Horse Health

Yew tree leaves are lethal to horses. Other trees that are bad for horses are Oak, Maple, Cherry, Chestnut, Oleander, Walnut and Locust.

Yes. Domestic horses are often lacking in the minerals they need because they are not allowed to run around over acres and acres of land with different grasses, dirt and trees to eat and lick to get the minerals they need. This is when a mineral block comes into play. The horse should have access to a mineral blaock designed specifically for horses 24/7 so that they can give themselves the minerals they need.

It certainly helps. Now the best is to use your hand and shove it inside the horse to tell the actual temperature. I hope you find this helpful retard.

Strangles is a bacterial infection and is susceptible to certain antibiotics. However, antibiotic use at the wrong time may prolong recovery from the disease so should not be initiated without consulting a veterinarian first.

Yes.

When horses eat too much grass, they can colic and founder or become laminitic.

Colic is basically pain in the gastrointestinal system of the horse, which may be caused by many things. It is the #1 reason for emergency visits by a veterinarian. It is also often fatal and must be treated quickly.

Founder is what happens when a horse has laminitis: a systemic condition that results in the destruction of the tissues inside the hoof. Inflammation occurs and because there is nowhere for inflammation to go inside a rigid structure like the hoof, the tissue inside dies. When this happens there is no longer any tissue to hold up the bone inside the hoof and it falls (called foundering, after what happens to ships when they sink). When this happens the coffin bone may rotate and fall so far that it comes out through the bottom of the hoof. This is usually fatal.

If over-eating, the horse will become fat, which can have terrible effects on its health.

Always wear bright colors and use reflective strips whenever you can. Make sure the horse is used to traffic. And usually just use the same rules you would for a pedestrian and car driver.

No, because its a hoof condition caused by the horse standing in dirt and manre/urine

the bacteria builds up in the bucket and the horse may get sick

1/2 an acre

It depends on the weight of your horse, your geographic location and the length of treatment. You should contact your veterinarian for details on treatment pricing.

Not usually, but if you have doubts consult your veterinarian. Alfalfa makes a horse hyper, so if your horse is not being ridden every day or so, you shouldn't be feeding him/her alfalfa or grain.

because they have four stomachs

Horses have a simple (one) stomach. Most roughage is digested in the large intestine where it is processed into volitile fatty acids through bacterial action.

your stomach acid only burns the ulcers reducing wiil help the burning and heal it

Swollen flanks likely mean that something is wrong and the horse needs to be looked at by a equine vet quickly to determine what is wrong. A horses flanks could swell up from pressure, or an infection and the problem could be compounded by a riders weight on their back, making it look even worse. Again contact a vet for an accurate diagnosis.

Horses are herd animals and they will miss a friend that has been with them. They grieve too. Try to find another buddy for your horse, such as a goat, sheep, another horse, whatever you can afford. There are many rescue Horse places trying to find good homes for their rescues (check with your Vet or your nearest Animal Shelter). Maybe look into that. But a goat or sheep will do too or a small donkey.

Yes they can. As mentioned above make sure they have another animals company :) Although even with a replacement they may get sick etc

You should avoid anything in the Cole family, this includes Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Kale. These plants can cause a build up of gas in the horses intestines and cause painful gas colic.

Bamboo is listed as non-toxic to horses, however the stalks are very woody and could splinter in the horses mouth, esophagus or in the digestive tract at some point, causing colic or even a perforated bowel that will require resection. The leaves may be OK as a treat but it would be best to avoid it as a food source just to be safe.

It is very unlikely that watermelon is the cause of a high fever in a horse. What is more likely is an infectious disease. If a horse has a temperature of 104 you should call the vet out for an exam.

Yes, horses can have OCD. But it is not the human condition you're thinking of. OCD in horses refers to Osteochondrosis but not Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects a horses joints and is similar to a human experiencing "growing pains."

Symptoms of osteochondrois include stiffness and lameness in the leg.

See the related link below for more information on treatment.

The average horse has approximately 40 liters of blood in its body, which is about 8% of its total body weight. This volume can vary depending on the size and breed of the horse. Generally, larger horses will have a greater blood volume compared to smaller ones.

There isn't a good treatment for a calf-kneed horse. Stressors that can make it worse, like jumping, should be avoided, and anti-inflammatories can be used for some tightness/swelling.

There are many things that can set in motion the process of laminitis. Any shock to the horse's system can result in founder. Some mares will founder after giving birth. An overly hot horse allowed to drink too much cold water can also be a cause. The more common causes are overeating on too rich food. Spring grass is much too rich for some horses. Other times too much grain or sweet feed. Any person that knows about horses has heard stories of unlocked feed rooms that are a magnet to hungry horses. Prevention is always the best way to go. Keep feed locked away, limit your horse on green lush pastures, cool your horse down before allowing him too much water. Some horses are more prone to this condition, ponies are usually the most vulnerable, so use good sense and you can reduce the risk of founder.

In general, no - most veterinarians will not vaccinate a horse with a fever because the immune system typically doesn't react as well to the vaccine. It is usually better to wait until a few days after the fever breaks and the infection is resolved before giving vaccines.