Wormers
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January 11, 2010 12:47PM
I know this topic has been beat to death but I need an answer to a question.
I just called my vet to find out what it would cost of do a fecal count...... just thinking if they did not need to wormer I would not worm them. Better for me better for them. The horses are no longer leaving the farm and no one is coming in and I hate the idea of the chemicals if they do not need them. But a fecal count is $26 dollars.... a little cost prohibitive to have the fecal count and then worm too.
What is everyone else doing these days..... what is everyone else worming with this time of year. It is time for us and actually a little late but I would like to find out what everyone else does year round with wormers.
Thanks guys,
Stoney.
January 11, 2010 01:20PM
Lots of good info on the link below . Now is the time to attack Tapes "after a good hard frost" which we have had.
[ www.mpequine.com]
January 11, 2010 01:28PM
Just to clarify up front, I'm talking about my *goats* here... that said, I'd be doing this also if I had equines on the property.
I deworm all year according to my vet's protocol (this differs from vet to vet) then once the ground is frozen and the snow flies I take one sample to the vet with "raisins" from each of the 3 goats in the sample. Based on the fecal results, I know if my deworming program worked in the past year and if there is anything I need to catch before the new deworming year starts.
It would be cheaper for me to just deworm them again and not bother with the fecal, but the way I figure it, if I do fecals once a year, I'm ensuring that my overall program is working (or not!!). If I just dewormed them without the fecal, I may, in theory be using the wrong product and not touching anything that's left over. In which case, I wouldn't really know until I started seeing other signs of worminess, then I'd have to either do the fecal at that point or just try another product. (In the case of horses, I don't want to wait until there's some nasty problem and then have to worry about colic upon deworming and all that.)
The way I figure it, the cost of the yearly fecal is cheap compared to the amount of feed "wasted" by feeding the worms... the possible vet bills to determine what's wrong when the animal presents with worm related symptoms and the nights I'll lay awake in bed wondering if my deworming program is working or not.
But again, I'm talking 3 goats, one sample ($35), so its not an overwhelming expense!
Good luck!
GP
January 11, 2010 02:28PM
Apparently these days with those Power Pack wormers the worms are becoming resistant. So, its a good idea to get the fecal done to see if the program is actually working. If you don't have a worm problem, there ya go. Better safe than sorry in that regard.
January 11, 2010 04:55PM
I like INFORMATION and DATA  so I used to do a fecal, then deworm (if required) then another fecal a couple of weeks late to ensure it worked. That was when I had money.
My mares have established a pattern of always having low level (1+) strongyles at deworming time -so now I deworm (usually with an ivermectin - this is the only one I believe that gets strongyles, both larval and adult - and bots - I always have to scrape bot eggs off their legs) and then test fecal - maybe once per year now. I deworm only late fall and spring. My guys also don't go anywhere or meet anyone new.
BTW - I just paid $17ea. for 3 tests - where are you stonehedge?
January 11, 2010 05:36PM
I did an afternoon of how to do a fecal float at OVC not too long ago---good times---inspired me to get a decent microscope and do my own fecals. Keep getting sidetracked though. We've lately just been deworming 2x/year now, spring and fall, which is lazy, we should go the fecal first route.
January 11, 2010 09:37PM
are all worms getting resistant or just those in the horses that people routinely over-worm?
If so, I dont understand how the potential worms in my ponies over here, could be getting resistant to the wormers being used way over 'there'
January 11, 2010 11:13PM
I personally....worm 2-3 times a year...right now, I used Quest Plus...I do have info coming on an all natural wormer that apparently never expires and worms can not become resistant to it...don't know how, but this is why I requested the additional info...this guy called me from (wherever he was over in the states) and said I inquired about it (must've been one of those late night things because I don't remember this...I could have) and was telling me all this stuff...so I requested he send more info...says there's 2 different sized bottles...the bigger one can do a barn of 20 horses (1000 lb) for the year...the smaller one, about 12 horses...I'll wait and see what this info says before I say anything more...should be coming soon
January 11, 2010 11:15PM
Gruff - we gotta get together over the microscope - think of the fun we could have! I feel a bar graph coming on at the VERY least! 
January 12, 2010 10:45AM
I am just outside of Kingston .... small town called Tamworth..... The fecals are cost prohibitive I think but at the same time without doing one how do you know if your current worming program is working....
QHcuttingG..... I would be very interested in knowing what this natural wormer is so if you could forward info. when you get it that would be great.
I am going to have to call around and see if I can get a better price from another vet.
As usual thanks for all your great replies, I appreciate it very much.
January 15, 2010 10:41AM
no info yet...wonder if he's even going to send it?...lol...maybe he was just looking for me to buy over the phone...which I will NOT do
January 15, 2010 09:48PM
There was a boarder at my first barn who routinely took samples and since she worked at the OVC lab, she tested them for us. I used to give her stud muffins as thanks... exchanging apples for apples in a way!
I have not had a fecal done since I left that barn ('03), but the horses are wormed every three months following vet instructions. None of the horses go to shows/travel and it is a fairly closed herd without many new comers. lol.. I read somewhere a wannabee cowboy who had way too many mustangs used... tobacco to worm the horses... but the condition of the horses and the necropsies performed confirmed that does not work...
January 16, 2010 11:15AM
Speaking of home remedies...a local meat dealer puts turpentine in their drinking water to 'deworm' the horses being held until shipping for slaughter (to meet drug restrictions)... 
January 16, 2010 07:52PM
I know someone who stomach tubes with oil and turpentine...ya, smells lovely afterwards
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