Worms! When and how to worm your livestock and pets?

Dogs and Cats

It is recommended that dogs and cats are wormed for intestinal parasites every 3 months to help protect humans from hydatid tapeworms and hookworms. This can be achieved with a 3 monthly tablet or spot on topical product. Heartworm prevention should be started before 6 months of age.

In our area, a monthly 'All in One' product such as Nexgard Spectra (oral for dogs, onto the skin for cats) is a fantastic option as it covers fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm, lungworm and intestinal worms. Dogs will also require a tapeworm tablet every 3 months.

Alternatives are available, speak to your vet to discuss.

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Horses

Much like antibiotics, anthelmintic resistant worms are becoming more common so we need to minimize unnecessary worming and target our worms wisely. We recommend quarterly Faecal Egg Counts (can be performed here at our hospital) to help with your decision making. 

Bots are in a catagory of their own. We cannot see them in the faecal sample as the eggs are on your horse's legs! Treating for bots at the end of autumn is recommended for all horses and we also recommend daily removal of any bot eggs on their coat. 

The following links are very informative; 

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Strategic Worming For Horses - 3D Worming (virbac.com)

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A Guide to Worming Your Horse: Signs & Treatment – WormGuide Equine

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Ruminants

We have a lot of trouble with Barber's Pole worm (Haemonchus) in our area so checking your stock for worms regularly is recommended. However regular worming is no longer recommended as it promotes the develop of anthelmintic resistant worm populations. We can perform Faecal Egg Counts here at the hospital to help guide responsible wormer use. The Wormboss resources are excellent tools to help guide your drench decision making.

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Choosing and Using Drenches - WormBoss

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Solve Your Current Worm Problems - Drench Decision Guides (wormboss.com.au)

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