Horse Summer Sores

Posted on March 6, 2018 by blogeditor

Taking care of your horses is probably the biggest worry that you have as an owner and though it can be very challenging it is very important to insure your animals are healthy all year long. Something that you have to look out for are horse summer sores. Your horses naturally have stomach worms. Though they rarely cause your horse any harm. However, the worm’s larvae can cause problems. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Horse Summer Sores

Suffice to say, the larvae of these worms are what causes horse summer sores. Vets introduced the deworming agent ivermectin in the early 1980s. However, summer sores were a huge problem before then. Ivermectin, moxidectin and other drugs in their class are highly effective against the stomach worms. Don’t let this make you complacent about checking your animals for worms however. Though numbers of larvae reduced, the worms are not completely wiped out.

If you discover that your horse has summer sores, don’t hesitate to get them to your local large animal veterinarian. Most likely your horse will be prescribed topical or systemic glucocorticoids, which are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. Treat your horse systemically with ivermectin or moxidectin to kill the parasites. This removes the adult worms from the stomach. But you are not out of the woods yet. Summer sores are a fly magnet, and flies will irritate the lesion and perhaps deposit more worm larvae. Reducing the places flies can breed, as in around manure, wet feed, or other wet organic material, is the best way to decrease the chance of this happening.

Horse Vaccinations

Posted on February 22, 2018 by blogeditor

The first line of defense against diseases and viruses that your horses may pick up this year are vaccinations. Horse vaccinations will boost your animals immune system to protect them against contracting diseases. However, living in the United States doesn’t makes your animals less prone to international diseases. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Horse Vaccinations

Professional conducted a study of horses all around the United States in 2017. They found that nearly 400 of them had the West Nile virus. There is nothing more heartbreaking than watching an animal suffer from a disease; one that can be prevented through a simple vaccination. Do the right thing and get your horses vaccinated. If you are in Colorado, consider visiting a professional at the Littleton Equine Medical Center or the Colorado Equine Clinic.

Other things you have to look out for are pathogens that mosquitoes carry. Also, these insects can potentially pass on to your animals. Mosquito populations tend to peak in the late summer and fall. Therefore, fall is often the time when we see more cases of mosquito borne diseases. This includes the horses diseases the Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis.

Traveling animals will be more horse vaccinations than those staying on the ranch. They come in contact with many different horses and environments like at rodeos of common horse shows and performances. Therefore, you need booster vaccines to help prevent highly contagious diseases such as equine influenza virus and equine herpes virus. Take your horses to the veterinarian at least once a year. Get a physical and dental exam, vaccinations and a deworming evaluation.

Preventing Horse Rabies

Posted on February 22, 2018 by blogeditor

Taking care of your horses is a beautiful thing that can actually reduce stress. No one wants their animals to get sick. Therefore, doing what you can do to reduce the chance of your animals contracting horse rabies is importance. Studies show that there is an increased risk of your horses contracting this virus in the late summer and fall. This is when populations of wildlife are at their highest. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Like any other animal, horses get this vicious virus by being bitten by another animal that already has it. Rodents, raccoons, bats, and other small mammals are often cited with carrying and spreading rabies. These types of animals have been known to stow away in barns. Therefore, make sure you check your horse stalls for these animals to reduce the risk of your horses getting bit.

Horse Rabies

Do you think that your horse has been bitten by a rabid animal? Be cautious when handling them even if you are not sure that they have horse rabies. Treat every case as if they do have the virus so that you do not risk your own exposure. If you have been in contact with a horses saliva after they have shown signs of having rabies, then you should immediately contact your doctor and get treated.

The quicker you get treated, for you and your animal, the better. The truth is that rabies is very hard to detect in horses, and though it is rare that they contract this disease it is a long road to recovery when they do. If you have any questions of concerns that your horse may have contracted rabies then you can take your animals to a professional at the Littleton Equine Medical Center or Colorado Equine Clinic.