Colic is the most commonly occuring serious horse illness, affecting at least 1 in 10 horses each year. It is the single biggest cause of premature horse death and also the most frequent source of major veterinary bills. In addition, it can cause other serious illnesses, such as laminitis or founder.

Colic is not a single illness but rather a group of related illnesses affecting the digestive system. As such, there are many different types of horse colic and various different causes. Extensive research, covering thousands of case studies, has identified the main causes of the various types of colic. Following is a list of actions to avoid the primary causes of colic and thereby greatly reduce the risk of your horse developing colic.

1) Frequent Feedings. Horses have evolved to graze throughout the day. The more frequently they eat, the healthier their digestive system.

2) High-Volume Foods. Horses have evolved on high-volume and high-fiber foods such as grass. Although one can feed energy-dense foods such as grain or musli, they should not be the main component of the horse's diet. When feeding both hay and grain, the hay should be first and then the grain, as this results in better digestion and reduced bolting of food.

3) Soak Pellets. Pelleted food (e.g. hay pellets) should be soaked before feeding. This prevents bolting and choke. In addition, unsoaked pellets can greatly expand when they enter the stomach, resulting in bloating.

4) Secure the Feedroom. The feedroom should be locked or have a horse-proof latch to prevent horses from getting in and gorging themselves. Excessive feeding, especially on grain and similar foods, can result in colic. It can also cause laminitis or founder.

5) Prevent Bolting. A horse may bolt (swallow without chewing) its food, potentially resulting in colic. This may be simply greed or a bad habit, but can also be due to medical issues such as dental problems. If your horse bolts, discuss with your vet how to correct this problem.

6) Sand and Dirt. Make sure that your horse does not ingest sand or dirt, as this can result in impaction colic. Do not feed them on top of sandy or dirt surfaces. Avoid over-grazed pastures.

6) Water. A horse which does not drink enough is prone to colic. Likewise, a horse that has not had access to water and then suddenly drinks a very large quantity. Ensure that your horse has access to water throughout the day. During winter, water should be warmed, as most horses will greatly reduce their water intake if it is too cold. After exercising a horse, allow it to drink but limit the quantity until it has cooled down.

7) De-worming. Horses should be de-wormed regularly (every 3-4 months). All the horses which share a pasture should be de-wormed at the same time to prevent cross-infection. If a horse has not been de-wormed for a long time, use a laxative a few days before to clear out the worst of the worm population before administrating a de-wormer medication.
Exercise. Horses which receive regular moderate exercise are less likely to develop colic. In particular, access to a large pasture during the day provides useful exercise. If starting or changing an exercise regime, changes should be gradual as rapid increases in the duration or intensity of exercise can result in colic.

9) Eating Bedding. Many horses eat bedding, particularly straw bedding. If your horse ingests a large amount of bedding, especially inedible beddings (such as wood shavings), change to a bedding type which they don't eat.

10) Temperature. A horse that becomes chilled is likely to develop colic. This is particularly true if there is a sudden drop in temperature. If a horse is likely to be chilled (e.g. old, weak, sick, shaved, short coat, unaccustomed to cold) then they need to be protected during extreme weather. The use of a rug should be considered. During extremely cold weather, especially if wet and windy, it may be adviseable to confine weaker horses to their stables.

Dr. Doug Stewart is the author of Horse Colilc, which examines the causes and prevention of horse colic. He also writes on other Horse Health issues.

categories: horse,horses,equine,colic,horse colic

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Written by Doug Stewart using tags: colic, equine, horse, horse colic, horses, Pets

Those who own hoses know how wonderful these animals are to have as a companion. They are smart, sensitive, and fun to be around. These beautiful and majestic animals require a lot of care and love. It is important to make sure your horse is happy so you can have a pleasant and gentle companion.

The following are the top 10 ways to make your horde happy:

1. Properly feed your horse. Because it is in a horse's nature to constantly graze, have set times of the day to feed it. Horses like a routine so feed at the same times of the day. A horse requires a lot of fiber so give him fresh grass or hay. As well, give him grain, but not too much as it can upset his gut. He should have access to water at all times. Water keeps the food able to ferment so it won't get solid and hard in its hind gut.

2. Give your horse plenty of exercise. You want this exercise to be like play and not all work. Exercise keeps his muscle and tendons strong, improves blood circulation, and helps with digestion.

3. Groom your horse on a daily basis. Make sure you groom all over so that his hair and skin are clean and shiny.

4. Let your horse out everyday to run free in a pasture. It is a calming experience and lets the horse be a horse. He will get exercise, fresh air, and stretch his legs. Let him spend his time with other horses.

5. Your horses stable should be warm and clean, with a soft bed. The barn should have good ventilation and he should be in the barn with other horses. Clean the stable out every day so there is no build up of his droppings. Let cats live in the barn.

