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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
Want to know the best ways to care for your horse? Horse Health and Nutrition For Dummies gives you up-to-the-minute guidance on keeping horses healthy at all stages of life. It provides the latest information on equine nutrition and healthcare, explaining how your horse's body functions and how to keep it in good working order. Packed with practical advice on equine first aid and alternative therapies, this completely practical, plain-English guide explains exactly what to feed your four-legged "hayburner" and how much. You'll find out what kind of preventive care is vital to keeping your horse in good physical shape and how to recognize signs of illness when things go wrong. You'll get the low-down on the diseases and conditions most likely to plague the domestic horse and find help in deciding whether to treat problems yourself or call the vet. Discover how to: * Manage your horse's diet * House your horse safely and comfortably * Tend to the daily details of horse care * Examine coat, eyes, hooves and manure * Identify, control, and prevent equine diseases * Understand links between horse behavior and health * Practice good horse nutrition * Grow your own horse food * Cover horse-health-care costs * Breed your horse * Care for pregnant mares and newborns A healthy horse is a happy horse. Keep your horse fit with a little help from Horse Health and Nutrition For Dummies, and you'll be happy too!
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Seitenzahl: 515
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011
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Horse Health and Nutrition For Dummies
by Audrey Pavia with Kate Gentry-Running, DVM, CVA
Horse Health and Nutrition For Dummies®
Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2008 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax 978-646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, 317-572-3447, fax 317-572-4355, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions
Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies.com and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an organization or Website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Website may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2008923122
ISBN: 978-0-470-23952-0
Manufactured in the United States of America
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About the Authors
Audrey Pavia is the former editor of Horse Illustrated magazine and an award-winning freelance writer specializing in equine subjects. She has authored articles on various equine topics in a number of horse publications, including Western Horseman, Horses USA, Thoroughbred Times, Appaloosa Journal, Paint Horse Journal, Veterinary Product News, and USDF Connection magazines. She has written five horse books besides Horse Health & Nutrition For Dummies, including Horses For Dummies, 2nd Edition(Wiley), Horseback Riding For Dummies (Wiley), and Trail Riding: A Complete Guide (Howell Book House).
In addition to her experience as an equine writer, she’s also a former Managing Editor of Dog Fancy magazine and a former Senior Editor of the American Kennel Club Gazette. She has authored more than 100 articles on the subject of animals and has written several books on various kinds of pets.
Audrey has been involved with horses since the age of 9. She has owned and cared for horses throughout her life, and has trained in both Western and English disciplines. She currently participates in competitive trail riding. Audrey resides in Norco, California.
Kate Gentry-Running, DVM, CVA, is a practicing veterinarian with 27 years of experience and an emphasis in equine integrative medicine. She has a particular passion for educating horse owners.
Dr. Running received her veterinary degree in 1980 from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She was certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2001 and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine at the Chi Institute in Gainesville, Florida.
Dr. Running breeds and trains cutting horses at her ranch in Tolar, Texas.
Dedication
Audrey: For my sister, Heidi Pavia-Watkins, DVM. I’m so proud of you.
Authors’ Acknowledgments
Audrey: Thank you to my editors Georgette Beatty and Tracy Boggier; my coauthor Dr. Kate; copy editor Sarah Faulkner; technical reviewer Carol Habig, DVM; brilliant writer and friend Gina Spadafori; my husband Randy Mastronicola; my sister Heidi Pavia-Watkins, DVM; my colleagues Sharon Fibelkorn and Moira C. Harris; and my dear friend, Kelly Mount (I’m never going to stop thanking you).
I must also thank my very patient horses, Milagro and Red, who didn’t get ridden as much as they should have while I was writing this book.
Dr. Kate: Thank you, God, for creating this marvelous wonder, the horse.
Thank you, Audrey, for your patience in teaching me the fundamentals of writing a book. Your passion for horses and educating their owners is second to none. I’m very proud to have assisted you in this endeavor!
Thank you, Wiley Publishing, for creating the For Dummies books (the best in instructive guides), and for understanding the need for this book.
Thank you, Dr. Huisheng Xie, for your teachings that have allowed me to help horses and their owners in ways I never dreamed possible as a veterinarian.
A special thank you to Dr. Leea Arnold for being a veterinarian’s veterinarian and a highly respected colleague and dear friend, and for giving me the opportunity to apply acupuncture in your practice as an important healing tool. Your support and encouragement to excel as a practitioner are gratefully acknowledged.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to my husband Curt. Your knowledge and understanding of the equine psyche is amazing.
And a special thank you to all the horses in my life who have taught me and given so much of themselves to help me to be a better horsewoman and veterinarian: Glo, Tuffy, Careta, Plano, Birdie, GT, KT. Space won’t permit me to list them all, but my heart will never forget them.
