EquiSal Saliva Tapeworm Test [Worm Count Kit] (Equine)

What is the EquiSal Tapeworm Test? The EquiSal Tapeworm Test is a simple-to-use saliva test. Horse owners can take the samples themselves without the need for a vet. This innovative test was developed at Austin Davis Biologics Ltd by a team of experienced scientists (one of whom was an inventor of the Clear Blue pregnancy test). It has been rigorously tested and validated so you can have every confidence in relying on your results. How do I test for Tapeworm? Purchase your EquiSal test kit from Supplement Solutions. Full instructions are included in the kit. Important: Your horse must not have eaten or been exercised for 30 minutes before testing. All you have to do is to use the specially designed swab to collect a saliva sample from your horse by inserting it in the side of his mouth in the space where the bit normally sits. Wait for the indicator to turn pink. This shows that enough saliva has been absorbed into the swab and can take a few minutes. Pop the swab into the collection tube, and return it to the Austin Davis Biologics laboratory in the pre-paid postage bag. We will then contact you with the results of the test. Our SQPs can then discuss the best way forward for worm control in your horse, based on results from both worm count and tapeworm tests considered together. When should I test for Tapeworm? The best time to carry out the first test is 4 months after worming for tapeworm. This is because antibody levels in the saliva reduce over time after treating a tapeworm infection. You need to be sure that there is sufficient time to allow the levels to drop or you may get a false result. At present we would recommend testing twice a year with a six month gap between tests. If a horse has a borderline or moderate/high disgnosis, a restest can be carried out 2 to 3 months after worming treatment for tapeworm. Why not just worm for Tapeworm? This is what was recommended in the past. Two drugs treat tapeworms either praziquantel or double dose pyrantel. Are the wormers doing the job? Are the worms becoming resistant to these drugs? We don’t know yet but we have our suspicions. Resistance will certainly build if we keep on repeating the doses. Does your horse still have a tapeworm problem despite being wormed for them? This was certainly true for one of the horses in our herd. Are you continually dosing horses who are not infected at all? Most likely. At present we just don’t know enough about how well tapeworm is being controlled and so it is vital to test. In time we will know much more. Tapeworm can cause significant health problems for horses including serious forms of colic so it is important that they are effectively controlled. EquiSal kits are only available for purchase by customers in the United Kingdom.