Winter is the ideal time to get a jump on all the “routine” vet work that needs to be done to your horses. Why winter you ask? First, it is easier for most owners to find time during the winter. Secondly, most veterinarians are not as pressed for time during winter so it is easier to get an appointment and the vet is not as likely to get pulled away on an emergency as in the spring. Thirdly, it makes a lot of sense for the horses metabolically, immunologically, and general health wise to have “routine” health care done in the winter. What are we talking about when we say “routine” healthcare. Well, I consider four major components: 1) Dental Care 2) Vaccination 3) Worming 4) General Management Issues Let me explain what I mean by each of these categories. Routine dental examinations with appropriate floating, extractions, fillings, and alignment of the arcades can make a huge difference in how a horse takes a bit, how they move down the trail and how much feed it takes to have them maintain proper weight through the winter. This is especially true for that older horse out in the pasture, but if we can fix minor problems in a 2 or 3 year old before they become major issues in a 15 or 16 year old we can really make a difference in the useful life span of that horse. Vaccinations really do make sense in the winter. All vaccines have a time period before they reach their peak effectiveness. In most cases this is between 4 and 12 weeks. If you give your yearly vaccines (Tetanus, Eastern Encephalitis, Western Encephalitis, West Nile, and Streptococcus Equi) in January or February you know that your horse has had enough time for the vaccines to work by that spring and summer. For your 6 month vaccines (Influenza & Rhino) it sets you up to give your next vaccine in June or July just before you head out on the trail. Assuring your horse’s immune system is in peak shape when they need it most. We recommend using a rotational worming system every 2 to 3 months depending on your individual horse housing situation. Fecal floats should be done at twice a year to help assess if your program is doing what it is supposed to be doing. Your veterinarian can help you design a system for your individual situation. Finally, winter is a great time to have your veterinarian out to your place to have them assess your feeding routine, waste management, water management, and housing requirements. |
Routine Horse Care
Cascadia Equine Veterinary Clinic, LLC
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