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FECC

FECC is a new Canberra operated equine worm egg counting business. For owners who give a FECC about their horses.

We offer Faecal Egg Count (FEC) and Faecal Egg Count Reduction Testing (FECRT) and results are emailed within 24hrs of testing. FECC content and results are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition or treatment of your horse.

12/01/2025

We are still on summer holidays - but that doesn't mean parasite work isn't going on in the background - collating notes, reading scientific papers, reviewing guidelines and developing new products for our clients.
Feel free to contact us with questions during this time, we can even recommend parasite testing facilities that are open whilst we are closed.

17/12/2024

See you all in 2025

12/12/2024

A quick reminder that FECC will be closing on the 16th of December and will reopen on the 4th of February 2025.

24/11/2024

Have you wormed your horse this spring / summer?? If you are waiting to get a FEC test done before worming, please note FECC will be closed from the 16th of December 2024 and will reopen the 3rd of February 2025.
Remember not every horse needs worming during the spring / summer period and getting FEC test is the only way to determine if they require worming. So, get your tests and follow up tests (FECRT) done before we close.

13/11/2024

When you have to take a bag of samples/parasites to your day job - they get their own office chair. BEFORE you worm your horse this spring, get a FEC done first to see if your horse actually requires worming. See our pinned post for drop off locations around Canberra or contact us about mail options.

03/11/2024

Have you wormed your horse yet?? Did you know that not every horse needs worming in Spring?? Get a FEC test done before you worm. Horses that return a FEC below 200 epg (eggs per gram) do not need worming and can be monitored based on grass growth, rainfall and temperatures until the autumn/winter worming period. Moderate to high shedding horses will need worming; by following this evidence based worming practice you are helping to reduce the overuse of wormers and potential for resistance developing.

07/09/2024

TEST BEFORE YOU WORM YOUR HORSE THIS SPRING
Did you know that not all horses need to be wormed in Spring?? Only those that fall into the HIGH shedding category need to be wormed. How do you know if your horse is a high shedder? A FEC test will help to determine which shedding category your horse falls in and if it needs to be wormed. If you just worm without testing because you always do in spring, you are contributing to the wormer drug resistance problem by over worming and worming horses that don't need to be done. Drop off locations for testing by FECC is available Horseland Canberra and locations in Belconnen and Tuggeranong.

26/08/2024

Spring has arrived and its time to enact our springtime worming practices

At this time of year it's all about limiting the amount of pasture contamination from parasite eggs and the potential of transition of parasites to your horse. With the warm weather, rain and grass growing parasites are moving into peak egg production and eggs can hatch in as little as 4 days.

ALL horses should have a FEC carried out and based on these results we advise only worming the moderate to high shedders. By treating the high shedders, we treat the horses that are responsible for 80% of the pasture contamination from parasites, the remaining horses (low shedders) will not need worming.

To sum up our advice is:

Carry out an FEC on all horses before worming,

Worm the moderate/high shedders - carry out a FECRT 14 days after worming to check for resistance,

Keep monitoring the high shedders, with FEC tests, throughout the warm weather and grass growing periods roughly 4 weeks after a significant event.

If in doubt carry out an FEC – Test before you worm.

21/06/2024

Please note: FECC will be closed from the 22nd of June till the 8th of July. Please do not leave samples at either of our drop off locations during this time as they will NOT be collected.

06/06/2024

FECC will be closed from the 22nd of June and will reopen the 8th of July.

If you are providing a sample to test after worming get your sample to us before the dates above.

23/05/2024

DID YOU KNOW …. There are 6 horse wormers listed by the APVMA* as having EXACTLY the same active chemicals that are safe for dung beetles and treat for encysted strongyles.
Did you also know that some suppliers are sponsored or paid to only promote 1 brand and not the others, FECC is independent and follows advice from the governing bodies.
The wormers are: Ultimum, Equest gel plus tape, Equigel with tape, Neovemox plus tape, Pradectin with tape, Elevet +
*Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority
Note: not all 6 wormers are pictured as I couldn’t find a photo of it.

