VETERINARY AND HEALTH

The recent warm weather suggests that spring is here – along with daffodils, spring grass… and increased risk of laminitis. So how can we reduce this risk? And how can the Horse Health Programme (HHP) help you combat spring grass and laminitis? This summary will help you to understand laminitis. If you need more information,…

This is a highly contagious viral disease of the upper and lower respiratory tracts. There are many different strains of the flu virus but the most common ones seen in this country are H7N7 and H3N8. Whilst equine flu is now endemic within the horse population, the virus strains continually mutate and therefore epidemics or…

As part of our Horse Health Programme (HHP), we are keen to protect your horse against worms. This includes more than just providing free wormers – the best way to keep horses safe, now and in the future, is to practice ‘targeted worming’. We explain what this means, why it is important, and how to…

Checking for signs of disease  Your veterinary surgeon should carry out an annual health check on your horse. But as owners we can perform regular checks ourselves to ensure that any signs of disease are identified early. In most cases routine checks are second nature and often you will perform them subconsciously every time you…

Flies There are several ‘types’ of fly, which can prove a torment to horses during spring and summer months. Biting flies can pierce the horse’s skin and feed on its blood while nuisance flies lay secretions in and around the horse’s eyes, mouth, nose and other sensitive areas. Aside from the threat of an allergic…

Arthritis Arthritis is unfortunately very common in horses, especially in the ageing horse population. It is a degenerative joint disease that causes pain and inflammation. Over time, the inflammation damages the cartilage within a joint beyond repair, leading to chronic pain. Cartilage is the ‘cushioning’ within a joint which allows it to run smoothly. Arthritis…

Dental Problems How do I know if my horse has a problem? Many horses will suffer silently from dental disease so it is important to have regular check-ups to ensure their mouth is healthy. Signs that can indicate there is a problem are: Halitosis (bad smelling breath) Quidding – dropping partially chewed food particularly over…

When to call the Vet Knowing when to seek help According to the Equine Industry Welfare Guidelines for Horses, Ponies and Donkeys a veterinary surgeon should be consulted urgently by the owner or person in charge of the horse if there are any signs of: Acute abdominal pain or colic; Serious injury involving deep wounds,…

Laminitis The classic ‘laminitic’ pony is a native breed, and carrying a bit of extra weight. There are, however, a huge range of risk factors involved with the disease process. Laminitis literally means inflammation of the laminae, which hold the pedal bone in position within the hoof. It can be extraordinarily painful, and in severe…

If a horse has not been previously issued with a passport it will require a microchip before a passport can be applied for. Foals born since 1st August 2009 must be microchipped and have a passport issued before it is 6 months old or by 31 December in the year it’s born, whichever is later.…

Routine Dental Checks How often should you have your horse’s teeth checked? How often routine dental checks take place varies according to the individual horse and will depend on age and any pre-existing conditions. A good rule of thumb is that the teeth should be examined at least annually but in some cases checks might…

Dental Overview Designed to chew rough fibre for over 18 hours a day, a horse’s teeth are very hard wearing. This diet, together with the horse’s chewing action, wears his teeth down at a rate of approximately 2-3 mm per year. To compensate for this wear a horse’s teeth continue to erupt through the gums…

Effective worm control relies on the correct and responsible use of wormers combined with good pasture management. Use faecal worm egg counts (FWEC) during the grazing season (approx. every 12 weeks) to assess whether your horse needs worming. Target the following worms at the correct time of year with an appropriate wormer: Tapeworm and encysted…

A targeted worming programme and only worming when necessary is better for your horse and reduces the risk of resistance to wormers. The worming programme for individual horses may vary depending on their age, previous worming history and worm burden. A basic targeted worming programme A basic targeted worming programme for an adult horse may…

Reducing Resistance to Wormers Resistance occurs when a selected wormer no longer effectively controls the worm population and it is an increasingly common problem to all wormers.  Once resistance has been established in a worm population, the health, welfare and performance of worm infested horses will be compromised. Resistance may be increased when too low…