Keeping your Horse Healthy
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Horses need to be looked after properly and have the right type of health care from their owner. By ensuring your horse remains healthy and well looked after, you can rest assured he will live to a good ripe old age. The important thing you should know how to look after your horse’s health and you should know when to take action when needed.
Some things to look out for if your horse is unwell.
How much does your horse eat? Sometimes one of the first symptoms of your horse feeling unwell is when he goes off his feed.
You must check his teeth and his abdomen to ensure his teeth are not causing him any pain or he has colic. Colic can develop very rapidly and can be fatal to your horse if not dealt with immediately.
How much water is your horse drinking? He should be drinking at least five – ten gallons of water a day, if he is drinking less, he may be dehydrated. If he is drinking more he may have kidney problems.
If everything is ok with their feeding drinking etc, then you will need to look for another cause for their problem.
Don’t forget to check their stools as these can give you a good indication of any problems they may have. Any diarrhea is a classic symptom of something wrong with their digestive system and should be investigated immediately. Sometimes it may be stress causing this, but you must get another opinion to be sure.
Check all round his body every day. His eyes and nose should not be runny, and he should not have any lumps or bruises. Any open wounds should be taken care of immediately to prevent any problems escalating.
Check your horse’s vital signs. This includes checking their pulse which should be between 27 and 43 beats per minute. You can do this with a stethoscope or by using your fingers by the horses’ cheekbones.
Also check his temperature by using a special horse thermometer placed in the horses’ rectum. There are specific thermometers available for horses. His temperature should be around 98 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t forget to check his respiration which should be average 10 breaths per minute.
If you notice any problems you should call your vet. You can help your horse temporarily until he gets there, but in most cases especially if you are fairly new to horses, you should always call your vet out to examine your horse.
A vet will provide your horse with medication after diagnosing his problem. He will also give you some excellent advice about how to care for your horse in the future.
By examining your horse and making sure he stays healthy, you help him stay happy and comfortable. Knowing your own limitations are important and calling your vet out later rather than sooner can make the difference between not only receiving a small or large bill, but also may make the difference between your horse living or dying.
Previous Articles By This Author
- Buying Your First Horse
- Equipment for Horses
- Basics of Horse Care
- Grooming your Horse
- The History of Horses
