Changes

Elderly and immuno-compromised animals should be treated with caution, ensuring any supportive treatments necessary are given prophylactically prior to or at the time of deworming. Treatment may need to be delayed in extremely unwell animals and should be given at a time when observation post-treatment is possible.

Elderly and immuno-compromised animals should be treated with caution, ensuring any supportive treatments necessary are given prophylactically prior to or at the time of deworming. Treatment may need to be delayed in extremely unwell animals and should be given at a time when observation post-treatment is possible.

[http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ The Donkey Sanctuary] recommends a different faecal sampling and treatment programme for pregnant jennies and youngstock. More details are available on request.

[http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ The Donkey Sanctuary] recommends a different faecal sampling and treatment programme for pregnant jennies and youngstock. More details are available on request.

===Control===

===Control===

The [[Anthelmintic Drugs|anthelmintic]] control programme which has been operating at [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ The Donkey Sanctuary] for many years now has been devised so that it fulfils the following criteria:  

The [[Anthelmintic Drugs|anthelmintic]] control programme operating at [http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ The Donkey Sanctuary] is reviewed regularly to ensure that:  

* it is effective in controlling [[Helminths|helminths]]

* it is effective in controlling pasture contamination

* it reduces the incidence of cyathostomosis

* it reduces the incidence of cyathostomosis

* it slows down the development of [[Anthelmintic Resistance|resistance to anthelmintics]]  

* it slows down the development of [[Anthelmintic Resistance|resistance to anthelmintics]]  

* it is cost-effective. The reduced cost of [[Anthelmintic Drugs|anthelmintics]] has offset the increased laboratory costs.

* it is cost-effective. The reduced cost of [[Anthelmintic Drugs|anthelmintics]] has offset the increased laboratory costs.

At [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ The Donkey Sanctuary] no donkey is given [[Anthelmintic Drugs|anthelmintic]] unless it has a positive egg count above 200 epg. Although this effectively means regularly examining the faeces of all the donkeys, it has several beneficial effects:

At [http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ The Donkey Sanctuary] no donkey is given an [[Anthelmintic Drugs|anthelmintic]] unless it is deemed necessary by a clinician taking into account the animal’s history and recent FECs. Clinical cases presenting with cyathostomosis are treated with anthelmintics regardless of faecal egg count results.  

# To reduce handling and stress to the donkey when the whole herd is wormed

This programme means regularly examining the faeces of all the donkeys, as opposed to administering treatment to the whole herd. Benefits include:

# To reduce handling and stress to the donkey when the whole herd is dewormed

# To reduce exposure of adult worms to repeated doses of [[Anthelmintic Drugs|anthelmintic]] and therefore development of [[Anthelmintic Resistance|resistance]]

# To reduce exposure of adult worms to repeated doses of [[Anthelmintic Drugs|anthelmintic]] and therefore development of [[Anthelmintic Resistance|resistance]]

# To help create a ‘refuge’ of susceptible larvae on the pasture to compete with resistant strains

# To help create a ‘refugia’ of susceptible larvae on the pasture to compete with resistant strains