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Equine Worm Count Results
Your results sent via text or email are accompanied by a level. Please see the information below as a general guide to help interpret your result. If in doubt about your horse's treatment please contact us with your horses age, health status and de-wormer history for more specific advice.
<50 EPG No eggs seen ("clear")
50- 150 EPG LOW
200- 1100 EPG MEDIUM
No eggs were detected during this test. No treatment is advised for healthy adult horses based on this result. Retest approx 8 -10 weeks unless winter treatment is due. In winter time use risk assessment to find if encysted small redworm treatment would be advised.
A low level of eggs were detected, below the usual threshold for treatment. You can possibly delay worming the equine depending on age & health status, retesting in approx 8-10 weeks time unless winter treatment is due. In winter time use risk assessment to find if encysted small redworm treatment would be advised.
The equine has a burden of parasite eggs that is above the standard recommended threshold for worming and most likely will require a deworming treatment. After treatment retest approx 8-10 weeks time. In winter time use risk assessment to find if encysted small redworm treatment would be advised.
1150 EPG + HIGH
Tapeworm egg- rare
Pinworm egg- rare
The equine has a significant burden of parasites and treatment is recommended. Ideally perform a resistance retest in 10-14 days post worming to check if further treatment is needed.
Check management to see if risk of infection can be reduced. In winter time encysted small redworm treatment would be advised for this equine.
If we found a tapeworm egg in this sample we recommend worming this horse with a product that covers tapeworm. Tapeworm eggs do not show up reliably in worm counts but when they do it usually indicates a burden worthy of treatment.
Very occasionally if a horse has a heavy burden pinworm eggs can stick to the dung as it falls out onto the floor (pinworms lay eggs around the anus). These can then show up in a regular FEC. Treatment is advised.
Further Information
Equine worm egg counts (FEC) detect adult, egg laying redworm (strongyles) and roundworm (ascarids). Juvenile and encysted stages cannot be detected, which is why regular testing year round plus strategic risk assessing or dosing against encysted small redworm is recommended.
Young horses, especially foals, have additional parasite control needs. While FEC can be useful to monitor burdens please use with caution and treat where necessary as the advised cut offs are only recommended for healthy adult equines. Every horse is unique and has multiple factors that make up their own parasite risk profile. You can assess their risk of parasites at whatsyourwormrisk.com to help you make informed decisions or speak to our fully qualified medicine adviser for more tailored advice.
We recommend regular parasite testing to monitor your equine's worm burden throughout the year. Approx 8-12 week intervals for testing (with a possible gap for treating encysted stages of small redworm in winter time if needed). Please follow a suitable parasite control programme and test regularly to detect any new growth of worms. Worm counts (FEC) work best if used throughout the year to build up a picture of your horse's internal parasite profile.
Need worming advice?
Do you need help choosing the best deworming treatment for your equine? Or unsure if you need to treat at all? Advice for winter risk assessing and dosing?
Our Registered Animal Medicine Adviser (RAMA/SQP) can help with this. Just pop us an email at info@poopost.co.uk, send us a DM via our socials or fill in the contacts form on the website. Include your results code and your animal's last deworming dose/rough date of administration along with any health conditions or other important information (young/very old/reactions to wormers in past etc) and our fully qualified team will get back to you within 1 working day.
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Please note we do not run a phone line and no longer run an SMS reply service for advice. Please use the methods above if you require assistance.