Worms And Worm Control

Question 1

Why is picking up dropping from the pasture so important

Answer 1

a worms life cycle involves the eggs and larvae moving up the grass stems and being ingested by the horse
By ingesting the worms - the multiplication of worms and continuation of the life cycle is being allowed to continue

Question 2

How often should dropping be removed from pasture

Answer 2

Two to three times a week if not daily

Question 3

What symptoms may a horse show if have a heavy burden

Answer 3

Death - redworm, tapeworm
Colic
Diarrhoea 
Weight loss 
Change in coat 
Rubbing - pinworm

Question 4

What methods can be used to control worm populations on pasture

Answer 4

Separating young and older horses
Collecting dropping
Harrowing in hot weather
Topping patches
Rotating and resting paddocks - up to a year to break cycle
Grazing sheep and cattle - eat larvae but do not reinfect except stomach worm

Question 5

When would you work for bots and tapeworm

Answer 5

Tapeworm: spring and autumn
Bots: autumn / early winter

Question 6

When would you work for roundworm

Answer 6

Early summer

Question 7

What is the active ingredient for bots

Answer 7

Ivermectin (macrocyclic lactone)

Question 8

What is the active ingredient for tapeworm?

Answer 8

Praziquantel

Question 9

What are the dangers of working too frequently

Answer 9

Risk of resistance occurring

Question 10

Following an egg count, what horses need to be wormed

Answer 10

Those that are greater than 200 eggs per gram of dung

Question 11

Why do some workers still need to be given despite having a egg faecal count performed

Answer 11

Some worm eggs do not show up on a count e.g. Encysted Red worm, tapeworm, bots, pinworm