6. Give your horse lots of attention. Talk to him in a gentle voice, stroke him, rub him, scratch him, and play with him. Horses love affection.

7. Everyday, use a pick to clean out its horseshoes. The shoes should also fit well and are comfortable. A horse that is in distress or uncomfortable will be cranky, bite, kick, and his ears will lay back flat.

8. A horse needs a certain time of the day to relax and be by them selves. Give them a certain time each day to be by themselves. Outdoors in a pasture is a great place for a horse to play and relax.

9. Make sure you have a Vet for your horse. You have a responsibility to ensure the horse will be taken care of medically. Horses should never live in pain or with an illness. Care also includes appropriate de-worming, checking its teeth, and keeping an eye out for such conditions as colic. As well, you must keep his hooves trimmed.

Making your horse happy will not only benefit him, but it will enhance your life and provide you with a loyal and loving companion that is easy to handle.

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Written by Adriana Noton using tags: equine, farm, horse, horse care, horse mats, horses, pet, Pets, rubber mats, stall mat

Before buying or choosing a new horse, it is important to check its health. Although it is impossible to be 100% certain that a horse is completely healthy, there are a number of tests which can identify most potential health risks. Following is a checklist.

One begins with the general external appearance. The coat should be even, shinny and lie flat. The body should be well filled out, with well toned muscle. It should not be overweight or underweight. It should stand evenly on all four legs, with all four hooves pointing straight ahead. It is normal to rest a hind leg (but not a front leg), provided that it is not always the same leg which is rested.

Run your hands slowly down each leg, feeling for any swellings, bumps or hot spots. Give special attention to joints and the bottom of the leg. Check that each hoof is smooth, even and crack free.

Lift each foot in turn and carefully check the sole to ensure that it is correctly shaped and has no apparent injury. Both the angle and tilt of all hooves should be correct and uniform. If the horse resists lifting one or more feet, it may just be inadequate training but it could also be due to a reluctance to lift a good hoof and thereby put more weight on a bad one. Unless you are very familiar with hooves, you may wish to ask a professional farrier (blacksmith) to advise you on these various points.

Check the gums. They should be pink, shiny and moist. If they are dry, tacky, pale or any color other than salmon pink, there is a health issue. If one presses gently on the gums (careful with your fingers!), at the point where you are pressing they will turn white but as soon as you remove your finger the color should completely return to pink within two seconds.

Check the teeth (you may want to use the services of a horse dentist) for spurs, unevenness or excessive wear. Try feeding the horse hay and watch how it eats. It should use both sides of its jaw equally and eat steadily. Dropping hay or leaving hay partly chewed indicates a problem either with the teeth or the jaw joints.

Examine the horse's droppings. They should be firm, with a mild and inoffensive odor.

The horse should appear alert, interested in things around it, and happy. It should move its ears in response to noises and hold them in an upright position.

Have the horse taken to an exercise ring and exercised at all gaits (e.g. walk, trot, and gallop). It should take easy, smooth strides of equal length and with the weight evenly spread on all four legs. It should not favor any leg. Circle the horse in both directions (left inside and right inside) to make sure that it performs equally well in both directions.

The horse should not sweat (except during hot weather) or breathe hard until it has been worked at a fast gait. As it speeds up, there should be a gradual but moderate increase in respiration. As it slows down, the respiration should quickly follow. Once its stops, it should quickly return to its resting heart and respiration rate. It should not show any sign of discomfort or limping either before or after vigorous exercise.

Ask the current owner about the horse's medical history. Ask if he will give you permission to talk with the horse's regular vet. Ask to see the medical records and inoculations book for the horse. In particular, ask if the horse has ever had colic, laminitis or any other illness. Be wary of any incomplete or evasive responses. Ask what the horse's normal diet is (horses fed a natural diet of grass, supplemented by hay, are less likely to have digestive problems than horses fed large on grains and feeds). Finally, ask the seller as to what written guarantee they provide in the event that a problem is found after sale, as this is an indication of the confidence they have in the horse's health.

Dr. Doug Stewart is the owner of Horses for Sale and the author of Healthy Horse.

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Written by Doug Stewart using tags: buy horse, equine, equines, horse, horse care, horse health, horses, Pets

Laminitis is a serious hoof disease found in equines (e.g. horses, ponies, donkeys). Although it is very rare for laminitis to kill a horse directly, severe cases can result in the horse being put down for humane reasons (horse is in pain) or economic factors (horse is crippled and can no longer be used). Such euthanasia is sufficiently common that laminitis has become the second most common cause of premature horse death.

