EQUINE HOME TEST FAQs

Equine ~TEST AT HOME kits feature an easy to do-at home test. You collect the sample and mail it to our veterinary lab.The fecal test or equine worm test (horse, cattle, sheep,etc.) only requires 1 tsp. of stool placed in our bag.

Perfect Pet Products sends fast written results – we process the tests at our veterinary lab within 24 hours of receipt of the sample then call you the same day. We also, if needed e-mail, fax, or mail the results.

We also perform the McMaster's egg count (number of eggs/gram) and Baerman test (Test Lungworms) for only $12 each if you purchase the Equine Worm test kit (just include a payment for the added cost with the sample). 

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For fastest results send priority mail, fedex, or one day delivery to our veterinary hospital:

Animal Care Center
1281 E Napier
Benton Harbor, MI 49085

This test performed in our licensed veterinary lab will increase the health and performance of your horse. Most equine experts and university professors say that horse owners should find out if your horse has worms, which kind(s), and how severe of an infestation your horse has. Then use the most effective dewormer for that specific worm in your horse.

Retest to be sure your horse is negative and at peak health performance. Do not develop a false sense of security that routine deworming is all you need to do. Rarely are worms visible in the manure, however a fecal examination can tell you the types of worms and the severity of the infestation in the horse, herd, or on the farm.

• “The fecal exam is a cost effective follow-up to determine whether deworming has worked.” The follow-up fecal examination should be two weeks after deworming. Most drug companies and university professors state that “the fecal exam is the most under-utilized tool in parasite control” and suggest doing fecal examinations in all of the above mentioned situations.

• Our fecal tests give guidance on which dewormer is most effective.

HELP YOUR HORSE ACHIEVE PEAK HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE!

Why do fecal testing vs. just deworming?
What Can I do to Establish Good Control Program?
When should you employ a fecal examination

Why do fecal testing vs. just deworming?

1. To check the effectiveness of your dewormer:

• Each dewormer varies in effectiveness from 0-100% to various types of worms
• More commonly they are 60-95% effective against the 150 different worms of horses
• Many worms (coccidia, etc.) are not affected by any routine dewormers that you can buy in the store or catalogs.

2. To check effectiveness of your control program

• Fecal examinations are effective means of monitoring the most common worms of horses
• Fecal examinations are helpful to identify these worms:
  • 43 types of large stronglers, and small stronglers
  • 3 most common tapeworms (cestodes)
  • All types of roundworms, minute stomachworms, anoplocephalam, and phananoplocephala
  • The only other significant worms (bots and pinworms) are diagnosed by seeing eggs on the hairs or the anal area.

What Can I do to Establish Good Control Program?

Step by Step procedure:

1) Initial Assessment of your farm history, age and use of your horse, management and housing of your horse, pasture use, and previous deworming program.

2) Evaluation of your current worming program by doing frequent fecal examinations. Fecal examinations provide you with answers to these questions:

a) Which worm or worm combinations are present in each horse.

b) By knowing which worms are present, you can evaluate which dewormers to use that are most effective.

c) You can determine which OTC dewormers is most cost effective, helping you to save on the type of dewormers.

d) You can potentially reduce the frequency of dewormers, improve the health of your horse and save$$.

e) Degree of pasture contamination which will vary from each pasture.

f) Transmission potential which varies with each pasture.

3) Management – The only way to assess how effective your clean-up procedures are by frequent fecal examinations. Some worms are easily removed, however others, like roundworms, can live two to three years in the ground, even through the harshest winters.

4) Choice and appropriate administration of dewormers are crucial for effective programs. With the help of the fecal examination you can specifically use the most effective dewormers, the most appropriate dosages of that dewormer and specifically schedule your deworming for the year.

5) A fecal examination will allow you to adjust your deworming administration intervals (every 6-12 weeks), seasonal or daily deworming to assess the need for chemicals or the need to rotate dewormers.

6) On going monitoring is important to determine the effectiveness of your health program. The only way to monitor these factors is with a fecal examination.

7) The best health programs utilize a fecal examination prior to worming to determine if your horses are on the correct interval schedule. Then another fecal exam 7-14 days after worming. Repeat this process several times until you have established a pattern of what works and the frequency required.

You will still need to use a dewormer; however you will be more knowledgeable and confident about the total health of your horse. Eventually, as all or nearly all horse owners follow the lead, all horses will benefit and be healthier with little or no resistance.

You will benefit from reduced costs of feed, dewormers, and other drugs.

When should you employ a fecal examination

1) Prior to deworming 7 - 14 days after each deworming.

2) To evaluate pasture control, do a fecal examination on 10-20% of your horses 2-3 times a year and 14 days after deworming.The only way to know that your horse does not have worms is to check the sample.

3) Test Geriatric Horses (more than 12 years) – three to four times per year.

4) Test any horse showing any signs of illness.

5) Any foal as soon as possible, at one month of age, then every one to two months until one year old.

6) Any new horse prior to placement on your farm and then two weeks, six weeks, and twelve weeks after placement.