HORSE Sense is delighted to welcome KR Equine Veterinary Services as a new veterinary expert. KR Equine are an equine only practice based in Co Down. They are a team of three veterinary surgeons; two partners Chris Akkari and David Turley, and assistant veterinarian Kara Johnston.

David graduated from Dublin over ten years ago and has worked with horses in the UK and Ireland ever since. He has a keen interest in the racing industry and enjoys all aspects of thoroughbred work, from dentistry to lameness and reproduction. David spent time working on his own in Northern Ireland before joining forces with Chris in 2020.

Chris graduated from Nottingham in 2013, from there he completed an internship in Oakham Equine Hospital. Chris has developed a keen interest in lameness assessments and imaging. Following further jobs in England, Chris moved back to Northern Ireland and eventually KR Equine was born.

Kara graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2015. From there she worked in equine practice in Yorkshire and developed her love of reproductive work. In 2021 Kara completed her Advanced Veterinary Practitioner certificate in stud medicine and reproduction. Kara is also qualified in equine acupuncture and loves all other aspects of equine work.

What is redworm?

The larvae (cyathostomes) live within the lining of the small intestine of the horses and can cause damage to this lining when they emerge to become adult worms. Horses can become very sick during this phase and have extreme weight loss and diarrhoea. Adult worms can be seen in the faeces and are 2cm red coloured worms.

What age is most at risk?

Young horses are at much higher risk to becoming very sick, in some cases it can even be fatal. Horses over three months of age have lost the protection they get from their mother. Up to the age of three-years-old, horses are much more susceptible and need to be carefully monitored.

How do we monitor?

Regular worm egg counts will not show larval stages of redworm infection. However older horses with regular low egg counts are at a lower risk of a redworm burden than horses which have regular high counts. Closed herds and good paddock management also provides a lower risk. A new blood test is now available to test for the presence of redworm. The best time of year to test is September to December, if this is missed, testing can be carried out until April.

Treatment

The wormer needed to treat the larval stage is moxidectin and should be administered in autumn or early winter. For high risk groups such as those with no pasture management and regular high worm counts, and horses under the age of three, treatment should be carried out. Low risk groups can have a blood test to see if treatment is required.

In low risk animals, testing annually is enough. Regular worm egg counts for other worms should be carried out between March and October to assess risk.

In higher risk animals they should be tested every six months. The blood test cannot be used within four months of treatment with a moxidectin wormer. New horses to the herd with unknown status should be treated.

Important reminder: For residents in Northern Ireland, it’s important to remember to familiarise yourself with the new legislation that came into effect on September 1st 2023. Vets can no longer give out prescription or controlled drugs (including antibiotics) without examination of the horse itself.