The term 'laminitis' comes from 'laminae', which is the tissue which connects the hoof bone (correctly known as the pedal bone) to the hoof wall. Damage to this tissue is known as 'laminitis'. In mild cases the tissue becomes inflamed and begins to break down, reducing the strength of the bone-wall connection. In more severe cases the connection is reduced to the point that the bone begins to move, rotating within the hoof and sinking down. In extreme cases, the hoof will actually go through the sole of the hoof. As the bone moves, it can cause further damage to blood vessels and other surrounding tissues. Longer term, this damage affects the hoof repair and growth mechanisms, resulting in various types and degree of abnormal growth (e.g. convex or flat sole, hoof wall rings, separation of sole and hoof wall). In mild cases, the horse can return to normal activities. In more severe cases, the horse will need to be retired or put down.

The term 'founder' is associated with laminitis but can be used in several different senses. Some people use founder as the lay term for laminitis, while others use it to describe the more serious forms of laminitis (e.g. when the pedal bone penetrates the sole).

There are two main sources of damage to the laminae, leading to laminitis. One is toxins, which enter the blood and travel to the laminae, where they cause inflammation and tissue breakdown. The other is mechanical, where the laminae is damaged due to repeated shocks to the hoof (e.g. from running or jumping on hard surfaces).

Overly rich food changes the bacterial population in the intestines, with a subsequent release of toxins by the bacteria. It occurs when the horse received a large amount of food which is too high in carbohydrates or nitrogen. This can occur either with rich feed (e.g. grain or muesli) or lush pasture. Pasture is most likely to be too rich in spring, when rain follows a dry period, or when fertilizer has been used. As some breeds (especially ponies) are more sensitive, special care should be taken that neither their feed nor their pasture is too rich. When putting horses and ponies on rich pasture, one should limit the amount of grazing time and consider the use of a grazing muzzle to restrict the amount they eat.

Mechanically caused laminitis most often occurs in competition horses, such as jumping horses or race horses, which are worked on hard ground. However, it can also occur to pleasure horses, if they are worked or travel on hard surfaces. One should try to avoid use of a horse on hard surfaces and when it is necessary to travel on hard surfaces try to reduce the pace as a walking horse will have less shock to its feet than a running horse. Ensure that the feet are correctly trimmed; in particular avoid over-trimming or trimming for long toes as these reduce the shock resistance of the feet. If the horse has shoes, ensure that the shoeing is done by a competent professional. Shock absorbing shoes (e.g. horse shoes with a rubber component) and boots are increasingly used, even in competitive sports, to reduce not only the risk of laminitis but also other shock related injuries.

The third major cause of laminitis is toxins which are unrelated to overly rich feed. This includes toxins which are ingested (e.g. through moldy hay, or grass which has been treated with herbicides) or toxins which are produced due to an infection within the horse. Ensure that food does not contain fungus, mold or chemicals. Ensure that any infections are promptly and aggressively treated, before they can result in toxin overload leading to laminitis.

The above article on Laminitis and Founder was written by Dr. Doug Stewart.

categories: laminitis,founder,horse,horses,equine,horse disease,horse illnesses,horse illnesses,pets

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Written by Doug Stewart using tags: equine, founder, horse, horse disease, horse illnesses, horses, laminitis, Pets

People can be allergic to horses, which can result in one or more of the following symptoms: - Itchy or watery eyes - Runny or itchy nose - Itchy skin, hives or rashes - Coughing or Sneezing - Breathing problems - Asthma attack

The severity of these symptoms can range from a minor runny nose to a serious asthma attack. In the case of asthma sufferers, care should be taken when first coming into contact with horses, as there have been a few cases of fatal asthma attacks. This is doubly true for asthmatic children, who in the excitement of being with horses may not notice the early symptoms, so they should be monitored by an adult when first encountering horses to ensure that they do not have a serious adverse reaction.

The most common cause of horse allergies is horse dander (bits of hair and skin which flake off, like dandruff). Other common causes include horse mites, urine and even horse salvia.

One can easily have an allergic reaction without touching or being close to a horse. If one enters a barn or other enclosed area which has been recently used to hold horses, one can have a reaction to allergic agents which remain even though no horses are present at the time. Likewise, if one has a friend or family member who rides, it is quite possible to have a reaction when coming into contact with their riding clothes, tack or even their hair as allergic agents can easily be rubbed into these.

Fortunately, horse allergies can be treated, using the same approaches as for other allergies. These include avoidance (if practical and acceptable), medications (such as anti-histamines or corticosteroids), or desensitizing treatment.

If you wish to ride but are allergic to horses, you may wish to try the 'curly horse' breeds as many people who suffer from horse allergies find that they are not allergic to these breeds.

Finally, you could try medical testing or trial-and-error to determine which aspect of the horse you are allergic to and then simply take care to avoid this aspect. For example, if allergic to urine, rather than go into the stable to get your horse, have it brought out to you. As another example, if allergic to horse mites, have your horse and its box treated against mites, which should greatl

The article Allergy to Horses was written by Doug Stewart, as part of his series on Horse Care.

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Written by Doug Stewart using tags: allergies, allergy, animals, asthma, equine, horse, horses, pet, Pets