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development
Project Editor: Georgette Beatty
Acquisitions Editor: Tracy Boggier
Senior Copy Editor: Sarah Faulkner
Editorial Program Coordinator: Erin Calligan Mooney
Technical Editor: Carol Habig, DVM
Editorial Manager: Michelle Hacker
Editorial Assistants: Joe Niesen, Leeann Harney
Cover Photo: © Sharon Fibelkorn for HorseStock.biz
Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)
Composition Services
Project Coordinator: Erin Smith
Layout and Graphics: Joyce Haughey, Melissa K. Jester, Christine Williams
Special Art: Illustrations by Kathryn Born, MA
Proofreaders: Caitie Kelly,Jessica Kramer, Nancy L. Reinhardt
Indexer: Glassman Indexing Services
Special Help Victoria M. Adang, Megan Knoll, Alicia B. South
Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies
Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies
Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies
Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies
Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel
Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel
Publishing for Technology Dummies
Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User
Composition Services
Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services
Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services
Contents
Title
Introduction
About This Book
Conventions Used in This Book
What You’re Not to Read
Foolish Assumptions
How This Book Is Organized
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I : Honing Basic Horse Care Skills
Chapter 1: Taking on Your Horse’s Health
Knowing the Traits of a Healthy Horse
Understanding the Equine Mind’s Link to Health
The Details of Routine Horse Care
Exercising for the Best Health Possible
Feeding Your Hungry Horse
Tackling Disease
Caring for Mare and Foal
Easing into the Senior Years
Chapter 2: Sizing Up a Healthy Horse
Gauging the Signs of a Healthy Horse
Adding Another Healthy Horse to the Family
Chapter 3: Connecting Your Horse’s Behavior to Health
Horse Behavior 101
Detecting and Fixing Behavior Problems
Chapter 4: Getting Up to Speed on Routine Care
Working with Your Vet to Ensure Good Care
Housing Your Horse Safely and Comfortably
Grooming Your Horse
Taking Care of Your Horse’s Hooves
Ridding Your Horse of Pests and Parasites
Smile Pretty! Caring for Your Horse’s Teeth
Chapter 5: Exercising for Health
Starting Safely with Exercise
Surveying Workout Options for Your Horse
Helping Your Horse Recover from Injuries or Illness
Part II : Good Eats: Nutrition and Feeding
Chapter 6: The Building Blocks of Good Nutrition
Drink Up! The Importance of Water in a Horse’s Diet
Keeping Your Horse’s System Working Right with Roughage
Energizing Your Horse with Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fat
Understanding the Value of Vitamins
Staying Strong with Minerals
Chapter 7: Your Hungry Horse: Feeding Fundamentals
Hay Now! Choosing Hay for Your Horse
Grazing Time: Providing Pasture for Your Horse
Considering Other Feeds
Feeding Your Horse Properly
Chapter 8: Special Considerations for Your Horse’s Diet
The Skinny on Dietary Supplements
Helping Horses with Weight Problems
Controlling Allergies with Diet
Affecting Your Horse’s Behavior with Diet
Chapter 9: Growing Your Own Food
Before You Begin: The Basics of Growing Food for Horses
Starting and Maintaining a Pasture
Harvesting Hay for the Future
Part III : Recognizing and Treating Illnesses
Chapter 10: Introducing the Anatomy of a Horse
The Workings of Your Horse’s Innards
Important Parts on the Outside of Your Horse
Chapter 11: Tackling Common Ailments
Getting a Leg Up on Soundness Issues
Trying to Stomach Digestive Problems
Saving Your Horse’s Skin: Examining Skin Disorders
Watching Out for Eye Problems
A Common Respiratory Problem: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Surveying Other Systemic Problems
Chapter 12: Fighting Infectious Diseases
A Toxin Produced by Bacteria: Botulism
Affecting the Nervous System: Encephalomyelitis
A Disease in Three Forms: Equine Herpes Virus (EHV)
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
Hitting the Respiratory System: Equine Influenza
A Common Neurological Disease: Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)
Beware of Ticks! Lyme Disease
A Fatal Neurological Disease: Rabies
A Nasty Bacterial Disease: Strangles
A Lockup of the Muscles: Tetanus
Attacking the Brain: West Nile Virus
Chapter 13: Staying Prepared with Equine First Aid
Gathering the Right Tools and Information for Emergencies
Approaching an Injured Horse
Applying First Aid
Knowing When to Call the Vet Immediately
Chapter 14: Checking Out Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Understanding Which Treatments May Help Your Horse
Finding a Practitioner
Part IV : Horse Care for All Stages of Life
Chapter 15: Breeding Your Horse
Equine Reproduction 101
Determining Whether You Should Breed Your Horse
Surveying Different Breeding Methods
The Skinny on Horse Pregnancy
Delivering a Baby Horse
Chapter 16: Caring for the Newborn
Monitoring Mom and Baby after Delivery
Providing Healthcare and Good Nutrition for Mom and Baby
Training Your Baby Horse Early On
Chapter 17: Helping Your Horse Age Gracefully
Knowing How Old Is Old
Handling Common Health Issues in Your Senior Horse
Feeding Your Senior Horse
Making Sure Your Senior Horse Stays Active
Retiring Your Senior Horse
Chapter 18: Reaching the End of Your Horse’s Life
Facing the Process of Euthanasia
Taking Care of Your Horse’s Remains
Grieving for Your Horse
Part V : The Part of Tens
Chapter 19: Ten Signs of Horse Illness
A Fever
Diarrhea
An Inability to Pass Manure
Heavy or Noisy Breathing
Weight Loss or Gain
Limping
Lethargy or Depression
Aggression
Misbehavior under Saddle
Additional Signs of Pain
Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Keep Your Horse Healthy
Minimize Stress
Schedule an Annual Vet Exam
Have Your Horse Vaccinated Annually
File Your Horse’s Teeth Regularly
Take Good Care of Your Horse’s Hooves
Deworm Regularly
Exercise Daily
Feed Quality Food
Keep Your Horse at an Optimum Weight
Use Joint Nutraceuticals
Appendix: Resources for Horse Care
Veterinary Teaching Hospitals
Horse Care Magazines
Horse Books
Health and Nutrition Web Resources
Horse Health Stores Online
Hoof Care Resources
Resources for Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Horse Breed Resources
Pet Loss Hotlines
: Further Reading
Introduction
Welcome to Horse Health & Nutrition For Dummies. If you want to know the best ways to take care of your horse, this is the book for you.
Horses are delicate and complicated creatures, despite their massive size and strength. Horse owners, more so than owners of cats and dogs, tend to be much more knowledgeable and vigilant about their animal’s health. And with good reason. When a horse gets sick, it’s not only upsetting, but expensive too.
A good working knowledge of equine nutrition and healthcare is absolutely vital if you plan to take adequate care of your horse. You need to know exactly what, and how much, to feed your four-legged “hayburner.” You need to know what kind of preventative care is vital to keeping your horse in good physical shape. And you need to be able to recognize the signs of illness when things go wrong.
