Common Parasite Eggs Found in Fecals

Q. - What species of parasites are identified in a fecal egg count test?

A. - It depends on who is doing the count and the type of procedure used. If we’re just doing a typical fecal egg count using a technique like the McMaster’s, which is a common method, we’re mostly looking at (small and large strongyle) eggs.

We can’t differentiate between the large and small strongyle eggs—all of the eggs look the same, although we know from research studies from over a number of years that well over 99% of the eggs we see in a fecal sample are from small strongyles.

With that said, there are other parasite eggs you can see in the feces less commonly, such as tapeworms. However, a horse can be infected with tapeworms and you still won’t see the eggs in a fecal. Also, commonly in young horses, roundworm eggs seen during the fecal exam. And then, of course, there are some other less common parasites that you will occasionally see eggs from.

The eggs of these different parasites all look different, so if the person doing the count is well qualified, he or she will be able to identify the different species present.

Encouraging Horses to Drink

Q. - How can I encourage my horse to drink?

A. - You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink! Thirst is triggered by an increase in the sodium concentration of the blood. Because horses lose a great deal of sodium in their sweat, they may also lose some of their trigger for thirst. Offering electrolytes will help stabilize the horse's blood electrolyte levels and should help encourage him to drink.

Generally making sure the horse always has access to fresh, clean water helps. Sometimes masking the water with flavoring agents may help if you travel and have different water sources (that may make a finicky horse drink less). You can also offer water mixed in with hay, hay cubes, or other feeds to increase water intake.

Re-evaluating Therapeutic Shoeing

Q. - If a horse has been wearing therapeutic shoes long term but has started to have soundness issues after two years of going well, is there any point or situation you'd recommend going "back to basics" with a straight shoe or barefoot to evaluate and pinpoint the issue's root cause?

A. - Yes, this is often the case. Therapeutic shoes can outlive their usefulness. The shoeing prescription needs to be re-evaluated intermittently. Therapeutic shoeing changes the way the foot loads, and can eventually overload other areas of the foot and cause lameness.