Heartbeats and Hooves

09/29/2021

Just hold on ❤️

06/25/2021

😋

06/25/2021

04/29/2021

HAS YOUR HORSE HAD A DENTAL EXAM YET THIS YEAR?

If the answer is no, we recommend you contact your equine veterinarian soon to make an appointment for your animal. Though most people think dentistry is primarily concerned with the teeth and mouth, it should not be confused with just just tooth "floating." Dentistry is a veterinary discipline that, besides treating the mouth and teeth, also includes the associated structures of the head – for instance the sinuses – and the effect of dental diseases on the health of the rest of the body.

All horses should have a veterinary oral and dental examination at least annually. For horses 2-5 years, over 20 years, and those with known dental pathology, more frequent visits may be necessary. Decisions regarding specific frequency of visits should be based on the individual needs of the horse. Remember: just because your horse is not showing any obvious symptoms of dental disease, it does not automatically mean all is well with your animal's mouth health. Horses simply adapt to their discomfort and most horses with dental problems will show no noticeable signs at all, until the disease is severe.

Dental disease is a serious source of pain and infection — to the point where it can affect the systemic health of your horse, especially if undetected or left untreated. Contact your horse doctor to discuss a dental examination for your equine friend, and prevent more painful and costly problems later!

04/29/2021

Let’s talk about the birds and the bees…🐦🐝...

Well, not really. But as the weather gets warmer, the birds and the bees plus a multitude of other insects are getting busy doing their thing. Besides being very irritating, some of these insects can spread infection and disease to your horse (and, in some cases, to you as well). A very smart strategy is to control the problem before it gets out of hand, and minimize populations from the beginning.

The attached infographic contains some suggestions to get you started. Please keep in mind that there are many variations of these suggested programs that will still meet the same goals and follow the same principles.

If you’re interested in reading more about external parasites and vector control, comprehensive guidelines are available on our website at https://aaep.org/guidelines/external-parasite-and-vector-control-guidelines And as always, contact your veterinarian for more information and recommendations suitable for your horse’s specific situation!