In this book, we give you all the advice that you need to comprehend the sometimes complicated subject of equine nutrition and healthcare. In clear, precise language, we explain everything that you need to know about how the horse’s body functions and what you need to provide to keep that body in good working order. We also give you details on the illnesses and conditions most likely to plague the domestic horse.
Whether you’re a complete novice to horses, or have been involved with these amazing creatures for decades, this book has something for you. It will serve as a reference guide as you care for your horse on a daily basis, and it will help you prepare for the day you decide to breed or retire your horse.
We hope that you enjoy reading this book. We enjoyed writing it and hope it helps you give your horse a happy and healthy life.
About This Book
Horse Health & Nutrition For Dummies was designed to be a useful reference for horse owners of novice and intermediate knowledge levels. Turn to any section of the book that interests you and begin reading at that point — you won’t feel lost. You don’t have to remember what you read yesterday, and you don’t have to read chapters or sections in order. Just find an area that you want to know more about, read it, put it into practice, and put the book back on your shelf. We don’t expect you to read this book from cover to cover (but we won’t complain if you do!).
If Horse Health & Nutrition For Dummies were a building, it would be a department store that you could enter on whatever floor you like. You don’t have to walk past that smelly perfume counter to get to the housewares section on the third floor. You just walk into the housewares section.
We worked hard to create a book that serves as a primer on equine health and nutrition. We hope that you find it as rewarding to read as we found it to write. We also hope that you take all our advice — that would make us feel really important.
Seriously, we find great joy, comfort, and fulfillment in caring for our horses, and we hope for you the same kind of experience. Whatever you give to your horse in the way of love and care, you’ll get back tenfold.
Conventions Used in This Book
In this book, we refer to horses with the male pronoun (he, his, and him) in some sections and the female pronoun (she, hers, and her) in others. We do this so that both genders get equal coverage!
Here are a few additional conventions that we include to help you navigate this book:
Italics indicate definitions and emphasize certain words.
Boldfaced text highlights key words in bulleted lists and actions to take in numbered lists.
Monofont points out Web addresses.
When this book was printed, some Web addresses may have needed to break across two lines of text. If that happened, rest assured that we haven’t put in any extra characters (such as hyphens) to indicate the break. So, when using one of these Web addresses, just type in exactly what you see in this book, pretending as though the line break doesn’t exist.
What You’re Not to Read
Throughout this book, we share some information that may be interesting to you but isn’t crucial to your understanding of a given topic. This information is either in a sidebar (a shaded gray box) or marked with a Technical Stuff icon. We won’t be offended if you skip any of this text — we promise!
Foolish Assumptions
In this book, we assume that you have a basic knowledge of horses (maybe you already read Horses For Dummies!), and you probably own one or more horses. We also assume that you care a lot about your horse or horses and want to give them the best care possible. You want to know what kind of care you can provide safely at home and when you should seek professional help.
We also assume that you’re no dummy. You may not be a horse vet, but you’re not one to go around pretending that you are. You know that the best way to find out about things is to read up and ask questions of those who’ve been around the block. You also know to call a vet when you’re concerned about your horse’s health.
How This Book Is Organized
Horse Health & Nutrition For Dummies is made up of five parts. Each part covers a particular topic.
Part I: Honing Basic Horse Care Skills
In order to provide your horse with good healthcare and nutrition, you need to know the basics first. In Part I, we give you detailed information on how to tell whether your horse is healthy, the connection between behavior and health, and our views on good routine horse care. You find out how to groom your horse, care for his feet, get rid of parasites, and locate a good vet. To wrap up the part, we also explain how to exercise your horse for his optimum health.
Part II: Good Eats: Nutrition and Feeding
Part II gets into the meat of the matter (even though horses are vegetarians!). Here we start your exploration of the art and science of feeding your horse. We go into detail on the basics of equine nutrition and the types of food that are available to horses. You also get the skinny on dietary supplements, and you even find out how to grow your own horse food if you’re lucky enough to have a lot of land out in the country.
Part III: Recognizing and Treating Illnesses
Part III gets to the nitty-gritty of equine health conditions and disease. You first get a look at the inside of your horse with an overview on equine anatomy. Then you get a close-up look at the most common conditions and illnesses plaguing horses today. So that you can care for your horse right away in an emergency, we cover first-aid in depth. And finally, if you’re curious about alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, and the like, you get a primer on all the different alternative treatments that are available to horses today.
Part IV: Horse Care for All Stages of Life
Horses have different healthcare needs at different stages of their lives, and in Part IV, you discover them in detail. We start by providing you with information on breeding your horse, followed by how to care for a pregnant mare and a newborn foal. Next, we leap to old age, and give you advice on making your senior horse’s twilight years the best and most productive they can be.
Part V: The Part of Tens
In the Part of Tens, we give you a rundown of signs that you can look for to see whether your horse is feeling under the weather and what you should do about it if she is. We also present you with a list of ways to help ensure that your horse stays healthy and sound throughout her life.
Icons Used in This Book
As with all the other books in the For Dummies series, this book has little icons in the margins to call your attention to specific types of information. Here’s an explanation of what each of those icons means:
This icon appears frequently throughout this book. It shows up next to information that we think is very important and shouldn’t be missed or forgotten.
This icon highlights information that’s pretty interesting (at least to us!) but isn’t necessary for understanding the topic at hand.
This icon alerts you to helpful hints regarding caring for your horse’s health. The information so marked in this book helps you take better care of your equine companion.
When you see this symbol, beware! It indicates something serious to watch out for.
Where to Go from Here
Okay, it’s almost time to really start reading. If you have something specific that you’re dying to know, flip to that chapter first and check it out. No need to remain in suspense! Or, if you want an overview of everything that this book covers, start with Chapter 1.
No matter where you begin in this book, you can’t go wrong. Anything you learn about equine health and nutrition will go a long way toward helping you take better care of your horse.
Part I
Honing Basic Horse Care Skills
In this part . . .
