How Often Is Fecal Testing Done For Equine Parasite Maintenance?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Ideally, a fecal egg count (FEC) should be done in the SPRING and FALL, prior to deworming, as egg/larva shedding fluctuates seasonally. At a minimum,

one FEC should be done on each horse each year

.

How much is a fecal count for horses?

A horse with a fecal egg count result

between 0 and 200 EPG

is classified as a low shedder. A medium or moderate shedder has an EPG between 201 to 500, and a high shedder has an EPG of above 500. Fecal egg counts are an estimate of your horse’s parasite burden or worm load.

What is a fecal test for horses?

A fecal egg count test is

a diagnostic test performed on a sample of your horse’s manure to identify the type and number of parasite eggs, lurking inside your horse

. Fecal egg count tests primarily identify small strongyles (redworms) and ascarids (roundworms).

What is a good deworming schedule for horses?

Traditionally horses have been dewormed

every two months

, but this has led to parasite resistance among horses. For this reason, we recommend performing Fecal Egg Counts (FEG) in the spring (ideally spring and fall) to determine the number of eggs a horse has in its manure.

How often do I need to worm my horse?

Usually, worming is advised

every 6-8 weeks

. However, it’s important you develop a sustainable worming program for your own property. Effective worm control, combined with pasture management, will protect the health of your horses.

How often Equimax Horse Wormer?

  1. Strongid-P repeated every 4-6 weeks or,
  2. Panacur repeated every 6-8 weeks or,
  3. Eqvalan or Equimax repeated every 8-10 weeks.

How long does a horse fecal test take?

Your vet performs the testing, either in their in-house laboratory or by sending the samples out to a lab. You can expect results in

1-5 days

.

What is a high egg count in horses?

We classify horses as one of three types of shedders; low (0-200 eggs per gram), medium (200-500 eggs per gram) and high (

over 500 eggs per gram

).

How do you test for parasites in horses?

The most common test used to diagnose a parasite infection is the

fecal egg count

. This simple test involves counting the number of parasite eggs in a small amount of feces. This is the ideal test to diagnose the most common equine parasites, like small and large strongyles and roundworms.

What information can your veterinarian tell you after conducting a fecal egg count?

The count tells you how severe the infestation is. Once you have all the data about which parasites are present and how large the populations are, you can determine

the appropriate deworming schedule

with your veterinarian.

How do you do a fecal egg count reduction test?

What is praziquantel horse?

Praziquantel is

an antiparasitic drug typically used to control tapeworms (Anoplocephala perfoliata) in horses

.

What month do you deworm a horse?

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends that all horses receive deworming treatments in the

spring and fall

, targeting key equine parasites of concern. For young horses, ages 3 and under, the AAEP guidelines recommend high-risk deworming treatment plans.

Can I deworm my horse twice?

Here are the basics:

You will need to deworm all horses twice yearly (after the first frost and again in the spring)

with an ivermectin or moxidectin product to kill large strongyles and bots.

What shots do horses need yearly?

Again, ALL horses should receive the core vaccines (

rabies, EEE/WEE, tetanus, and West Nile Virus

). The risk-based vaccines will depend on if your horse travels, your geographic location, breeding status, and other considerations.

How often do horses need to be vaccinated?

Vaccination is recommended

every 6-12 months

. There are several other vaccines available for horses.

How often do you need a farrier?

The average horse needs to see a farrier

every 4 to 6 weeks

, but not every horse is the same. Some horses may need to see a farrier more, or less, often than the average horse. Determining how frequent your farrier visits will depend on the growth rate and current health of your horse’s hooves.

How long does Equimax last?

Lasts

8-10 weeks

. One syringe will treat 700kg bodyweight. Can be given to pregnant mares. Equimax is for use in all horses that have mixed infestations of roundworms, tapeworms and bots, and is the only product registered to treat all 3 species of equine tapeworm (more information : see Package Insert).

Is Equimax a good Wormer?

It has proven especially effective against perfoliata, which is the most common form of tapeworm.

Equimax enjoys a 100% success rate against this particular parasite

. It is safe for foals as young as 4 weeks and can be used on old and underweight horses.

Is ivermectin the same as Equimax?


Eraquell is the sister product to Equimax

, containing the active ingredient ivermectin which kills more roundworms and bots than any other worming ingredient including large redworms. Most effective against small redworms, pinworms, large roundworms, threadworms and hairworms.

How fresh does a horse fecal sample need to be?

Procedure for collecting a sample:

1. Place 1-2 fresh (

less than 12 hours old

) fecal balls in a plastic baggie.

How long is a horse fecal sample good for?

Place the bag into another zip-lock bag. 5) Write the date and horse’s name on the bag. 6) Store in a cool place, such as a fridge. 7) Deliver your fecal sample to the vet within

48 hours

!

What is the normal acceptable parasite count in faeces?

A faecal egg count of fewer than 100 eggs per gram of faeces is considered low. A count of

between of 100 and 500

is considered in the moderate range and anything above 500 is considered high.

What does EPG stand for horses?

The mares included 1,114 Thoroughbreds (TB) on 24 farms, 64 Standardbreds (SB) on 1 farm, and 122 mixed light horse types (MLH) on 1 farm. The objective of this research was to determine

strongyle eggs per gram of feces

(EPG) counts for evaluation by known age, number positive, and level of egg shedding by the mares.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.