Equine Obesity
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
A pilot study, recently carried out by the University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, shows that rates of obesity among horses are likely to be as high as they are among people. Here at Animal friends we are shocked to hear that there is such a problem with equine obesity.
Dehydration in Horses
Monday, 18 April 2011
Since we have all been enjoying all the lovely sunshine in the UK in the last few weeks, your equine friend may easily become dehydrated; especially if you are out competing. Here's some helpful points to ensure your equine freind stays hydrated.
Defective Movements
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Defective actions are a fault in the movements of your horse. Whilst these are not always particularly dangerous or harmful to your horse, they are looked down upon, especially when purchasing a horse, as they can cause extra strain on the horse’s legs and body. Animals Friends Equine is here to explain what to look out for.
Poisonous Plants
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
There are a great deal of wild plants out there which can be potentially harmful to your horse. A great deal of these can be highly toxic and if your horse is allowed to ingest a large amount of these plants then serious harm can occur, and veterinary attention needed.
How to cool your horse
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Any horse can suffer from heat stress when competing or showing, and it is important to cool down your horse as soon as possible when the weather starts to get hotter. Cold water cooling is a fantastic method of rapidly cooling your horse, allowing you to be free of the worry of heat stress, and avoid unnecessary suffering for your horse. Animal Friends is giving you the tips you need ahead of the eventing season.
Ragwort - the dangers
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Everyone knows that ragwort is poisonous to horses, causing irreversible damage to the liver. It is vitally important for horse and land owners to recognise and control this potentially fatal plant. Today Animal Friends is bringing you the facts about Ragwort.
Sarcoids; the facts
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Sarcoids are a common form of tumour in horses and ponies, and despite their similar appearance to warts, they are very destructive to the local area. They are most often found on the belly, inside the back legs, around the sheath, on the chest and around the eyes and ears. They often appear at the site of old scars, particularly on the legs. Today Animal Friends is looking further in depth as to what sarcoids are.
Sore Shins
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Bone pain is an occupational hazard for all athletes. Horses are no exception and bone pain is a common consequence of training horses for fast galloping competition, especially racing. This pain is caused by the bone's natural response as it adapts to the stresses of training and working at speed.
The racehorse's bones change dramatically as training progresses in order to support the huge forces sustained by a galloping horse. However, while the bones undergo this transformation, there may be pain and discomfort, which can lead to sore shins, properly known as dorsal metacarpal disease.
What is Choke?
Monday, 28 March 2011
Choke is a term for the oesophageal obstruction by food in a horse’s gullet. Despite popular belief, it can happen at any time for any number of reasons, and is not directly related to greed. It can be caused by the horse eating food that is too dry or coarse, food that swells rapidly when wet or odd shaped items of food such as carrots and apples. Horses with choke become dehydrated as they cannot swallow water, and in rare cases where the oesophagus ruptures, death occurs.
Compound Foods
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Traditional methods for feeding horses with straight feeds i.e. oats, barley and bran have fallen by the wayside due to the introduction of compound feeds.
