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"Grooming, feeding and taking caring of a horse can be wonderful but atime-consuming responsibility," said Dr. Jeff Smith, president of theCalifornia Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). "Caring for a horse's healthis extremely important and should be taken very seriously."
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Here are some CVMA tips on caring for your horse:
Keep Vaccinations Current: Be sure your horse receives all necessaryimmunizations, including West Nile virus, rhino/flu vaccine, tetanus, westernand eastern encephalitis and influenza. Other vaccines, such as strangles andPotomac horse fever, should be given to horses at risk.
Put the Best Hoof Forward: Horses' hooves grow continually, so trimmingshould be performed every six to eight weeks. Excess growth can lead to addedstress on bones, ligaments and joints potentially causing disease or injury.Overgrown and neglected hooves are more prone to hoof wall cracks, abscessesand thrush.
Keep Parasites Away: Parasites are the most common equine affliction withmore than 150 varieties affecting horses. Telltale signs include a dull coat,tail rubbing and/or diarrhea. Because worms are typically ingested throughfood or water, avoid placing hay or grain on the ground. Most veterinariansadvise de-worming horses at least four to six times per year depending on thetype of pasture your horse grazes in and where the feed hay originates. Askyour veterinarian about the best de-worming program for your area.
Remember Dental Care: Horses' teeth should be examined regularly frombirth, and "floated" by a veterinarian at least once per year beginning at agetwo. Horses' teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, which can causepainful points, hooks, ramps, waves, cheek lacerations and other problems.
Hitting the Trail: Exercise strengthens a horse's heart muscles, tendonsand ligaments and improves motility of the digestive tract. Before beginninga regular, strenuous exercise routine, start with walking and slow trotting toaccustom your horse to activity.
Observe Your Animal: Get to know your horse's routine behavior such assleeping, eating and breathing patterns. Subtle changes can indicate amedical problem. Listen to your horse's heartbeat and take his or hertemperature. At least once a week, run your hands over your horse's coat tocheck for skin problems. If your horse is "quidding" -- has food falling fromhis or her mouth when eating -- it usually indicates a dental problem thatshould be promptly addressed by your veterinarian. Apply fly repellents, treatminor wounds and use fly masks, sheets and blankets as needed to protect fromthe elements and parasites.
Take Notes: Keep accurate records of vaccinations, hoof care and otherhealth information as well as feeding schedules and food sources. In theevent of an illness, your records will provide valuable information for yourveterinarian.
For more information or to interview an equine veterinarian, pleasecontact Phil Boerner at 916-649-0599. To access past CVMA press releases,visit the CVMA Media Center in the News Room at http://www.cvma.net.
The California Veterinary Medical Association is the largest stateveterinary medical association in the United States, with more than 6,000members. Founded in 1888, its mission is to serve its membership andcommunity through innovative leadership and to improve animal and human healthin an ethically and socially responsible manner.
SOURCE The California Veterinary Medical Association
