With all this fresh grass, it’s important to make sure your horses’ chompers are in tip top condition. Horses are born with very long teeth that erupt from their skull into their mouth over their lifetime. If there are any imperfections in the way their teeth meet, they can have steps, ramps, hooks and points-all words to describe different dental pathology. Having their teeth mechanically floated by one of our 3 equine veterinarians yearly can smooth out these imperfection and keep your horse healthy, in good body condition and happy in the bit.
Does your horse have parasites? The answer is yes, all horses have some amount of parasite load, but you can help insure that your horse’s parasite load is a minimal as possible. Combining deworming with the appropriate dewormer for the season and your horse, treating your property and your animals for flies and mosquitos and keeping pastures and stalls fece free will set your horse up for success. Make an appointment with Middletown Animal Hospital today for a parasite control plan tailored to your horse.
With the flies comes an increase in one of our least favorite equine diseases, Pigeon Fever. This is a bacterial disease found in the soil, feces and spread by flies and contact with diseased horses. It is named for the large, prominent abscesses that form in the pectoral region of a horse, making them look like a pigeon. These abscesses can actually form anywhere, and the disease can manifest itself as dozens of small pockets or 1-2 large pockets of infection. The best way to cure this is to have your veterinarian lance the abscess, if appropriate, and prescribe the appropriate medications to manage pain and infection. The best prevention is good fly control and excellent biosecurity when managing an infected horse.
We do ranch calls in our fully equipped truck or save the call charge and haul in to our facility where we have hospital stalls, stocks, round pen, and pastures.