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THE HEALTHY HORSEA healthy horse should have a resting respiration rate of between 10-18 breaths per minute, and a heart rate of 30-45 beats per minute. A normal resting temperature is between 37.7 and 38.2 degrees centigrade. Any rise over 39 degrees should be considered serious and reason to call a vet. A healthy horse has a shiny coat, bright eye, and a happy disposition. However, regardless of how healthy your horse seems to be, there are a number of general health matters that should be attended to on a regular basis.
DRENCHINGIntestinal parasites are the single most important aspect of horse care. Many horses survive year round in large paddocks without any attention at all from their owners, but only if they are drenched regularly to remove intestinal parasites. A horse that is not wormed will deteriorate rapidly, particularly during Winter. Drenching is not just a matter of giving your horse a paste every 8 weeks or having a vet stomach drench every now and then. A correct drenching program takes into account the life cycles of the different types of worms that inhabit a horse's intestine. The main intestinal parasites are Large Strongyles, Small Strongyles, Round Worm, Pin Worm, Threadworm, Bots and Tapeworms. Worm eggs are ingested by the horse through eating contaminated pasture. They hatch and develop in the intestine, depriving the horse of nutrients and damaging the gut lining. Blood worms migrate into the blood vessels that supply the intestines causing roughening of the lining and blood clots. Untreated worms can cause loss of condition, reduced performance, colic and possibly death. Bot eggs are laid by adult flies on the horse's hair, presenting as tiny golden spots. Unless they are scraped off, the are ingested by the horse when it bites at its skin. Because parasite worms have different life cycles to bots, they require different treatment. In Winter most worm larvae are imbedded in the intestinal wall and are not susceptible to commonly used drenches. However, Winter and early Spring is the time when bot larvae are in the stomach and this is the only time that they can be killed. In Spring there is a build up of small strongyles resulting in diarrhea and weight loss if they are allowed to thrive. It is thus important to have a drenching program that is synchronised with the seasons. There are a number of drenching timetables available but a basic program for an adult horse in a paddock would be: January (Equimec); July (Equiban); September (Equimec); and November (Equimec). A more comprehensive program would be: December and February (Ivomectin based drench without boticide); April (Ivomectin based drench with boticide); June (Equiban drench for tapeworms and bots); August & October (Ivomectin based drench with boticide). If you are unsure of the worm status of your horse you can purchase a fecal egg count testing kit from your vet surgery. These kits are produced by the NSW Department of Agriculture and are sufficient for 5 horses at a relatively low cost. The dose rate for drenches always relates to body weight so it is useful to know the weight of your horse. If you don't know, the following general guide may be of assistance. Remember, it is generally better to over-dose slightly than under-dose.
TEETHA horse's teeth and mouth need to be checked regularly by a veterinary surgeon or qualified horse dentist. The grinding surface of a horse's tooth i% angled and this easily leads to uneven wear. Eventually sharp points develop which can reduce the ability of a horse to chew its feed, cause ulcers in the cheek, and cause irritation to the tongue and cheek when a bit is placed in its mouth. Uneven wear occurs much faster in grain fed horses and in horses with congenital problems such as an overshot jaw. Old horses particularly suffer from uneven wear and develop a condition called 'wave mouth'. As a general guide, adult horses should have their teeth checked annually if they have no other mouth problems; grain fed horses and horses over about 15 years should be checked every 6 months; and horses under three should be checked every 3-6 months.
VACCINATIONSTwo vaccinations are routinely given to horses: tetanus and strangles. These vaccinations are frequently packaged in one injection and you can give them yourself. Tetanus is a fatal disease and vaccination is essential. At first, two shots of tetanus toxoid are given four weeks apart, followed by an annual booster. Immunity from the vaccination is good but if a horse is injured, an antitoxin is usually given to provide immediate protection. Tetanus is extremely rare in the Canberra region, primarily due to extensive vaccination. However, as the organism involved lives in the soil, a case of tetanus is always possible. Strangles is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi. It is highly contagious but it is rarely, if ever, fatal. Symptoms observed include a thick nasal discharge, lumps which may burst as ulcers under the jaw and, less commonly, ulcers elsewhere on the face. Strangles is passed from horse to horse by direct contact, or via water troughs, fence posts, stable doors, halters, ropes, etc. It is more common in horses which are stabled and which are taken to and from competitions, but it will also spread through paddock agistment properties. Initially three injections are required, each two weeks apart, followed by an annual booster. The effectiveness of the vaccine is variable, though it probably reduces the severity of the symptoms, and immunity from vaccination is shortlived. If an outbreak is imminent, a booster should be given but if the horse has been exposed to the disease it must not be given. Strangles occurs mainly among competition horses and horses moved frequently from one property to another. The last widespread outbreak of strangles in the Canberra region was in the summer of 1988/89.
HOOF CAREShod horse will need re-shoeing every 6 weeks and an unshod horse should have its feet trimmed every 8 weeks. Large horses in particular, which are left with their feet unattended, may develop deep cracks or splits in their hooves which may take a long time to heal. Foot conditions are a frequent cause of lameness in horses. The three most common hoof problems are sole bruising (usually from stones), abscesses, and seedy toe. Sole bruises are caused either by stones or by ill fitting shoes. If the latter occur in the quarter or heel, they are termed corns. Symptoms include lameness and heat in the sole of the hoof, and sharp pain when hoof testers are used. The main sign of a sole bruise is red discolouration. Treatment is to protect the affected area with a pad or wide shoes, and then the horse may be kept in work. Foot abscesses are caused by an infection under the hoof wall or sole. They result in severe lameness which usually gets worse before the abscess appears. There is heat in the hoof and increased pain when hoof testers are used. Treatment usually involves cutting open the abscess and applying a poultice. A tetanus toxoid injection is also usually required. Seedy toe is the separation of the hoof wall from the underlying laminae. It is often the result of laminitis and it may lead to abscesses. Horses with seedy toe do not necessarily become lame and they can usually be kept in work as long as their hooves are properly looked after. Treatment can be carried out by a farrier and usually involves cutting away the affected area from the hoof wall. |
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