• Faecal Worm Egg Counts (FWEC) should be carried out in the spring, summer and autumn (around 3 months apart) in all grazing horses to check for redworm.  Our vets or SQPs can give you specific advice that is most appropriate for your own horse and your yard.

• See HERE for details of how to collect and transport samples to our laboratory - careful collection and handling of samples are vital to give accurate results.

• Do not treat mature horses with negative or low FWECs, usually less than 300 eggs per gram as it is unnecessary and increases worm resistance.

• Only treat mature horses with worm egg counts greater than 300 eggs per gram using an appropriate wormer, such as pyrantel (e.g. Strongid P®), ivermectin (e.g. Eqvalan®) or moxidectin (e.g. Equest®).

• Once a year perform a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) using either pyrantel (Sprongid P) or a macrocyclic lactone (ivermectin - e.g. Eqvalan®) or moxidectin (e.g. Equest®) to check for small redworm resistance on your premises.

• Treat all young (upto 5 years) and high risk horses (based on FEC results, pasture management etc) in late autumn/early winter with a wormer effective against small redworm encysted larvae (the best product for this use currently is moxidectin - Equest®). This also provides cover against large redworms. A combination of moxidectin and praziquantel (e.g. Equest Pramox®) can be used to treat tapeworms at the same time. 

• Low risk horses (5-20 years of age, with regularly low FEC results over trhe summer, well managed pastures) will not require a routine dewormer treatment in the autumn. If there is any doubt about this, consider running the small redworm blood test on low risk horses to determine whether or not they require a dewormer treatment.

• Other than this possible single treatment in autumn / early winter, most mature horses will not require treatment for redworm during the winter. In some cases no treatment will be required at all if the yard has a long history of excellent parasitic control and health mature horses.

Tapeworm:

• Consider treatment for tapeworms once a year (ideally in the autumn) – using an appropriate wormer e.g. praziquantel (e.g., Equitape®) or a double dose of pyrantel (e.g. Pyratape or Strongid P®). A combination of moxidectin and praziquantel (e.g. Equest Pramox®) could be given in the autumn if needed.

• A saliva (or blood) sample can be taken to check the level of antibodies to tapeworms (an indication of the tapeworm burden). Horses ' herds with high antibody levels should be wormed with a product effective against tapeworms, but horses with low antibody levels should not be treated. 

• Ensure that the dewormer doses are given as recommended by the manufacturer – always work from an accurate gauge of weight by using scales or a girth tape. If less than one tube is required, re-cap the tube and keep it in a cool, clean place and use next time (unless the packaging instruction state that this should not be done).

• If possible, avoid using the same class of wormer every time. Remember that ivermectin and moxidectin are in the same class.  However, do not blindly change the class of drug at every dosing, if you are unsure, ring BELL EQUINE on 01622 813700 for advice.

• Wormer effectiveness can be tested by undertaking a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT).  It is sensible to do this every year. Please discuss when this is required with one of our vets or SQPs.