In the chapters of Part I, you find fundamental information on equine healthcare. We show you how to tell whether a horse is healthy and explain the connection between behavior and health. We also give you the lowdown on routine horse care and detail the importance of exercise for health.
Chapter 1
Taking on Your Horse’s Health
In This Chapter
Recognizing a healthy horse
Knowing the horse’s mind and its connection to health
Doing horse care and exercising every day
Exploring equine nutrition and disease
Taking care of your horse through all stages of life
If you’re a horse owner, or a horse caretaker, you want your equine companion to be healthy. Nothing is sadder than seeing a magnificent creature like a horse feeling sick and uncomfortable. (If you’ve ever had a sick horse on your hands, you know what we mean.) In order to keep your horse healthy — both mentally and physically — you need to understand what makes him tick.
Horses need good preventative care and good nutrition. These two aspects of horse husbandry are more important than any other. If you can get these two right, chances are you won’t have to deal with too many problems. Should illness strike, however, recognizing the signs of a problem early on can make all the difference.
In this chapter, we introduce you to the basics of horse health and nutrition. We show you the signs of health to look for in your horse, explain how to feed your horse and take care of him when he’s sick, and walk you through all the stages of equine life.
Knowing the Traits of a Healthy Horse
You want your horse to be healthy. But knowing exactly what that means is important. Healthy horses have the following characteristics:
Normal temperature. It should range from 99.5 to 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pink gums. Look to see that your horse has moist, pink gums — not white, bluish, or dark red.
Gut sounds. Your horse should have gurgling sounds coming from his rear abdominal area when you listen with a stethoscope or with your ear close to him.
Healthy manure. Your horse’s manure should be round and firm, not loose and runny, or dry.
Good appetite. Your horse should be an enthusiastic eater.
Normal pulse. When at rest, your horse’s pulse rate should be 26 to 44 beats per minute. You can feel his pulse by placing your fingertips under his jaw.
Normal respiration. When you count your horse’s breaths, you should see 8 to 16 in one minute.
Relaxed attitude. Under normal circumstances, your horse should be calm and relaxed, and not worried or agitated.
Bright eyes. Your horse’s eyes should be clear, bright, and open, without redness, swelling, or excessive tearing.
Shiny coat. In the spring and summer months, your horse’s coat should be glossy.
Right weight. Your horse shouldn’t be too thin or too fat.
You can find more details on how to determine your horse’s health in Chapter 2.
Understanding the Equine Mind’s Link to Health
In order for your horse to be truly healthy, she needs to be happy too. Science has discovered that the human mind is closely tied to the health of the body, and this appears to be true of horses as well.
How do you know whether your horse is happy? If you know equine body language, you don’t need to have a conversation with your horse to get a sense of her frame of mind. In Chapter 3, we give you a description of equine facial expressions to help you determine your horse’s attitude with a single glance. You also discover the special language of the horse and how to translate it.
The way horses see the world is an important key to providing them with an environment that will make them happy. As social creatures who become stressed and lonely when kept on their own, horses thrive on companionship. They also frighten easily because of their long evolution as prey animals.
Grazing is an intrinsic part of the equine repertoire and is another aspect of their intrinsic design. Nature intended horses to eat for nearly 18 hours a day to allow them to take in enough nutrients to survive. Their digestive tracts need almost constant work to stay healthy. Providing horses with plenty of forage, served to them at least three times a day, is so important for this reason.
Movement is another requirement of the horse, and is also left over from the days when all horses were wild. Horses fending for themselves on the open range travel for many miles a day looking for food. As a result, the equine body developed to need plenty of exercise.
Thwart some of these natural urges in the horse and you can end up with behavioral problems in the form of stall vices. Cribbing, weaving, and pacing are just some of the few neurotic behaviors common in horses who can’t handle not having what nature intended them in the way of diet, movement, and stimulation. (See Chapter 3 for a detailed description of these behaviors.)
Other less neurotic but no less troublesome behaviors can also result when horses aren’t happy. Bucking, rearing, and excessive spooking are just a few. Finding out what’s plaguing your horse and causing her misbehavior is key to solving the problem.
The Details of Routine Horse Care
Probably the most important component of horse health is routine care. Without the right care every day, your horse won’t stay healthy. It’s as simple as that.
Good horse care starts with choosing the right veterinarian. Picking a vet for your horse should be just as important as choosing a doctor for yourself. Ask other horse owners for referrals, interview the vet to get a sense of his or her bedside manner, and find out what kinds of services he or she offers.
Consider taking out insurance on your horse as well. Medical insurance for horses can go a long way toward helping you pay for an illness if it strikes.
Your horse should get an annual checkup, just like you do. During this exam, your vet checks your horse’s teeth, gives him necessary inoculations, and checks his vital signs. He or she also asks you questions about your horse’s diet, behavior, and general attitude, and assists you in figuring out whether your horse could benefit from a change in daily care.
The way you house your horse is another vital part of how you care for him:
If you’re boarding, choose a stable that’s well-maintained, requires equine boarders to show proof of vaccination, and has a professional staff.
If you plan to keep your horse at home, develop a daily routine for your horse to ensure his proper care. This routine should include feeding several times a day, watering, stall cleaning, grooming, hoof cleaning, and exercise.
Your horse’s hoof care is tremendously important — “no hoof, no horse,” as the old saying goes. Find a qualified farrier through referrals from fellow horse owners or your veterinarian, and stick to a regular trimming and/or shoeing schedule.
Keep parasites at bay on a regular basis by practicing fly control, making your horse’s environment inhospitable to mosquitoes, and deworming regularly.
Tooth care is important to your horse’s health and well-being, too. Make sure that a veterinarian examines your horse’s teeth at least once a year.
Flip to Chapter 4 for the full scoop on all these horse care tasks.
Exercising for the Best Health Possible
Exercise is incredibly important for your horse’s health, and is something that many horse owners overlook. Horses who are stabled are in dire need of daily exercise to keep their joints, tendons, and muscles in good shape. Exercise is also a must for a horse’s mental well-being.