19/05/2024

GO GO GO - its time to worm!!
Horse owners have been waiting for the first frost to arrive so that we can worm our horses. If you only worm you horse once or twice a year now is the time.
If you haven't already purchased a wormer make sure you choose one that treats both bots and tapeworms - look for wormers with active ingredients of Moxidectin and Praziquantel.
If possible carry out an FEC before worming so that we can carry out an FECRT after worming to test for resistance and the effectiveness of your chosen wormer.
Happy Healthy Horses have owners who carry out regular FEC's and only worm when necessary.

23/04/2024

Autumn worming and why we still carry out FEC tests.
FECC often receives the question "If all horses are being wormed in late autumn/early winter, why bother carrying out FEC tests??" Well because of a few factors:
- The before and after wormer FEC test is the ONLY way to check if the wormer you used effective and to monitor for signs of resistance.
- Monitoring what species of parasites are present in your horse - of particular importance for young horses where we need to monitor for the presence of Roundworms (Ascarids).
- Along with microscopic inspections of your horses sample we also visually check the sample for parasites that are too large for microscopic identification eg bot larvae, Pinworms etc.
- Recent studies have indicated that changes in EPG could be an indicator of metabolic issues in your horse eg Cushings.

Tomorrows FECC post will be about worming horses in northern Australia in autumn.

19/04/2024

Autumn worming and which wormer to use.
As mentioned in yesterday's post, FECC recommends using a wormer with active chemical (ingredients) of Moxidectin and Praziquantel. In Australia we are lucky and have 5 different wormers approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the purpose of treating Bots, Tapeworms and Encysted Strongyles (along with many other equine parasites).
FECC have listed the wormers below - we are NOT sponsored by any brand so can provide independent unbiased advice. Note we have only listed 4 of the 5 wormers as the fifth is difficult to find for purchasing.
Tomorrow's post will be about why we recommend carrying out an FEC before and after the autumn worming.

Equest Plus Tape Long Acting Wormer & Boticide Gel (Moxidectin & Praziquantel)
Ultimum Long Acting Horse Wormer & Boticide Gel (Moxidectin & Praziquantel)
Pradectin with Tape Long Acting Horse Wormer & Boticide Gel (Moxidectin & Praziquantel)
Equigel with Tape Long Acting Horse Wormer & Boticide Gel (Moxidectin & Praziquantel)
NeoVemox Plus Tape Boticide Gel (Moxidectin &Praziquantel) - can be difficult to source

18/04/2024

Autumn worming - waiting for the first frost (mid April to June) and what wormer to use

The aim of modern worming practices is to reduce the number of times a year we worm our horses and only worming when required based on the evidence supplied by carrying out FEC (egg count) tests. However, ALL horses should be wormed at LEAST once a year (regardless of FEC results) and that "mandatory" worming time is after the first frost of autumn (mid April to June).
Why? because worming after the first frost of autumn means that adult bot flies have been killed by the frost and there is no chance of reinfection. Tapeworm larvae have moved into the correct part of your horses stomach, encysted small strongyles have emerged from their cysts (triggered by the cool weather) and are all susceptible to wormers. FECC advises not to wait till the end of winter to conduct this treatment as the larvae/eggs of bots and tapeworms may have already passed from your horse into the environment and you have missed your chance to break their lifecycle.
Not all wormers are suitable for the autumn worming. FECC advises that your wormer should have the active chemicals (ingredients) of Moxidectin and Praziquantel).
**Tomorrows FECC post will discuss which wormers to use and some general pointers about picking suitable wormers**

28/02/2024

FECC had a wonderful evening learning all about dung beetles 🪲 and how important correct worming practices are in protecting/encouraging dung beetle populations. We look forward to sharing this information with you in the upcoming weeks.
Thank you to Canberra Equestrian Centre for the invite and ACT NRM for allowing us to attend.

13/01/2024

Introducing "Worm of the Month" - each month FECC will be focusing on a different equine parasite and presenting a series of informational posts about them.
This month we will be shining the microscope spotlight on will be Small Strongyles / Cyathostomins.

12/01/2024

FECC has multiple drop off locations for samples throughout Canberra. The easiest and best option is to drop your horses sample off at Horseland Canberra whilst you are doing some shopping.
Alternatively, you can contact FECC to arrange sample collection at Belconnen or Tuggeranong town centres.
Agistment centers, riding schools or properties with multiple horses please contact FECC about collection options as we are more than happy to travel to you.

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Canberra, ACT
2605

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