Para-Vet Plus

04/06/2026

This week on What the Worm? Liver Fluke Detection. While some claim that liver fluke eggs can't be detected through f***l examination, proper sample preparation and sedimentation can reveal their presence in the Petri dish. Liver fluke infection is a significant issue in equines, particularly those with access to marshlands, stagnant water, or rivers and dams, causing damage to the liver and bile ducts, weight loss, and overall health decline. Get your horses tested! Standard dewormers will not eradicate flukes!

29/04/2026

This Week on What the Worm?: The Pesky Truth About Equine Pinworms
If you’ve ever walked into the stable and found your horse rubbing its tail like it’s trying to start a fire, chances are you’ve met the star of this week’s episode: the equine pinworm, Oxyuris equi.

Pinworms are one of the most annoying but least dangerous parasites horses can get — and they’re masters of irritation. Literally.

What Makes Pinworms So Infuriating?
Unlike strongyles or tapeworms, pinworms don’t cause internal organ damage. Instead, they specialise in driving horses mad with itchiness. Adult females crawl out of the re**um at night and lay sticky, irritating egg masses around the a**s.

The result?

tail rubbing

broken hairs

flaky skin

smeared yellow egg streaks

and a very grumpy horse

It’s not life‑threatening — but it’s definitely life‑ruining for your horse’s backside.

🔬 Where They Hide (and Why FECs Miss Them)
Here’s the twist:
Pinworms rarely show up on a standard worm egg count.

Why?
Because the eggs are laid outside the body, not inside the gut. So unless you’re doing a tape test around the a**s, you’ll might miss them completely.

This is why so many owners swear their horse “has no worms” while the tail tells a very different story.

How Horses Get Them
Pinworm eggs are tough, sticky, and survive on:

stable walls

grooming brushes

buckets

bedding

even your clothing

One lick, one rub, one shared brush — and the cycle starts again.

The Real Secret to Beating Pinworms
Dewormers help, but the true battle is environmental.
Think:

disinfecting surfaces

washing brushes

cleaning stable doors

scrubbing water troughs

clipping long tail hairs

warm soapy baths

Pinworms are the “clean freak’s parasite” — they thrive where hygiene slips.

The Good News
Pinworms are irritating, but they’re not dangerous, not invasive, and not linked to colic or weight loss. With the right treatment and stable hygiene, they’re one of the easiest parasites to eliminate.

So remember to send in those sticky tape tests to Para-Vet Plus

Images: Ilsemarie Greyvenstein

Have a look at the amount of eggs in these images!

17/04/2026

What may seem like a harmless bite of green grass can indeed lead to considerable worm burdens.

03/04/2026

Contact us Today! Gauteng based service.

13/02/2026

09/01/2026

Please note that we have a Price increase for 2026! We are still the most competitive in the market. Note that we still offer discounts for NPO's, Breeding Studs, Racing Yards and Veterinary Practices.

For any other information please contact me on 072 089 6248

03/11/2025

Here is a podcast that explains why we do Worm Egg counts. Take note this is in the Uk so parasite burdens in SA are slightly different as we have different weather patterns. Very interesting for those who still believe that blanket deworming is a good option without testing.

For decades, horse owners followed routine rotational deworming schedules. That approach fueled drug resistance in equine parasites, leaving fewer effective ...

21/10/2025

Blindly deworming your horse every few months can do more harm than good. 🐴

Parasites are becoming resistant, and the only way to determine if your horse truly needs a dewormer is through a f***l egg count.

💡 A simple f***l test helps:

✅ Prevent parasite resistance
✅ Save money on unnecessary treatments
✅ Keep your horse’s gut and immune system balanced

📍Book your f***l egg count with Para-Vet Plus today and make every treatment count - 072 089 6248