At least once a year, adult horses should undergo a thorough veterinarian checkup. Geriatric horses (over the age of 20) should see their veterinarian twice a year, if not more often because sickness is more common in older horses and can be detected earlier. A health program for your horse, including routine blood testing, may be recommended by your veterinarian.
In addition to proper feeding and exercising your horse, other components of general care are required to maintain your horse healthy throughout its life. Grooming and foot care and protection from the outdoors are part of standard veterinarian treatment, including immunizations, parasite management, and dental care.
Equine Veterinary Services
Many horse owners, especially those who are inexperienced or are caring for a horse for the first time, face issues that can create concern and even disturb the entire family. The following is a rapid overview of horse care, with most of it also applying to donkeys.
Inspection
At least once a day, all horses, even those in paddocks and on pasture, should be examined. Horses who are sick or wounded, mares in late pregnancy, newborn foals, freshly imported horses, stallions during mating season, and old horses should all be evaluated more often.
Any horse that looks unwell or damaged should be treated as soon as possible. If the horse does not react to such treatment or discomfort, veterinarian assistance should be sought as quickly as possible. If required, sick or injured horses should be isolated and housed in appropriate facilities. Visit a pet clinic to get additional details.
Vaccination
Vaccinating your horse should be part of your horse’s routine health care. Vaccines boost the immune system’s defenses against infection before illness exposure. Horses are frequently immunized against major infectious diseases using a variety of vaccinations.
It is best to administer your pet’s vaccinations by a veterinarian or another qualified specialist. Learn how to give vaccinations if you assist them yourself properly. Only use vaccinations from a reputable provider that can attest to their cleanliness and refrigeration.
Parasite Control
Like other animals grazing on grasses, horses eat parasite eggs prevalent throughout the environment. The parasite burden for every given horse is determined by the horse’s age and the size of the field. Internal parasites in horses can cause various gastrointestinal issues, including bloating, diarrhea, and sometimes colic.
All horses should be on a deworming regimen that includes either a four- to eight-weekly deworming treatment or a daily dewormer in the feed. Pasture management and proper grooming are also critical components of parasite control.
Dental Care
Equines have teeth that develop continuously to be used for grazing throughout their lives, causing the teeth to grind together and wear down naturally. Sharp hooks or edges can form on the teeth, which must be rasped smooth to avoid mouth trauma and chewing difficulties. Because of their unwillingness to feed, a horse with a more severe condition may lose weight.
At least once a year, horses must visit their veterinarian for a dental examination. Your veterinarian will look for teeth with sharp points or edges inside the mouth and cut them down using a file or nippers. Click here to get more information.
Grooming
Horse grooming is a vital aspect of their daily care. Brushing and currying daily help eliminate dirt and debris that can provide a breeding ground for germs. During grooming, you may evaluate the overall health of your horse’s skin and detect any sores, infections, pimples, or welts as soon as they appear.
Hoof care is an essential element of the grooming process. Daily “picking” of the hooves is recommended to remove dung, dirt, and stones and check for symptoms of bruising, odor, discoloration, or discharge. The shoes should also be examined for wear and nail tightness. You can ask an equine hospital for the grooming of your horse.
