13 weeks he wont be due to be wormed again until 24th Dec. The horsewalker at college was cleaned out today for the first time in ages (was really gross) and apparently tapeworm was found in there whilst cleaning it. :eek:
Star is on the walker most days and I'm just wondering whether to worm him again just to be safe??:confused:
i do have a worm count testing kit at home which i could do once we're back home for crimble.

[Gill]

A worm count won't always pick up tapeworm. I would not be worming again though as you have already covered what is needed and presumably your horse would not be eating whilst on the walker? Or does he graze with the horse who dropped them?

Were all the horses wormed at the same time? Where do you think these worms have come from? Maybe a new horse on your yard?
Is the walker not cleaned after each use? Does that indicate the standard of care generally?

[Iron Maiden]

As I understand it, if the tapeworm was pooed out, the wormer must have done it's job. Left to their own devices they hang in there & just come out in little bits which act like 'eggs' & pass the parasite on to other animals. Bet it was an ugly critter, I hope whoever found it has a strong stomach!

Sounds like the horsewalker could do with a bit more by way of mucking out though...!

[jovi_y2k2]

i know i dread to think when it was last cleaned out! :eek:
he doesnt eat when on the walker (he walks like a giraffe with his head right up in the air! :rolleyes: )
tbh the worms could have come from anywhere, this is the first year when ive been at college when they've actually had a worming programme in place!! its usually just left down to students and assumed that everyone worms their horses!
we dont have any turnout anymore, but all the horses that went into stars field were wormed within a week of each other with Equest Pramox

[Alfies-slave]

I would be worried.

If the horses have all been wormed then the presence of tape worm suggests resistence. The eggs of these resistant tape worms will probably get on to the grazing unless poo is removed every day. Even then, one good shower of rain and the eggs go on to the grass and in to the next neddies stomach. Routine wormng will not kill them. There has been a massive increase of this reported this year.

Tape worm infestation can thus occour in routinely wormed horses. Usualy the first signs of infestation are only noticed when the horse looses condition. By this time the damage is done.

I would go to whoever is incharge and voice your concerns. Whichever horse is infested needs help pronto. Other horses could also be infested.

Finding the tape worm was a warning that there is something very wrong with the worming policy. This needs to be reviewed, probably under the advice of a Vet.
Routine wrmers (that don't need to be prescribed by a vet)

[skye06]

Just a note to say that equest doen't cover tapeworm anyway. Would recommend dosing with eqitape or equimax to cover tapeworm.

[jovi_y2k2]

I'm not too worried at the moment, because we have no turnout and i know that all the horses on my yard have been wormed. also in previous years when ive been here star has been covered fine by my own worming programme, its only this year where the college has decided to do it themselves. Also i spoke to my yard supervisor this morning and she'd not heard anything about the tapeworm finding but is going to speak to the yard manager today about it. it was a fellow student that had told me in the first place, so could be a case of chinese whispers

[andreaB]

just to reinterate what others have said

- passing the worm means the wormer has worked

- equest doesn't do tapeworm

- worm count won't nec pick up tapeworm

ideally something like equitape should be used autumn & spring in addition to equest

[Jessey]

Gills the expert on worms :D
I always remember being told that it was best to Tape worm after the first frost, regular Equest won't get the tapes but as you used the Pramox this should have done, the only sure way to check for tapes is by bloods I think so I wouldn't worry too much just keep an eye on her weight etc.

J x

[nicolaj]

Equest have a new product called Equest Paromax, which is a combined routine wormer and tapewormer. Only recently hit the market. You'll find adverts in the horsey magazine, or do a google.

http://www.petsensedirect.co.uk/information.aspx?InfoPageID=22

[mogadoga]

You wormed with pramox so i wouldnt worry. And just keep an eye on things. And clean the horse walker :D

[jovi_y2k2]

to say it was cleaned yesterday it looked gross again this morning!! :rolleyes: it's worse because it keeps raining so reducing the poo to complete mush! star comes out with lovely green legs :(
its the job of the yard staff and the students on yard duties to clean it but it seems to have lapsed!
thanks for all your helps guys!!