Top 5 Benefits to Equine Massage

Top 5 Benefits to Equine Massage

 

  1. Through equine massage the removal of metabolic waste products decreases everyday muscle tension which can aid in lessening of recovery time between workouts.
  2. Post workout discomfort can often be relieved by the manipulation and heating of muscle tissue which stimulates the release of endorphins that promote relaxation and healing.
  3. When your horse is on a regular massage schedule the chance of overuse and stress related injuries is lower, due to the lengthening of muscle fibers that happens during a massage.
  4. The stimulation of lymphatic system improves muscle function. The lymphatic system is designed to transport the bodies unwanted waste products to be disposed of and to direct the healthy nutrients to their designated place. Massage therapy stimulates the movement of lymph fluid which assists in relieving stagnant lymph nodes.
  5. Many positive postural habits may be experienced with a regular message schedule including, muscle memory improvement, and influencing their proprioceptive skills which aids in the overall movement/stability of your horse.
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Why have Banamine (Flunixin Meglumine) paste in your Emergency Kit?

Why have Banamine (Flunixin Meglumine) paste in your Emergency Kit?

 

 

 

 

Why have Banamine (Flunixin Meglumine) paste in your Emergency Kit?

  • IF you have a severe colic or fever, your Veterinarian may ask you to administer the medication before they see the patient, or if they are delayed.
  • IF the colic or fever is mild and the Doctor recommends the medication, symptoms may resolve with out needing a visit.
  • IF a colic or fever occurs when you are traveling and you only have access to your Veterinarian over the phone.

 

Prior to Administration:

  • Take your horse’s temperature, pulse and respiratory rate.
  • Check gum color and refill time, gut sounds, and manure.
  • Record and report this information to our on-call veterinarian.

It is very important to follow the instructions of the prescribing Veterinarian for proper administration. Never attempt to self-diagnose. This medication is not to exceed 1000lb dose per day.

 

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Deworming Recommendations

Deworming Recommendations

The standard practice of deworming every 2 months has been followed for more than 40 years, but much has changed in that amount of time.  Parasite drug resistance has increased and at a rate that is faster than the development of new dewormers.  A more selective deworming approach is therefore recommended to help decrease parasite resistance. In order to select the proper deworming medication and frequency, a fecal egg count is performed to determine the parasite load the horse is currently carrying.  Parasite infection varies with age and health of the horse. Therefore, it is important to perform fecal egg counts routinely throughout the horse’s life.

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Equine Dentistry

Equine Dentistry

Dentistry is an important part of your horse’s general health care.  An oral exam is recommended yearly to help monitor normal wear and identify potential problems.  Discomfort in the mouth can lead to poor weight gain, decreased performance and bad behavior even when not bridled.  Depending on the age of your horse and oral exam findings, a dental procedure may be recommended once to twice a year.  For a thorough and safe dental procedure to be performed the horse is sedated and a speculum is placed in the mouth.  With motorized dental equipment, each tooth can be addressed efficiently and accurately.

Routine dental care is important due to the unique structure and function of horse’s teeth.  Horses have a combination of brachydont and hypsodont teeth.  The simple (brachydont) teeth are the first premolars (wolf tooth) and canines that have a distinct crown and root, but have no function for the domestic horse. The incisors and molars (cheek teeth) are hypsodont, like the molars of ruminants (cows, goats and sheep etc).  This type of tooth has a large body that continues to erupt into the horse’s mouth as they are worn down by fibrous feed material.  Most of the tooth is below the gum line in younger horses and continues to develop as it enters the mouth. The root of young teeth extends into the maxillary sinuses and mandibles creating “dental bumps” in 2-5 year olds.

 

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Foal Feeding Guidelines

Foal Feeding Guidelines

These are general guidelines on feeding milk replacer to foals and transitioning to solid feeds. Note: Depending on the foal’s growth rate, they may need more or less of the prescribed feeds. These are guidelines for the average 50 kg (100 to 110lb) foal at birth being fed 2 to 2.5% of its body weight in kilograms a day.

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10 Tips for Choosing the Best Hay for Your Horse

10 Tips for Choosing the Best Hay for Your Horse

High-quality hay can be an important source of essential nutrients in your horse’s diet. A horse’s protein and energy requirements depend on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. A mature horse will eat 2 to 2.5% of its body weight a day, and for optimum health, nutritionists recommend that at least half of this should be roughage such as hay. For a 1000-pound horse, that means at least 10 pounds of roughage each day.

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