Horses who aren’t regularly exercised need to start out slowly as they build up their bodies. Warm-ups and cool-downs are exceptionally important, and should consist of at least 20 minutes of the horse’s total exercise time each day.
Horse owners can exercise their horses in any number of different ways, including the following:
Turnouts: These exercises allow the horse to roam at liberty in a large area and are important to every stabled horse’s mental health.
Hand-walking: This is another option and helps improve a horse’s ground manners — as well as the owner’s fitness!
Longeing: This is another way to exercise your horse, and it can be used as part of a training program. It requires that you stand in the center of an imaginary circle while your horse moves around you at the various gaits. Warm-ups and cool-downs are especially important with this form of exercise, which shouldn’t be overdone because it can be hard on a horse’s legs.
Riding: If you like to ride (and you probably do if you’re reading this book), getting on your horse and exercising her this way is most likely your best option. Make sure that you have a saddle that fits your horse properly, and slowly work your horse up to a good fitness level if you haven’t been riding her regularly.
Horses who work sometimes become injured and need time to rest so that they can heal. Laying up your horse doesn’t have to be hard on you and the horse if you take the time to provide some mental stimulation for your recovering equine. Stall toys, companionship, and even light exercise can do wonders to keep your horse happy while she’s healing.
See Chapter 5 for full details on exercising your horse for good health.
Feeding Your Hungry Horse
Probably the single-most important way to keep your horse healthy is to feed him right. Horses definitely are what they eat, and the expression “garbage in, garbage out” most certainly applies to horses.
Although it’s often overlooked, water is the single most important part of your horse’s daily diet. Without water, your horse would die in a very short time. Providing plenty of clean, fresh, palatable water is essential to keeping your horse healthy.
Horses also need plenty of forage to keep their digestive systems working efficiently. Most often in the form of hay or pasture, forage provides different types of nutrients and protein and carbohydrate levels, depending on the type.
Fats are also important in the horse’s diet, and should be provided on a daily basis. The easiest way to provide fat to horses is to give them oil on their feed each day. Corn oil is the best choice because it’s the least expensive and easy to find (your grocery store!).
Horses must have vitamins and minerals to stay healthy, of course, but that doesn’t mean that you need to give them a vitamin and mineral tablet every day. The right feed should provide your horse with all the vitamins and minerals he needs if it’s fresh and of the right type.
Chapter 6 provides full details on all these building blocks of equine nutrition. Chapter 7 covers feeding fundamentals; we describe different types of hay and pasture, talk about other types of feeds that you may want to consider, and walk you through the steps of feeding your horse properly.
Do you have an equine friend with special diet needs? Chapter 8 is the chapter for you! We discuss using dietary supplements and helping horses with weight and allergy problems. And if you’re a do-it-yourself kind of person, Chapter 9 provides an introduction to growing food for your horse.
Tackling Disease
If the worst happens and your horse comes down with something, the best way to handle it is to stay calm and educate yourself. Call your vet out as soon as you sense that something is wrong, and learn as much as you can about your horse’s diagnosis. Knowledge is power when it comes to veterinary issues, and you’ll feel better with a thorough understanding of whatever is ailing your horse.
In the following sections, we discuss common equine ailments and infectious diseases, give you the basics of first aid, and introduce you to complementary therapies available for horses.
Common ailments
Issues that most often plague horses can be grouped in the following categories:
Soundness issues. These problems affect the joints, tendons, ligaments, and/or muscles of the horse’s legs.
Digestive woes. Manifesting themselves as colic or diarrhea, these problems relate to either the upper or lower digestive tracts.
Skin disorders. Anything from allergies to bacterial and fungal infections falls into this category.
Eye problems. Horses are prone to some of the same eye problems as humans, plus a few of their own.
Respiratory issues. Breathing problems aren’t common in horses, but when they occur, they can be very troublesome.
Systemic problems. Metabolic and immune system disorders make up this category.
Chapter 11 gives a detailed rundown of common conditions in each of these categories, and provides information on how each is treated.
Infectious diseases
A whole slew of infectious diseases regularly sweep through equine populations, and every horse owner needs to know how to recognize the symptoms of these ailments.
Some of these ailments are similar to infectious diseases that affect humans as well. These include equine influenza (the horse version of the flu), equine herpes virus (similar to the herpes virus that affects people), rabies, and tetanus.
Other infectious diseases that are unique to horses include strangles, a bacterium that affects the lymph nodes; equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a protozoan parasite that attacks the nervous system; and equine infectious anemia, a virus that causes an anemic reaction.
Chapter 12 details all these diseases, as well as a few others that affect horses. The good news is that many of these diseases have vaccines (we talk about vaccinating your horse in detail in Chapter 4).
First aid
For some reason, horses seem prone to injury, which is why it’s important for all horse owners to know basic first aid. Keeping a first-aid kit around is a must if you want to be ready to handle whatever injury your horse may incur.
Your first-aid kits should include the following items:
Antibiotic ointment
Antiseptic cleanser
Bandages
Cotton sheets or quilted wraps
Duct tape
Flexible bandages
Gauze pads
Hand sanitizer
Latex gloves
Lubricant
Pocket knife
Rectal thermometer
Rubbing alcohol
Scissors
Tweezers
Wound medication
Chapter 13 provides information on how and when to use each of these items. It also covers details on how to know when to call the vet, and when to handle an emergency yourself.
Alternative therapies
More and more horse owners today are becoming interested in alternative and complementary therapies. These types of therapies, which include acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and chiropractic, have been demonstrated to help horses in ways unprecedented in conventional veterinary medicine.
Veterinarians and other specialists working in these modalities are now practicing throughout the United States, making these types of therapies more accessible to the average horse owner. Chapter 14 covers a number of alternative and complementary therapies used on horses, detailing how they work and for what types of conditions.
