When do we need a vet? (Part I)

Submitted by macallister on 3/7/09 1:20pm

The best thing you can do for your horse's long-term health and soundness is pay close attention. Know his gaits and his way of going, his idiosyncrasies, his moods, his eating and drinking habits, and his general demeanor under all kinds of environmental conditions.

The better you know your horse, the faster you'll be able to tell when something isn't right—and that can be life-saving in some cases, when something goes wrong that's internal rather than external.

You'll need an Equine veterinarian that you trust and respect, just for general maintenance. You can take care of many of your horse's health-care needs yourself, like worming, vaccinations, and minor scrapes and injuries; your horse still needs dental care and regular general check-ups, though, to enjoy the kind of robust health that makes for a happy and well-cared-for animal.

NOTE: The following lists certainly are not comprehensive, nor are they intended to be interpreted as medical advice. In the years I've cared for horses, I've found the following to be a helpful set of guidelines, but certainly there are any number of things I've missed, forgotten, or simply not personally experienced.

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Traveling and Boarding:
If you travel with your horse, or board at a professional facility, you'll need your vet to provide the following documents:

Coggins test
Health certificate
Brand Inspection
Proof of vaccinations

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Common Chronic Problems: There are a variety of health conditions that are serious enough to require special care, but with a bit of attention, even chronic health conditions can be managed and your horse can still be comfortable, healthy, and lead a productive life.

Coughing - self explanatory. If your horse is coughing, and has been for more than a few days, then you should call your vet to rule out (or confirm) "heaves", COPD, or pneumonia.

Nosebleeds - equine nosebleeds can result from a blow to the head, or from very serious chronic health problems. If your horse has a nosebleed, you need to take it seriously.

Ulcers - the only way to know if your equine pal has gastric ulcers (which can result in finicky eating, weight loss, chronic crankiness, or colic) is to have him scoped. Essentially, your vet will run a tiny camera with a light down his nasal passage into his stomach. Ulcers can quite often be successfully treated. Catching this condition early, though, generally means treatment is both more successful and less expensive.

Lameness - this goes back to knowing your horse really well. Watch him go under a variety of conditions. Know his way of going, his gaits, and wherever there seems to be a hitch in his get-along. You're much more likely to notice, then, when something irregular crops up. Your vet will very likely do what's called a nerve-block, to help isolate the problem, then follow up with x-rays and ultrasounds to provide more information.

Allergies/Hives - If your equine pal exhibits hives, or weepy eyes/dripping nose, your vet may be able to test for allergies to various insects or environmental conditions, and make recommendations to help you keep her more comfortable.

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Accidents, Injuries, and Medical Emergencies: These are the situations every horse-owner dreads. The middle-of-the-night vet call, because your equine friend is down in his stall, groaning. The hanging flap of skin with tendons exposed, beneath. The emergency call is almost always an especially difficult call to make, in an emotionally-charged situation. It's easier not to panic, though, if you know there are some practical things you can assess.

colic

founder/laminitis

conditions that include any of the following symptoms: