You undoubtedly love your horse and with that in mind you want to make sure that they are in the best possible health that they can be in. Your horse’s health should be your top priority. With that in mind, you want to make sure that they are getting a fully rounded health care plan within the comfort of your own home and stable. Establishing a health care routine is essential for your horse’s health.
There are a plethora of common health complaints that can affect your horse. If you are not sure what they are, read on for helpful tips, hints and advice. Your horse will love you for it:
Worms
Worms are a common problem with all domestic animals. Your horse is no different. Worms should be treated as a matter of urgency. Furthermore, you should implement a de-worming regimen to make sure that your horse does not contract worms. In the case of worms, prevention is certainly better than cure.
De-worming medication can be sought easily and cheaply. Worming tablets are a great way of preventing and curing worms. Of course, worms are more prevalent in certain areas than others. You can help banish these pesky parasites by making sure that your paddock is free of horse manure and so forth. Having a clean environment for your horse to frolic in is paramount for their health. Worms can have a detrimental effect on your horse's health if they are not treated with immediate effect. Worms are parasites, and as a result of this, they can cause intestinal and gastric problems with your horse. Worms can also have a negative impact on human health too, so they should be treated as a matter of urgency when they have been discovered.
Worms are easy to spot. Tapeworms are long and flat, and as a result, are highly noticeable within your horse’s excrement. You may even see the worms around your horses bottom. While this can be unpleasant, do make sure that you have worming tablets within your possession so that you can treat your horse with immediate effect. Ringworms are another common type of worm that is found within domestic animals. These have a spaghetti-like appearance and are treated in the same way as tapeworms.
Colic
Colic is an umbrella term for a number of ailments that your horse may be suffering from. Colic usually derives from digestive problems. Digestive problems are common in horses due to their diet. Do not despair, colic can be treated easily and is not a cause for concern when it is treated with immediate effect. However, if you leave colic untreated, it can be fatal for horses.
Colic is caused by a blockage within the intestine. Typically, colic is contracted if your horse’s diet has been changed drastically and quickly. On occasion, colic can be caused by the intestines twisting. While the cause of this is unknown, you may want to seek the advice of an equine vet to ensure that the matter is dealt with efficiently.
You can spot colic within your horse easily. They may display all, or some, of the following symptoms:
Constipation
Signs of being in pain
Repeated phlegm
Teeth clenching
Salivation
Pacing
Nipping at his/her sides
Pawing at the ground
Frequent rolling
If your horse is exhibiting any of the above signs, contact your equine vet.
Heaves
Heaves is a commonly used term for a medical condition that is known as airway obstruction. In short, this is a chronic respiratory inflammation that is caused by an allergic reaction. This reaction can be caused by diet, or can be contracted via airborne particles.
Heaves in horses is akin to asthma in humans. If your horse is showing signs of shortness of breath and fatigue, your horse may be suffering from heaves. As your horses sleeping environment is largely made up of hay and straw, the particles in their bedding can cause a reaction. If your horse is kept outside, or spends a great deal of time within their paddock, it is unlikely that they will suffer from heaves. This illness usually affects horses that are stable bound.
Hoof Problems
As our horses spend a lot of time on their feet, or hooves, they are susceptible to injuries in the area. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise, considering that horses spend a great deal of time standing!
It is important that you check your horse’s hooves regularly and that they are cleaned at least once per week to ensure that they have healthy feet. Horse’s hooves have complicated structures. If you are unsure where to start you may want to seek the advice of a farrier to make sure that they are in the best possible health that they can be in.
Common problems with horse’s hooves are:
Cracks
Pungent smells
Shifted shoes
Abnormalities or differences that may be present
You should check your horse’s hooves after each ride to make sure that they are in premium health.
Tying Up
Tying up is the simplified name of the medical condition exertional rhabdomyolysis. This can result in severe muscle damage within your horse thus making them weak. While the causes of this illness are largely unknown, there are some theories. It is said that an increase in workload can cause tying up as well as dramatic changes to your horse’s diet. Overfeeding grains can be a big factor in your horse contracting this illness.
As with any equine illness, you can make sure that you are aware of the symptoms of tying up. If your horse is exhibiting signs of stiff joints, fatigue, cramping and reluctance to move, they could have this syndrome.
The best prescription for tying up is to make sure that your horse has plenty of rest. Allow them longer rest periods in between racing, working or riding. Immediate rest is critical for the well-being of your horse. If the symptoms do not lessen over the course of a week, it is strongly advised that you seek the advice of your vet who will prescribe the best course of treatment.
I'd love to truly ride a horse someday...:)
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