Caring for Mare and Foal
If you have a mare you plan to breed so that you can have your own foal, you’re embarking on a very special adventure in horse ownership. Breeding and birthing a foal, which we cover in Chapter 15, is an exciting experience that you’ll never forget.
Before you breed, though, you need to research this aspect of horse husbandry carefully. Pregnant mares need special attention in order to deliver a healthy baby, and you as the mare owner must provide this care.
The birth of a foal is a crucial moment for both mother and baby, and it must be handled expertly if both horses are to survive. Your veterinarian will educate you about what to expect the day your mare delivers her foal, and coach you about when you need to call him or her to help.
After your baby hits the ground, your job as caretaker doesn’t stop. Young foals need special monitoring during their first 24 hours to have a chance at survival. Training of the foal begins right away, and you’re the one who needs to start teaching your youngster from the get-go. Chapter 16 provides information on how to start teaching your baby how to grow up to be a good horse.
Easing into the Senior Years
Aged horses are those who are more than 15 years old. Although these are considered your horse’s golden years, they’re likely to be the best ones of his life. Older horses are wise in the ways of the world, and they rarely waste their time worrying about the kinds of stuff that upsets younger horses — like plastic shopping bags blowing down the trail. Boo!
Senior horses also tend to be more patient and forgiving than their younger counterparts, so they make the best teachers for children and new adult riders.
The trade-off for all that your senior horse gives you is that you need to take special care of his needs as he gets older. Older horses are more prone to lameness, vision problems, and tooth problems. They sometimes need special consideration when it comes to feeding and exercise.
Senior horses do best when they have a job to do, and although many horse owners think that their older horses would rather be retired, these horses often become depressed and feel neglected when their work stops. Chapter 17 tells you how to keep your senior horse active for as long as possible, and how to ease him into retirement when he can no longer work.
In Chapter 18, we take a look at the end of your horse’s life. Euthanasia is a humane option for horses who are incurably ill or suffering, and it’s often the best gift an owner can give his or her horse. Loss of a horse is often followed by intense grief. In this chapter, we let you know that you aren’t alone, and we help you find ways to remember and celebrate your horse’s life.
Chapter 2
Sizing Up a Healthy Horse
In This Chapter
Recognizing a horse in good health
Examining your horse each day
Judging a new horse’s condition
Horses are big, strong animals, but they’re surprisingly fragile. They can easily and quickly become ill. Add their ability to hide their illnesses (sick animals attract attention from predators) and it can be challenging for horse owners to know when their horse is ill.
In this chapter, you discover the telltale signs of a horse who’s at the peak of health. If you plan on adding another horse to your family, you also find out how to make sure that horse is in good health. After you can recognize the signs of health in a horse, you’ll be quick to tell when your horse isn’t feeling well.
A great way of keeping track of whether all is well is to groom and go over your horse’s body every day. Check out Chapter 4 for details on grooming tasks such as brushing your horse and cleaning her hooves.
Gauging the Signs of a Healthy Horse
Whether you own a foal or a senior, a draft horse or a miniature, you can tell whether your horse is feeling ill by looking at a number of different factors. Each of the following factors alone or combined with other elements can tell you whether your horse is fighting an illness. If you suspect that your horse is sick, either based on the results of checking the following different aspects of her health or for any other reason, call a veterinarian right away.
One of the greatest benefits of being able to recognize the signs of a healthy horse (versus an unhealthy one) is that you can share important information with your veterinarian. Should you need to call the vet to report a problem with your horse, being able to pass along specific details on the horse’s condition will help the vet determine whether or not your horse needs to be seen right away. Knowing what’s normal for your horse when she’s feeling her best enables both you and your veterinarian to determine whether your horse needs veterinary care when she’s under the weather.
A normal temperature
If your horse is off her feed or just doesn’t seem right, check her temperature. You probably know that 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is considered a normal temperature for a human being. Horses have a normal temperature too, which is slightly higher than that of their human companions. A healthy adult horse has a body temperature of 99.5 to 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Healthy young horses, specifically foals and yearlings, can have slightly higher temperatures.
Environmental factors can affect a horse’s temperature. A horse may have a higher temperature if the weather is particularly hot (or a lower-than-normal temperature if the weather is cold), or if the horse has just finished exercising or eating. Time of day can also be a factor: body temperatures of both horses and humans tend to be higher in the afternoon than in the earlier or later times of the day. Nerves can also affect a horse’s body temperature, causing it to rise slightly.
If a horse’s temperature is lower than 97 degrees Fahrenheit, something isn’t right with her body, and she may be suffering from shock, chill, or a serious illness. If her temperature is higher than 102, she’s likely battling an infection of some kind, is dangerously overheated, or is colicky. Body temperatures below 97 or above 102 warrant an immediate call to the vet.
Taking your horse’s temperature isn’t as easy as taking your own. Unlike humans, horses don’t have the ability to hold a thermometer under their tongue, and you can’t insert it in their ear. Instead, you have to go the old-fashioned route, the one that your mother probably used to take your temperature when you were a baby. The job must be done rectally.
Before you can take your horse’s temperature, you need to purchase a veterinary thermometer from a pet supply or tack store. Veterinary thermometers have a loop at the end, and you can tie some string or yarn onto the device, making it easier to hold onto while taking the horse’s temperature.
You need lubricant, too. K-Y Jelly or another human-grade lubricant is sufficient. Stay away from petroleum jelly because it can irritate the sensitive lining of the rectum. In a pinch, you can use your own saliva as a lubricant.
Follow this procedure to find out your horse’s temperature (be sure to halter and tie her first):
1.Prepare the thermometer.
Make sure that the thermometer reads 96 degrees or below by shaking it down first.
2.Lubricate the thermometer.
Apply a good amount (about an inch) of lubricant to the thermometer’s tip so that it slides in easily.
3.Prepare your horse.
