Before choosing a farrier, make sure he or she has the professional knowledge to do the job. Check references, investigate education/training and ask about professional association membership.In addition to professional knowledge and skill, your relationship with your farrier is...
Riding in the snow can present shoeing challenges. What shoes, if any, you choose for your horse is a decision made with your farrier. But if you’re looking at options, consider these tips from Dallas Morgan, a Certified Journeyman...
Strangles, also known as distemper, is a highly contagious disease among horses. Strangles in horses is characterized by inflammation of the nasal and pharyngeal mucous membranes, with swelling, inflammation and abscessing in the lymph nodes; fever is also common...
Researchers at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine are warning that overuse and misuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as bute, Banamine, ketoprofen and naproxen may cause gastrointestinal injury (stomach ulcers, and severe inflammation and injury...
An adult horse’s teeth are not all that they appear. With a full length of about four inches, much of each permanent horse tooth is hidden within the jaw. In the days of roaming pastures, continuous grazing of rough...
According to an IDEXX Laboratories survey of more than 2,000 horse owners and trainers regarding equine lameness, joint pain is plaguing our horses. Here’s what respondents said:• Approximately 50 percent revealed that their horses suffer from some form of lameness.• More...
When veterinarians evaluate horses for lameness, they usually provide the owners with written descriptions of what they observe. For example, “Lame at trot, left fore, +3 ... ,” is what you might find scrawled in a vet’s notes. While...
Equine feed companies are required by law to include specific information on their complete feed and supplement labels: The name of the feed, the class of horse the feed is designed for (broodmare, growing horse, et cetera), ingredient list...
Catching dental problems early can help keep your horse healthy. Horses over 5 years old should receive annual checkups; younger horses should be examined twice a year.The following disorders can signal dental trouble and need immediate veterinary attention:Dropping...
According to recent research published by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the current recommendations for the primary rabies vaccine “are likely ineffective in foals” whose mothers are vaccinated against the disease. The research indicates that the maternal...
