Tag Archives: horse

Horses, The Pet Professionals

Avoiding horse overheating during exercise

The heat is back on, summer is in full swing and horse owners are faced with a difficult challenge.

How do you keep up with exercise and work needs in this hot weather?

During this time, heat stress is a significant concern for all owners, and it’s vital to keep monitoring your horse’s hydration status and workload. There are several factors to consider when evaluating if and when you should ride out with your horses to avoid dehydration and overheating.

 

Temperature and humidity

High temperatures by themselves are already something to be cautious about, but when mixed in with high humidity, the combination can get truly dangerous, fast.

Damp heat makes it harder for a horse to regulate its body temperature by evaporating sweat, and so, this puts the animal at risk of heat stress.

 

Hydration 

If you’ve ever wondered why the phrase “sweat like a horse” exists, then this section will clear it right up.

Like us (and unlike dogs or cats), the primary method of losing heat is through sweating. Because of their size, they can lose around 10 to 12 litres of water every hour just by sweating. This means that dehydration through continued losses from sweat can and will happen if you’re not careful.

Something else that might happen is that, due to the chemical nature of their sweat, horses might not feel thirsty after sweating. In practical terms, your animals could be dehydrated, but they will not seek out water to drink.

 

So… back to our first issue!

How can I help my horses exercise without harmful heat stress?

  • Consider skipping a training day if the weather is overly hot or damp;
  • If work is necessary, try to ride during the cooler hours of the day;
  • Make sure that your horse is drinking and always has available water sources;
  • Running cool water over the body after exercising is a great way to help lose heat but make sure to keep a good flow so there’s always cooler water on them;
  • Avoid overly cold water as it might cause the blood vessels to constrict, making heat loss less efficient;
  • Shaded, well-ventilated areas are great spaces to help your animals cool down, especially if there are fans near them;
  • Check if your transportation unit is adequate for hot temperature travel and, if it’s not, travel during the cooler hours.

 

These are some of the quick, practical things you can implement during this time of the year but, if you need any help or feel there is something wrong, don’t hesitate to contact your vet.

Horses, The Pet Professionals

Spring and lameness – Laminitis and beyond

 

One of the most beautiful landscapes that spring has to offer us is a vast, luscious green pasture, with the sun shining up in the blue sky and the opportunity for our horses to graze freely and enjoy nature.

However, as horse owners are well aware, fresh spring grass is very sugary and, if you have roughed off your horse and then suddenly notice that they are limping, the first thing that would cross your mind would probably be laminitis.

There are factors other than diet that can predispose your horse to develop this condition, including excess weight and obesity, hormonal and metabolic disorders, bacterial infections, excessive concussion, and even stress. Also, if your horse has had laminitis before, it is more likely for this problem to recur.

Unfortunately, laminitis is a serious condition that can easily become chronic, with the hoof structures suffering permanent damage, which is why it’s so important to seek veterinary assistance as soon as you notice something unusual about your horse’s walk.

Acute episodes of laminitis tend to be extremely painful, and clinical signs will not go unnoticed, including:

  • Reluctance or inability to walk or even stand,
  • Altered stance, usually favouring weight support on the hind feet,
  • Lameness,
  • Signs of pain which may resemble an episode of colic.

However, there’s more to lameness in the horse than laminitis. So, if your horse is lame, what else could be causing it?

There are other chronic conditions that can cause pain in your horse’s feet and, consequently, an altered gait, such as osteoarthritis and navicular syndrome, for example.

With chronic conditions, clinical signs tend to be more subtle, given that the horse has had time to adapt. In such cases, you may not be able to perceive an evident limp, but you may notice a slight head bob as your horse is walking, or an abnormal stance, for example.

As for acute conditions, these can include injuries, sprains, fractures, infections and even lesions that are higher up in the musculoskeletal system, such as the back and the neck.

If you notice something is different about your horse’s walk, you can check their feet and lower legs to try to identify if there’s a visible or palpable injury, such as hoof rings, cracks or dark spots, something caught in the gaps of their hooves, cuts, swelling and if the legs feel warm or painful.

Independently of the cause, all kinds of hoof and lameness problems should be addressed as soon as possible. Lameness-associated conditions are usually very painful and can even be life-threatening. If you have any concerns regarding your horse’s health, don’t hesitate to contact your vet for advice.

