These days most horse owners are clued-up enough about horse health care to recognize insulin-resistance in their equine friends. The insulin-resistant horse is the laid-back easy keeper who gains weight if he catches even a whiff of grain. He’s also the one with the cresty neck, elevated levels of insulin and triglycerides in the blood, … Continue Reading »
Have you ever found bits of wadded up, chewed hay laying around the feed area and wondered about the health of your horses teeth? This is called quidding and if you are seeing it then most likely you have an older horse who has lost most of his teeth, a horse that recently had his … Continue Reading »
Spring is just around the corner and this is the time many people start thinking about sending their young colts to trainers, either to be started under saddle or for more advanced training. Many people send their horses for training with futurities, derbies, and classics in mind … all events catering to young horses. While … Continue Reading »
My cousin, Sonny, is facing an end of life journey with brain cancer. His symptoms are primarily loss of memory and confusion but he was lucid enough to make the decision to have surgery to biopsy and remove a portion of his tumor. The neurosurgeon had explained that because the tumor was growing into the … Continue Reading »
I went to one of my client’s recently and she asked me to look at one of her 2 year olds. This filly had a lump on her chest that had been there for over a week. My client had assumed it was from a kick but the lump was hard and not going down. … Continue Reading »
If there is one thing I have learned about horse health care during my career as an equine veterinarian, it is this: You can pay for horse health care now … or you can pay for it later. In short, caring for any single horse requires a certain sum of money, and that money can … Continue Reading »
I don’t know about you, but I used to pick out my horse’s feet religiously, thinking that clean feet were healthy feet. It turns out that this wasn’t always the best choice for horse health care. Why? … because muddy hooves can be healthy. Picking out your horse’s hooves on a regular basis is a … Continue Reading »
I frequently get asked by horse owners whether they should treat herbs as food or medicine for their horses. It’s a good question, especially if you are a do-it-yourself kind of horse owner and want to be sure that what you feed your horse is safe. Herbs are included in many supplements for horses so … Continue Reading »
Bud is doing well but there is a new wrinkle to his symptom picture. I believe his food sensitivities are under control and, thanks to the daily packets of bluegreen algae, probiotics, and enzymes, Eleviv for stress, KLPP and KAM UF , his digestive tract is healing nicely. When I palpate is abdomen it is … Continue Reading »
Because I practice holistic veterinary medicine people often ask me if I avoid using conventional treatments and diagnostics in favor of all-natural approaches. As a rule, I use whatever treatments are best, in a holistic sense, for the horse. Holistically, that means I use horse health care treatments that lead to cure rather than those … Continue Reading »
Looking for the perfect amateur horse to train by yourself can either be a Cinderella story or a total nightmare. Believe me, I’ve seen both. Luckily, even if you end up with a horse who is Mr. Wrong as an amateur horse, you can still have a Cinderella ending. If your current amateur horse is … Continue Reading »
The moment has finally arrived: you have saved up all your pennies and now you are ready to buy your dream amateur horse, the one that you are going to train mostly by yourself. You have paid your dues by taking lessons and riding more experienced horses. Now it’s time to shop for one that … Continue Reading »
These days, horse lovers are becoming aware of the many factors that can cause horse ulcers. Antibiotic therapy is one of the main culprits, and many horse owners are anxious to prevent ulcers from occurring if their horse must have antibiotic therapy because of an injury or acute illness. But here they run into a … Continue Reading »
Well, I had hoped 2010 might be a little bit quieter than 2009 but so far that is not the case. It seems like there is some new excitement every day. My cousin, Sonny, who helped me so much with my fence has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He has been having some confusion … Continue Reading »
Your proud moment has arrived! You have raised, loved, and nurtured your young horse from the day she was born … and now it is time to send her into training. She’s got the perfect conformation, attitude, and breeding for her chosen discipline, and you just can’t wait to see how she turns out. You … Continue Reading »
Bud, my food sensitivity horse, is still improving. He has had several setbacks in the last few weeks but he has gained overall. After coming through his severe relapse of gut inflammation last month he rebounded and was back out eating grass full time with my horses and eating all he wanted of low starch … Continue Reading »
This weekend two of my clients had seriously ill horses. Both lived far enough away that it was not easy to see the horses. In one case no vet was available at all due to the holiday weekend so all work was done over the phone. This would not have been possible without the excellent … Continue Reading »
Well, I have started off the new year a bit behind schedule but I have a good excuse. In years past I have done an exercise at the beginning of each year to evaluate what happened the previous year. I have missed doing this the last couple of years and I feel this has caused … Continue Reading »
Whether it is because the economy sucks or your area has had a “bad weather” year, hay for horses can be in short supply, especially during the winter. If the winter ahead looks bleak in terms of hay, consider these other options: – alfalfa cubes – chopped alfalfa – Ontario timothy/orchard grass balance cubes – … Continue Reading »
Ever wonder why your horse that gets the “perfect” food and care needs more to eat to maintain weight and your neighbor’s horse that gets a no extra care seems fat and happy? Well one of my good friends asked me this question and I had to get a bit more information before I could … Continue Reading »