A Few Facts and Frequently Asked Questions.
We are Abbey Diagnostics, a small, independent laboratory
set up in 2000, with fully professionally qualified staff (up to and including
post-doctoral level), that specializes in worm counts for horses and ponies
across the
Why should we worry about worms and horses?
A large percentage of horses and ponies carry some internal parasites (worms) which, in small numbers cause very few ill-effects. However, if left unchecked and numbers increase beyond a certain level, they pose a major threat to the general health and well-being of the animal. Sadly, it is not always possible to tell that a horse is carrying these parasites just by looking at it from the outside and even an apparently healthy looking animal can have a high worm burden which could develop and cause illness, even death. Horses such as these are also a liability to other owners as they are contaminating shared grazing by passing out worm eggs in their droppings. A worm count is one way of checking to see that these parasite burdens are not waiting in the background to cause you and your horse problems a little further down the road. Once this has been ascertained, you are then in a good position to plan a worming strategy in consultation with your vet (who is best placed to advise on treatments directed towards the specific needs of the individual animal based on its health record) and/or your certificated worming-chemical provider (SQP).
Although it is called a "worm count", the test counts the number of worm eggs found in a sample of the horse's dung. The test is mainly for eggs of large and small Strongyles, although occasionally eggs of roundworm and tapeworm are seen. If owners want a specific test for tapeworm then they are advised to contact their vet and ask for a tapeworm antibody test to be done.
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If we see eggs like those pictured above, it tells us that adult worms have produced these eggs as part of their normal life cycle.
Why do a worm count?
Primarily, the reason for having a worm count done is to check one aspect of the internal health of your horse or pony. Overlooking a worm problem can lead to the development of a heavy worm burden and the typically described "Poor do-er" which may show diarrhoea, colic, loss in weight, lethargy and, in the worst cases, death. A worm count can help to recognise that there is a potential problem so that you, the owner, can take steps to prevent things progressing. Other reasons for getting a count done are:
- To give you peace of mind that your horse is not shedding eggs onto the grazing area and so contaminating the pasture and creating recurring problems for you and other owners.
- To give confidence that the worming and pasture management strategy which you and/or your livery yard are using is successfully controlling the parasites.
- To check newly acquired horses and ponies upon arrival at a yard before turning them out onto communal grazing so that pasture contamination is kept to a minimum.
- To make sure that your animal is not carrying worms which are resistant to (ie not controlled by) current worming chemicals.
- To monitor horses which are travelling to different venues as part of their routine, and grazing on potentially contaminated grassland.
Some owners, in conjunction with veterinary advice, are adopting a strategy which aims to decrease the quantity of chemicals given to their horses. In these cases, regular worm counts are done and worming chemicals are given only if the count reaches a threshold level. This technique not only reduces costs, but is also considered helpful in combating the problems of resistant worms developing.
Problems associated with worming.
One problem which is causing more
concern nowadays is the development of resistance to certain worming chemicals. It has been shown with other
animals, such as sheep, that using currently established worming practices can
encourage the increase of resistance, leading to a population of parasites
which cannot be controlled by the known range of chemicals. In the
Another potential problem is the administration of chemicals to animals with existing health problems, possibly leading to adverse reactions at a time when their health is already compromised. In this type of situation, a worm count can help the owner to make an informed decision on the best worming practice after consultation with their veterinary surgeon.
How do I get a worm count done?
Getting a count done with Abbey
Diagnostics could not be easier. All you need to do is:
· Contact us by telephone or e-mail and tell us how many horses you want to test.
· We send you the requested number of free sample kits which contain everything you need in order to take the sample, plus easy-to-follow instructions and any discount vouchers or news of special offers which you are eligible for. We also include, as standard, a copy of Information Sheet 1 (Worm counts -Facts and Frequently Asked Questions.) along with any other Information sheets requested at the time of order.
· Once you have taken the sample, you just put the sample-container into the provided envelope along with your details and payment, attach first-class postage and send it to us.
· We aim to analyse the sample on the day it is received and get the results to you by telephone, fax or e-mail on the day of test. We also send out the results sheet by post to those who request their initial result by telephone.
Not at all, in fact getting a count
done with Abbey Diagnostics costs less than a single dose of most wormers from
standard retail outlets! We are horse owners ourselves, so we can appreciate
how important it is to keep costs down and believe that we are able to offer
our services at a low rate yet still provide the high quality of service which
you, the owner, would want for your horse or pony. Our tests are done in-house, so you are not
paying extra to have samples forwarded to a second party, thereby ensuring that
overhead costs are kept to a minimum so that these savings can be passed on to
the clients. Unlike some laboratories, we have no minimum purchase policy.
In addition, we are able to offer a wide range of discounts (bulk orders, regular customers, equine charities and more - see price list) in order to allow everyone to make use of an important part of horse care without breaking the bank. We also have a Loyalty points scheme for our regular customers whereby each paid sample sent to us earns one loyalty point. Ten loyalty points qualify you for a free test on one single sample.
Contact us and ask for details. Call 01638 552122 or mail sales@abbeydiagnostics.co.uk
Thankfully, we find that really high counts tend to be less common than lower ones, however, they do still occur. Many people, upon finding that they do have a problem, like to do a follow up test after treating the horse with a suitable worming chemical. This is known as an egg count reduction test and can be performed by us at the request of the owner who will be given the option when the results are returned. This service is provided at a considerable discount so that you can get peace of mind and know that the action you've taken has worked. In addition, this test can be important in assessing any build up of resistance so that, if necessary, you can reassess your worming strategy.