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Strangles – Infectious and Impairing

Strangles, also known as Equine Distemper, is an infectious disease that all horse owners should be aware of. It’s caused by a highly contagious bacteria from the Streptococcus equi equi species that can be found all over the UK.
This disease can be easily transmitted through contact with infected animals or contact with shared surfaces such as feed or water containers. Movement of animals and people without any decontamination process from contaminated areas to disease-free locations is also an important route of transmission.

Keep an eye out for possible signs and infected animals
Both horses and donkeys can be infected, and clinical signs vary in severity, with younger animals being more likely to develop severe signs.
The body reacts to this infection by producing pus-filled abscesses that are painful and hot to the touch. After several days, these usually appear around the head and throat.
Besides abscesses, the most common signs include:
– Fever;
– Loss of appetite;
– Lethargy;
– Pus filled discharge from the nostrils.

It’s unlikely that strangles will cause lethal complications. However, about 20% of infected horses experience difficulties eating or breathing. Less frequently, abscesses might spread all over the body and, in rare cases, they might even appear in the brain. Other rare complications include spotted bleeding on the skin as well as swelling of the limbs and head.

Treatment
Treating this condition involves plenty of rest, a warm, dry bed and anti-inflammatory medication for pain.
Once the abscesses have fully matured, your vet may choose to open them or wait for them to burst on their own, which will facilitate cleaning and recovery.
Antibiotic use needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis, as it may delay recovery.

What can you do?
If you suspect one of your horses might be developing strangles, it’s crucial that you contact your vet without delay!
Strangles spreads quite quickly once there is nasal discharge and having just one sick horse might put your whole herd at risk. Not only that, but other stables might also be at risk if people, equipment or animals are moved around without following proper biosecurity protocols.
Isolating infected animals for the correct period of time, running the necessary tests to make sure they are no longer shedding the bacteria, and cleaning clothes, utensils and supplies before seeing to any other horses are imperative to stop the spreading of this disease.
Coordinate with your vet on how to best tackle this highly infectious problem.

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Keeping your horse entertained during the colder months

Bad weather can be a real nuisance for horses as it usually means less time spent grazing, galloping and just simply enjoying being out in the field with their friends.
As a result, they can become bored and stressed, which can lead to negative repercussions in their behaviour and health.
The good news is there are some things you can do to make your horses’ days more fun!

#1 Novelty
Horses are very intelligent animals and always love to engage in a new challenge. Introducing your horses to new experiences, such as trying out a new discipline, can be a great way to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.

#2 Environmental enrichment
You wouldn’t enjoy being confined to a room with nothing to do all day, and neither do your horses.
Food-related entertainment, such as hanging treats and fine-mesh hay nets that increase the time spent foraging and nibbling, will probably be the most appealing. However, providing stable toys and scratching mats are also great to spark your horses’ inquisitive nature and keep them occupied. To keep things interesting, don’t forget to rotate toys and alternate treats every once in a while.
Some horses might also enjoy having music playing, and if your horse is stabled alone, consider having a mirror installed to mimic some company.

#3 Spending quality time together
Take advantage of the poor weather conditions and work on your bond with your horses. There are plenty of activities you can engage in confined spaces that you can enjoy together, such as:
• Grooming
• Massages
• Carrot stretches
• Clicker training
• Lunging
• Walking in hand

 

Try to take your horses out if you have the opportunity but keep in mind that if it’s miserable for you, it’s likely that they won’t be able to enjoy it very much as well.

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Equine Metabolic Syndrome – Keep an eye on your pony’s neck!

 

Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a major metabolic disorder in horses, and it is characterised by the deregulation of several metabolic processes, chiefly the proper use of insulin.  This situation might cause severe laminitis, and it is one of the main weight-related issues in horses.

Many owners are aware that EMS is frequently associated with overweight and obese animals, but did you know some horses of normal weight may also suffer from EMS?

The Body Condition Score (BCS) is a simple and easy method to look at your animal and rapidly be able to tell if they are over or underweight. It’s convenient to use by both vets and owners; however, studies show that owners tend to underestimate the BCS of their animals.

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/how-body-score-your-horse

Insulin is one of the most important hormones in an animal’s body system, regulating glucose content in the bloodstream and inside cells. When the use of insulin is disrupted during EMS, it predisposes the horse to changes in the structure of its hoof that might lead to laminitis and pain.