Some horses are very calm when you take their temperature; others freak out. If you have the kind of horse who doesn’t appreciate the procedure, untie her and ask someone to hold the lead rope while you insert the thermometer. Position the horse against a wall so that she can’t move away from you. Be patient and try to reassure the horse that nothing terrible is about to happen to her.
4.Insert the thermometer.
Stand to the side of the horse and not directly behind her so that you don’t get kicked if the horse reacts violently to insertion of the thermometer. (Figure 2-1 shows you how to stand before inserting the thermometer.) Hold the thermometer at an angle parallel to the horse’s back, lift the tail, and slowly insert the thermometer about 3 inches into the horse’s rectum. The thermometer should slide in gently.
If the thermometer stops part way in and won’t move forward, don’t force it. Instead, pull it out and reinsert, angling it slightly up or down until it gently slides in.
5.Wait three minutes.
Keep the thermometer inside the horse’s rectum for three minutes, holding onto the end or the string the entire time.
6.Read the thermometer.
After three minutes, you can remove the thermometer and read it. Be sure to wash your thermometer in soap and lukewarm water and dip it in rubbing alcohol after every reading. Don’t forget to wash your hands, too.
Figure 2-1: When you take a horse’s temperature, stand to the side and not directly behind her.
Pink gums
It may not have occurred to you that you can tell the state of your horse’s health by looking at her gums, but in fact, you can. The gums can be a good indicator of digestive health and blood flow. Different colors mean different things:
A healthy horse has gums that are a pinkish color. This color indicates, via the horse’s mucous membranes, that she has good blood flow in her body.
Horses who are suffering from colic, shock, or illness may have pale gums that are almost white.
Horses who have an illness or fever may have bright red gums.
Horses suffering from poor circulation may have bluish gums.
Check your horse’s gums when she’s feeling fine so that you get a sense of what her normal gum color looks like. That way, if you suspect that she’s ill, you have something to compare the color to.
Gum color alone isn’t usually the sole indicator of trouble for a horse, but combined with signs of colic or other types of distress, it can indicate a severe condition that requires a phone call to the vet. See Chapter 11 for more about colic.
If you’ve never looked at your horse’s gums before, halter your horse and follow this procedure to get it done. Having a helper is best, but if you can’t find anyone to assist you, you can do it alone.
1.Secure the horse.
Have your helper hold the lead rope for you. If no helper is available, hold the lead rope in your left hand.
2.Prepare the horse for your approach.
Stand at the left side of the horse near her muzzle. Talk to your horse and reassure her, and stroke her on the cheek a few times.
3.Lift her lip.
With your palm facing the horse’s face, gently lift the side of your horse’s lip until you can see her gums.
4.Finish up.
When you’re able to get a good look at the color, you can drop her lip.
If your horse struggles when you try to lift her lip, continue a few more times. If she absolutely won’t allow you to touch her mouth, a vet will have to check it for you.
Gut sounds
The digestive system is one of the most delicate and crucial systems in a horse’s body (as you find out in Chapter 10). Because horses are unable to vomit, whatever they consume must be passed, regardless of what it is or how it may affect the digestive system.
Horses who are suffering from colic, which is another term for abdominal pain, may be experiencing a problem in their digestive system. In most cases, colic causes the digestive system to shut down. The result is that gut sounds — the noises the stomach and intestines make as they’re working normally — aren’t present.
If a horse appears to be showing signs of colic, such as pacing and sweating, straining to urinate or defecate, pawing at the ground, rolling repeatedly, standing in a stretched-out position, or kicking and biting at her sides, you may be able to get a sense of how serious her condition may be by listening for gut sounds. A horse with no gut sounds is a horse in trouble — and in need of a vet. However, the presence of gut sounds doesn’t always indicate normal gut motility or health.
You can listen for gut sounds in one of two ways, either with a stethoscope (the best way) or your naked ear. Whichever you use, halter your horse and follow this procedure:
1.Secure the horse.
Tie your horse, or have someone hold the lead rope for you.
2.Find gut sounds.
Place your ear or stethoscope on your horse’s barrel, just behind her last rib. Listen for several seconds for gurgling sounds. (See Figure 2-2 to get an idea of where to listen.)
Figure 2-2: Place your ear or the stethoscope on your horse’s barrel, just behind her last rib.
3.Check the other side.
If you don’t hear sounds on the side that you’re checking, move to the other side of the horse and listen again.
4.Assess the results.
If you hear gurgling sounds, your horse’s digestive system may still be functioning. If you don’t hear gurgling sounds, your horse is in trouble. Either way, if your horse is showing symptoms of colic, with or without gut sounds, you need to call the vet. Your assessment of the presence or absence of gut sounds is important information to convey to your veterinarian.
Good manure
A sure sign of a healthy equine digestive system is good manure. Although examining your horse’s poop every day may seem silly, keeping an eye on it can really help you stay in touch with your horse’s well-being.
Good manure indicates that a horse is properly processing her food. It shows that she’s drinking enough water and that her system is passing feces in a productive manner.
If you break apart horse manure, you see that it’s made up of digested plant material. Healthy horse manure comes out in moist, firm, round balls. It shouldn’t be runny or unformed. Nor should it be hard and dry. (See Figure 2-3 for a picture of healthy manure.)
Figure 2-3: Healthy manure should look like firm, round, moist balls of digested hay.
Horses defecate several times a day, depending on how much and how often they eat. A horse who eats three meals of hay per day eliminates anywhere from five to eight piles of manure. These piles translate to about 31 pounds of poop per day. This number varies from horse to horse, so take note of how much manure your horse produces when she’s healthy to help you determine whether something isn’t right on the day she doesn’t seem to be feeling well. If you see that her manure output is lower than normal, even though she’s eating as much as usual, keep a close eye on her. Her intestines may be slowing down due to a problem.
Horses who produce no manure at all throughout the day even though they have eaten are in trouble. Something is preventing the manure from passing through the intestine, and a blockage is sure to occur. This blockage could be the result of anything from lack of water intake to an abundance of sand in the intestine. Only a vet can determine the actual cause behind the lack of manure production.
