Education Center
With spring approaching in Wisconsin, horse owners are starting to think about immunizations or vaccinations as well as other spring preventative health care for their horses. Historically, “spring preventative health care” has included vaccinations, dental checkups, fecal parasite evaluations and annual Coggins testing as well as annual wellness checkups. This can create a sizeable veterinary bill all at once. Some horse owners wonder if this work can be spread out over more time to lessen this financial blow as well as whether it’s all needed in the spring. The answer is yes and no. Read on to find out why.
Vaccinations are important for all horses but they are especially important in the pregnant mare. They reduce the risk of abortions and set the foal up for success. There are some vaccines specific for pregnant mares along with the core vaccinations we recommend for all horses. The timing of vaccinations is also different for pregnant mares.
What does a drug’s expiration date mean?
An expiration date is a date at which a drug manufacturer can still guarantee the full safety and potency of the drug.
Are expired drugs safe?
In short, it depends. When considering the equine drugs you have on hand, here are some important things to keep in mind:
With spring approaching in Wisconsin, horse owners are starting to think about immunizations or vaccinations as well as other spring preventative health care for their horses. Historically, “spring preventative health care” has included vaccinations, dental checkups, fecal parasite evaluations and annual Coggins testing as well as annual wellness checkups.
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a master of disguise. This serious disease, which attacks the horse’s central nervous system, can be difficult to diagnose because its signs often mimic other health problems in the horse and signs can range from mild to severe. More than 50 percent of all U.S. horses have been exposed to the parasite that causes EPM.
Ah, the joys of horse management in winter: frozen water buckets, icy walkways, and the ever-present debate of whether or not to blanket your horse (and, if so, which blanket to use). Amidst all of these chores, many horse owners would also like to enjoy actually exercising with their horses at some point this winter. Here are a few things to consider before you tack up:
Tall fescue is a grass which grows on over 35 million acres of land in the United States. As many as 700,000 horses may graze fescue pastures or be fed fescue hay each year. Many of these pastures contain fescue that is infected with an endophytic fungus that is toxic to horses. When the horse ingests the grass, it is steadily poisoned by alkaloids produced by the fungus.
Signs of EOTRH are often subtle and stem from incisor pain. Some horse owners notice a change in behavior when bridling their horse, or an increase in headshaking behavior. Others may notice the horse dunking their hay or having difficulty biting into hard treats such as carrots or apples. Weight loss and resistance to having the mouth or teeth examined can also sometimes be attributed to EOTRH.
A healthy foal will grow rapidly, gaining in height, weight and strength almost before your eyes. From birth to age two, a young horse can achieve 90 percent or more of its full adult size, sometimes putting on as many as three pounds per day. Feeding young horses is a balancing act, as the nutritional start a foal gets can have a profound effect on its health and soundness for the rest of its life.
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