wormer or worm count.

[maximum]

What do you all do and what is your justification for choosing that route?

I was thankful that my new yard has a program of 3 monthly egg counts and follow up wormer if required.

I have always been against pumping my horse full of unnecessary chemicals and hopefully this is the way things will be moving forward in the future.I had really interesting talk with a vet friend about wormer resistance last month and if we continue down the route of regular dosing just for the sake of it we run the risk of having no wormer's left which will actually work.

this article from horse and hound is worth reading.

www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/article.php?aid=294413

www.clydevetgroup.co.uk/equine/newsletters/jun05.htm

[fimacg]

I egg count and strategically worm - i.e I worm fot tape worm and things that dont show in egg counts.

For last 2 years I have had results of no eggs seen or very low counts, gradually increasing in Dexter but not the others, so havent needed to routinely worm. I guess I'll need to worm Dexter at some point if his count keeps increasing but at the moment it states to do nothing. as his count is less than 20 eggs seen.

[scattymare]

I use both! But it kind of follows the principle of worm counts but we only do one a year. I use Equest Pramox twice yearly and Vectin spring/early summer. I then do a worm count in Autum to check we are on the right track.
Flossy was worm counted on arrival and treated with Pramox also (Harvey got the dregs)
We probably don't need the Vectin in spring and could do an extra count instead but I figure if the count comes back and they need doing I'm paying twice.
It's just so confusing to know what to do for the best.

[fleabitten]

we had started onto the worm count i think with kieran - probably would need to be using it over a long period of time to see any significant result or money saving etc
but i do think the theory behind makes good sense.

[haffyfan]

I do counts too and just chemical worm if I have to as I too don't like pumping them full of chemicals.

I use verm x herbal wormers on a regular basis and really like them but I guess it defeats the purpose of saving money by counts which is often a factor in it being peoples choice