A healthy appetite
Horses are big eaters by nature — they’re designed to consume food 18 hours per day. That’s why they never turn down a meal or a snack — unless they’re under the weather.
Horses eat anywhere from 1.5 to 3 percent of their body weight every day. If you’re around your horse at mealtime, you no doubt notice her eating habits. Most horses who are kept stabled eagerly await their meals and dive right into them when they’re served. Horses kept on pasture graze almost all day and into the night if grass is available.
Horses who are sick turn their nose up at foods that they normally enjoy. They may sample a little and then walk away. Or they may show no interest at all. A horse who won’t eat is a very sick horse and needs veterinary care right away.
On the other hand, just because a horse is eating doesn’t mean that she’s healthy. Many horses with serious illnesses maintain their normal appetite through much of their sickness. They may start turning down food only at the most acute stage of the disease or condition.
If your horse won’t eat, or isn’t eating as much as is normal for her, she’s not feeling well. If she shows other signs of illness but is still eating, don’t assume that she’s okay; contact your vet immediately.
A normal pulse
Just like people, horses have a normal, resting pulse rate. The pulse rate indicates how many beats per minute your horse’s heart is pumping. When horses are exercising, their pulse rate increases normally. When they’re ill, under extreme stress, or in pain, their pulse rate quickens.
For most adult horses, a normal resting pulse rate is 28 to 40 beats per minute. This number can vary substantially based on breed and age, however. Knowing your horse’s normal pulse rate when she’s feeling well gives you something to compare it with if she seems to be under the weather.
Taking your horse’s pulse takes a little bit of practice. Locating the pulse can be hard at first, but if you keep trying, you’ll get the hang of it. After you halter and tie your horse, follow these steps to take her pulse:
1.Find the pulse.
Put the tips of your index, ring, and middle fingers behind the horse’s girth on the left side; on the inside of the foreleg; or under the jawbone, below the jowls. You can detect the pulse in all these areas. Figure 2-4 shows you one spot where you can look for the pulse. (See Chapter 10 for a diagram showing the parts of the horse.)
2.Count the beats.
When you find the pulse, start counting the beats for 15 seconds, using a watch or a clock with a second hand.
3.Calculate the rate.
Multiply the number you get by four — that’s your horse’s heart rate per minute.
Take your horse’s pulse when she’s healthy so that you know her normal pulse rate. Having this information will be valuable to your veterinarian if your horse becomes ill. It gives the vet a baseline reading for comparison.
Figure 2-4: Find your horse’s pulse by placing the tips of your fingers under the jawbone, below the jowls.
Normal respiration
The way a horse breathes can be a good indicator of her health. Horses at rest with abnormal respiration, or breathing rate, are likely not feeling well. They may have a fever, they may be experiencing pain, or they may be having trouble taking in air.
Respiration is the inhalation and exhalation of air into and out of the lungs. Normal respiration rate for a horse from weanling to adult age — and who hasn’t been active for at least 20 minutes — is 8 to 16 complete breaths in one minute.
Determining how many breaths per minute your horse is taking is easy. All you need to do is watch her breathing while you count. Halter and tie your horse, wait until she’s quiet, and then follow these steps (and take a look at Figure 2-5) to check your horse’s breathing:
1.Count breaths.
Using a watch or clock with a second hand, count the times her flanks (or area between her barrel and thigh) expand outward in 15 seconds. (See Chapter 10 for parts of the horse.)
2.Calculate the number.
Multiply the number of breaths by four. The resulting amount is the number of breaths per minute.
Take your horse’s respiration rate when she’s healthy so that you have a baseline reading to compare with when your horse is under the weather.
Figure 2-5: Count the number of times your horse’s flanks move to determine the respiration rate.
A relaxed attitude
When a horse is feeling well, she tends to have a relaxed attitude when she’s at rest. Her muscles are void of tension, she has a calm expression, and she seems to be enjoying life. (See Figure 2-6 for a picture of a horse with a relaxed attitude.) Horses who are sick, on the other hand, tend to be tense or depressed. They may have taut muscles, or they may stand with their heads hanging down.
Familiarity with your horse and horses in general can help you determine whether a horse’s demeanor is relaxed or distraught. Relaxed horses tend to doze, eat, and interact with other horses with a quiet manner. Sick horses, however, become either aggressive or submissive with other horses, sleep too much or not enough, and eat in an anxious manner or not at all. If you notice these behaviors in your horse and see some of the other symptoms covered in this chapter as well, call your veterinarian.
Figure 2-6: Horses with a relaxed attitude have a calm, peaceful expression.
Bright eyes
The expression says, “The eyes are the window to the soul,” and this is most certainly true of horses. You can tell a lot about a horse’s health by looking at her eyes. A horse with healthy eyes is most likely a horse with a healthy body. Look for the following signs:
Healthy equine eyes are bright and alert. They’re clear and lacking in discharge. The horse holds them wide open when you approach her, and you see no swelling or redness.
Horses who are in moderate pain or who are seriously ill have a dull look in their eyes. They may keep one or both eyes half-closed or completely shut. Their eyes may be runny, swollen, and/or a reddish color where white sclera (the part of the eye that surrounds the iris) should be.
When a horse is in acute pain, her eyes are wide open, and white sclera will show. Horses in this much pain often behave in an anxious manner as well.
Check your horse’s eyes daily. Stand to the side of your horse, and concentrate on her eye. Make sure that it’s open, bright, clear, and not runny. Peek into the corners and edges without touching the eye, and look for warts or growths. Do the same thing on the other side with the other eye.
If your horse’s eyes appear irritated, swollen, runny, or cloudy, call your vet. Mild irritation may be the result of dust or wind, but any dramatic change in your horse’s eyes should be evaluated by a vet. Horses with a cloudy or milky looking eye(s) may have an eye disease or injury and should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately.
