HEALTHY HORSE

In winter, it is very easy to 'not bother' checking your horse's general health daily, as you want to get home into the warm. However, winter time is even more important to make sure your horse is well and happy.

The obvious checks are:

Respiration: 8 - 12 breaths per minute is good

Temperature: 100 - 101f (37.5 - 38.5C) is what to expect. At 108 - 109f (42 - 43C) muscle cells start to die, so rapid cooling is a must.

Pulse: Resting beat varies between 32 - 44 beats per minute. The pulse can be found either near the front of the left jaw bone or by using a stethascope benind his left elbow.

Digital Pulse: If the digital pulse is pounding, it can often mean laminitis. Place 2 fingers on the left side of the fetlock joint and locate the cord like bundle (vein, artery and nerve). Apply pressure until you feel the pulse. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and x 4 to get your horse's heart rate.

Dehydration: Pinch the skin on his neck. It should spring back into place immediately. If a 'bump' of skin is left - he is dehydrated.

Sunburn: Any 'pink' skin will burn unless protected. This is due to a lack of melanin in the skin and can affect any horse, but greys and appaloosas are most at risk. Use a high factor sun cream and apply before turning out each day. Most suseptical areas are nostrils and freezemarking

Nostrils: Should be clean and have no wheezing

Eyes: Should be bright and non-weepy. The eye membrnce should be a healthy salmon pink colour

Gums & Lips: Healthy pink colour. Press the inside of his upper lip firmly and it will go white. Lift your finger off and it should return to pink in around 2 seconds.

Overall health: Coat should look shiny, no sores or bald patches. Horses ears should be pricked and he takes an interest in his surroundings. Not waning to eat is a bad sign. Lying down more than usual or dullness in his eyes means all is not well.

Droppings: Are they a normal colour and consistancy without signs of constipation or diarheoa?

Hooves & legs: Ensure the shoes and hooves are well maintained - no cracks, loose shoes etc. Any lumps and bumps on the legs should be looked at and action taken as necessary.

Grooming: can make your horses coat shine. Dont be tempted to use metal tools as this can damage his skin and hair. Only use shampoo when you have too. Warm water is best if you wash him regulary. Don't forget to clean your brushes as well.

Vaccinations against Tetanus & Influenza are a must. If you are having your horse innoculated for the first time, then he will require a course of three injections. Once this is complete, then an annual jab will be required withing the year or you will need to start the course of three again. Contact your vet for more information. Co-ordinate vet visit with another reason and share the call out cost.

Having your horses teeth checked every 6 - 12 months by an Equine Dental Technician will ensure your horse is comfortable and healthy.

Apples are 85% water for if fed in moderation, they are unlikely to make your equine obese

Carrots are high in sugars so feed in moderation, escpecially to ponies

Obesity

Obesity is now a very common problem with more horses being overweight than ever before. If he has a deposit of fat over the crest of the neck, behind the shoulder and on the croup, then this indicates he is overweight. Here are some tips to help reduce the chance of your equine getting too fat:

• Over graze paddocks
• Weight his feed
• Take photos each month and see the difference
• Leave his rug off as horses use 80% of feed energy to keep warm
• Feed to his workload
• Weigh every month and monitor
• Don't starve him - weight loss must be slow

Laminitic Clinic - a fat horse or pony could develop laminitis

 

Sweet Itch - or not so sweet for the equine sufferer. It might be a good idea to get a blood test taken to rule out any allergies. Also contact the National Sweet Itch Helpline on 01352 771718 or visit Sweet Itch/Boett Blanket

  

 

• If you have any nettles in your field, cut them and your horses will love to eat them once they are slightly wilted.
• If your horse won't accpept anti-biotics, try this solution. Puree carrots, molasses, golden syrup, bread and an apple - mix in the anti-biotic and watch the horse lick the bowl clean

 

POISONOUS PLANTS

With careful management, poisoning in horses can be a rare thing. You must know what to look out for and which plants are bad. Horses can also be susceptible to certain drugs which can induce forms of ‘poisoning’. This is evident by profuse diarrhoea. As with any concerns – call the vet without delay.

RAGWORT The most common of plant toxins. It is seen widely throughout the country. It is down to each land owner to eradicate all signs of it. Contact local councils if it is growing on the grass verge. Legally land owners must dispose of it. Visit BHS for more information. If horses have eaten it, they look very dull, depressed and will display abdominal pain (ie colic). In extreme examples the horse will press its head again something hard. A vet must be called immediately.

If you see Ragwort on road or motorway verges, report it to Highways or call 08457 50430, or on the railway verges call 08457 114141 or visit Network Rail

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE The effects of poisoning are very dramatic and horses are often found dead.

Signs includ dilated pupils, very dry mouth, no saliva and hyper activity.

BRACKEN Limb weakness, convulsions and then coma indicate poisoning.

ACORNS Bare paddocks entice horses to eat acorns. Feed plenty of hay if you have no grass. Signs start with constipation, colic and general weakness. Can lead to diarrhoea.

FOXGLOVES The poisons in these plants affect the horse’s heart. Signs are severe depression and colic

YEW is very palatable to horses so make sure they cannot eat it. If small quantities have been eaten, then the horse may suffer from colic and diarrhoea. Most horses have a sudden death – and seldom seen alive with this poisoning

FUNGAL is associated with mouldy hay. Signs are respiratory and gut-related problems

ANIMAL TOXINS Severe local inflammation around the Adder snake bite wound. If the bite is on the neck it could impair breathing and respiration.

SALMONELLA Foals and adult horses is stressed are more susceptible eg travelling, surgery. A large number of horses are carriers but the full-blown disease will only show once the horse is stressed. Watch out for diarrhoea, fever, depression.

FOOD POISONING It is non-contagious disease acting on the nervous system resulting by ingesting contaminated feedstuffs. Weakness, nasal discharge and paralysis of the swallowing muscles are tell tale signs.

AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS comes in 3 forms, Acute, Cardiac and Mixed. Each form includes high temperature, difficulty breathing, unable to swallow, colic symptoms, discharge from nostrils, coughing and swelling. Death occurs withing days.

STRANGLES spreads rapidly so we need to act quickly and take responsibility for good hygiene.

Isolate new horses until examined by a vet. The horse may not have signs but he could be a carrier.

The least movement of horses the less risk of catching it

Keep lorries, stabled, yard and all equipment clean and disinfected

  
If you are unsure about anything, call your vet

 

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