A recent study in ponies looked into the association between insulin deregulation and the thickness of neck fat. The Cresty Neck Score is an indirect way of measuring the amount of fat in the body and is especially important when animals do not have high BCS but might still be at risk of EMS.

Researchers have associated higher Cresty Neck Scores with increased odds of having insulin deregulation. While they do point out that further study is needed, they are confident that the thickness of neck fat is an important indicator during EMS diagnosis.

https://www.hygain.com.au/cresty-neck-scoring/

It’s important to remember that the sooner EMS is detected, the more chances you have of avoiding more severe issues down the line! It’s essential to keep an eye not just on your animal’s BSC but also on other signs that might indicate a problem.

If you have any concerns about your horse’s weight and nutrition, talk to your veterinarian!

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Equine Influenza – Is your horse vaccinated?

Given the recent outbreaks that have been reported throughout the UK and Europe, we feel like this is a good time to talk about equine influenza.

This disease, also known as equine flu, is highly contagious and affects horses’ respiratory tract. Most cases will show signs of lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, nasal discharge and coughing. However, more severely affected horses can develop pneumonia and other respiratory issues, which in debilitated horses can be fatal.

Besides its highly contagious nature, one other reason that allows the virus to spread so quickly among horses is that this disease has an incubation period up to five days long. This means that your horse may already be infected even though he or she is not showing clinical signs of disease.

Fortunately, there are vaccines available to keep your horses protected against influenza. Different vaccines will protect against different strains of the virus, and you should ask your veterinarian for advice regarding which one is the right option for your horse.

According to the British Horse Society, “estimates suggest that less than 40 percent of the equine population in the UK are vaccinated against influenza”.

This has implications not only for individual horses that become ill but also for the horse population in general as it can lead to the spread of a very infectious virus, which will continue to affect more and more horses.

If your horse hasn’t been vaccinated against equine flu or if you think its vaccination is not current, this is the perfect opportunity for you to give your vet a call. Keep in mind that by protecting your horse, you’ll be protecting all horses.

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Spring considerations for horses


Now that the weather is starting to get warmer and the days are longer many horse owners will begin taking their horses out for much anticipated extended walks.

However, before you start spending more time in the saddle, and to assure a safe transition for your horses, here are some things you should keep in mind:

Turnout and workout
Horses usually spend most of the winter stabled, so make sure you gradually increase the time they spend outdoors. If you haven’t been able to exercise your horse as much as you’d have liked during the winter months, it’s essential that you start slowly to give your horse a chance to regain its physical condition without compromising health. This can be achieved by progressively increasing the duration and intensity of the workouts.

Nutrition
Again, it is essential to gradually reintroduce your horse to grazing, as early spring pasture has higher levels of most nutrients, including non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Ingesting large amounts of this fresh, green pasture can cause not only gastrointestinal problems but also metabolic issues such as laminitis and insulin imbalance.
As your horse increases its exercise level, it’s also important to make sure its energy requirements are met. As we’ve just mentioned, horses will start having fresh pasture in their diet, and both these factors need to be taken into consideration while adapting and adjusting your horses’ calorie intake and diet composition.

Health
Proper turnout and nutritional management, and monitoring your horses’ body condition are essential tools to help keep your horses healthy not only in spring but throughout the year. However, spring is known to be the ideal time for parasite proliferation, and horses can easily become infested while grazing, so you should consider consulting with your vet to make sure your horse is thoroughly protected.

These are some general recommendations that all horse owners can implement at home, and the most important message here is to take time and let your horses gradually get used to the spring environment. However, please keep in mind that every horse is unique and that turnout and nutritional management should be personalised to his or her particular needs.

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Preventing obesity in horses: weight monitoring

People’s lifestyle and eating habits have dramatically changed over the years, and so have their pets’. As a result, excess weight and obesity have become a growing concern in human and veterinary medicine, as these have been proven to be associated with a number of diseases in all species. Overweight horses, in particular, are at higher risk of suffering from:
• Equine Metabolic Syndrome,
• Diabetes,
• Laminitis,
• Arthritis,
• Heart disease,
• Respiratory problems.
All these conditions can have a serious impact on horses’ welfare, health and, consequently, their lifespan, so it’s our job as responsible owners to make sure they do not have to suffer from problems associated with excess weight.
Trying to fight this alarmingly growing trend, and as obesity is a preventable disease, the BEVA is raising awareness of the importance of weight monitoring and of the fact that the perception of a normal horses’ weight has changed, with people not being able to recognise when a horse is overweight anymore.

But how can monitoring your horses’ weight help prevent obesity?
If your horses are at a healthy weight, monitoring will be a valuable tool to detect unwanted variations early on. As a result, you can adapt their management regime, preventing a little weight gain from becoming a bigger problem, which will also be more difficult to correct.
If your horses are already overweight, this is something that you need to address as soon as possible, and monitoring their weight is essential to keep track of their weight loss progress.

So, how can you do this?
When we say to monitor your horses’ weight, we understand that most horse owners will not have access to weighbridges to actually weigh their horses. However, there are simple methods you can use to estimate their weight (such as using a weigh-tape or calculating it through a formula) and, even better, to assess their body condition.
Assessing your horses’ body condition, also known as body scoring, consists of running your hands over your horses’ body, feeling for certain skeletal landmarks, like the ribs or the backbone, and for the fat cover. The body scoring system is divided into five scores, where a score of 3 is ideal, a score of 1 is emaciated and a score of 5 is obese.
Compared to weight measurements (however accurate they may be), by using the body scoring system, you’ll have the additional information of knowing if the weight is right for your horse instead of just having a number.

Here are some tips to help you start:
• Monitor regularly – create the habit of actively monitoring your horses’ weight and body condition at weekly, fortnightly, or monthly intervals;
• Be consistent – always use the same method and tools to avoid errors;
• Keep records – this will be the easiest way to track trends and make changes if needed;
• Take pictures – you won’t be able to notice subtle changes just by looking at your horses. However, comparing new pictures to old ones can be extremely helpful and encouraging if you’re on a weight loss journey;
• Seek professional help – if you are not sure how to start or if you are concerned about your horses’ weight don’t hesitate to talk to your vet.

There is a lot you can do to help fight the growing threat of obesity, and it is very important to acknowledge that this is a preventable disease.
It’s not always easy to find the right balance, but through proper nutrition, regular exercise and weight monitoring, you can help keep your horses fit and healthy.

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Senior Horse Winter Care

With Winter fast approaching and the temperatures dropping, we feel this is the perfect time to remind all horse owners of the special precautions they need to be aware of during this cold season, this time with a particular emphasis on the older horse.

Horses are sturdy animals that cope really well in cold temperatures – the real enemies during this season are the wind and the rain! However, there are some basic things you need to do to keep your horses protected, such as:

– Access to a waterproof and windproof shelter where your horses can seek protection from the elements.

– Access to fresh, unfrozen water at all times.

Water consumption in Winter is usually decreased in all species, but this is particularly dangerous for horses as it can lead to impaction colic or other gastrointestinal problems.

– Maintain an appropriate exercise routine.

Sometimes temperatures will drop to negative numbers, and no one really wants to go riding when it’s raining or snowing outside. However, exercise should be an integral part of a horse’s daily life as it helps maintain their physical health and keeps them mentally stimulated.

Just be extra careful riding in Winter, as it is more likely your horses can slip and fall.

They can also easily get chilled after a workout, so it is a good idea to spend some time walking your horses after exercise to allow them to cool down gradually.

– Pay particular attention to the hooves.

Besides regular maintenance, it’s also very important to check your horses’ hooves daily for snowballs, moisture and mud as these can cause foot problems such as flares, bruises and abscesses.

Consult with your farrier to decide if it’s best to keep your horse shod or barefoot during this season.

 

If your horse is on his or her golden years, there are some things you should consider more carefully to prepare for the cold season.

#1: Nutrition

Thoroughly assess and meet your horses’ nutritional needs: as a horse owner, you know how difficult it is to find the right nutritional balance to feed your horse and during Winter is no exception.

Calories that are not immediately converted to energy and used for physiological functions will be stored as fat, which helps to insulate the horse against the cold. In wild horses, fat reserves usually build up during Summer when forage is abundant, and they will naturally be consumed over Winter when food is sparse. This weight fluctuation is normal if within reasonable limits.

However, the modern horse lifestyle usually doesn’t compare to the wild horses’. Their life is not as harsh, and weather conditions are not as extreme if there is an appropriate shelter. Knowing this, alterations to your horse’s diet should be done accordingly.

Some horses, depending on their body condition score (BCS), will benefit from increased caloric intake to help them maintain their body temperature, as the digestive process is an excellent source of body heat. Pastures will also not be as available, and this will need to be compensated. To ensure your horses’ BCS stays at a healthy level and that they can fend off the cold, it’s a good idea to keep forage accessible at all times.

However, you should try to keep your horses’ weight stable as overweight horses are susceptible to laminitis, and other health problems. Make the necessary adjustments to your horses’ diet considering how much they are eating as well as what factors might be increasing or decreasing their needs.

Also, keep in mind that older horses aren’t able to digest food as efficiently as younger horses and a proper nutritional balance can be tricky to achieve.

 

#2: Rugs

Putting a rug on your horses should be carefully considered. On the one hand, it can provide extra warmth to keep them comfortable but on the other hand, horses’ have their own physiological, anatomical and behavioural mechanisms that regulate their body temperature which we might not want to interfere with.

Senior horses tend to have less muscle mass and fat to act as insulation and can have concurrent diseases that will hinder them from coping with the cold so they might benefit from this extra protection.

There are different types of rugs you can use on your horse, from simple rain sheets to heavier, warmer blankets. You should choose one that meets your horses’ needs and keep in mind that these may vary according to their environment and activities.

Don’t forget to check if it’s fitted correctly and inspect it daily so your horses don’t have wet or poorly fitting rugs on them. If you spot any issues, change the rug as soon as possible.

 

#3: Health check

If you have an older horse, you’re probably already familiar with all these extra precautions that we’re covering!

However, each horse has different requirements, and it’s always advisable to talk to your vet when preparing for the cold season. They can tell you what factors and issues might be influencing your horses’ capacity to deal with the cold and advise you on how to best prepare.

 

We hope you find this helpful, if you’d like to know more about caring for the older horse we can help!

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Horses’ Digestive Process


Horses are herbivorous animals that have a very complex and sensitive digestive system. As with all animals, proper nutrition is vital for their wellness and health.

Let’s do a simple overview of the horses’ digestive process!

There are some things in common between horses’ and our digestion: it will start in the mouth, where food is grabbed, chewed and then off it goes into the stomach lubricated with salivary digestive enzymes to help the digestive process. In the stomach, the process continues with other enzymes, acid and lots of mixing so food can now reach the small intestine in bits tiny enough to be broken down into usable nutrients like fats, glucose and amino acids.

So far, so good! This process is familiar to all of us.

But it’s when the food particles reach the large intestine that things get a lot different. Horses, unlike us, have the ability to digest cellulose from plants. But actually, even though they get all the credit for it, they are not the ones doing it! Cellulose (fibre) is digested by microorganisms, bacteria and protozoa, present in the caecum, a 30 litre intestinal fermentation chamber, where all the magic happens. The fibre is then transformed into volatile fatty acids which are absorbed and provide an important source of energy for horses.

What this means is, when we’re feeding our horses we have to make the horses happy and the fermenting microorganisms happy as well! Otherwise, we will start seeing problems like poor performance and even severe health issues, such as weight loss or obesity, colic, founder, osteoarticular issues, gastrointestinal ulcers, among others.

Here is an example: before domestication, horses pretty much spent their whole day eating the same thing. It would be either that or roaming to find a new place to eat! So over time, their digestive systems evolved to perfectly deal with the naturally available food. With domestication, horses are usually enclosed in pastures, paddocks and barns which keeps them from roaming and grazing. Also, their caloric needs are different. Some days horses will need more calories as they spend more because they are working or performing; other days they’ll need less as they’re stabled and won’t burn as many. As a result, concentrate feed has been introduced in horses’ diets to meet their daily caloric intake requirements. However, as concentrate is not a natural food for horses, sometimes gastrointestinal problems may occur.

As you’ve figured out by now, the number of things that influence the horses’ digestive process is pretty big and finding the correct nutritional balance to keep your horses happy and healthy is not easy.

If you need help or if you’d like to know more about equine nutrition, please talk to us!

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