Fall represents a season of change, and that can affect your horse's health in big ways. This is why it's important to stay on top of his health during this critical time. Have you had your veterinarian perform a fall health check-up?
It is recommended that horses have an annual check-up with a veterinarian, and this is typically done either in the spring or fall. Some horse owners might separate some vaccines or actions between the two seasons as a way to save money or to address seasonal concerns for their area (i.e., health papers for shows/sales, deworming needs, etc.). This allows you to build a client-veterinarian partnership and to establish a baseline for the horse or pony's normal vital signs and conditions. This will come in handy in the event of an extreme emergency, when you may need emergency services.
For this blog, let's assume you've already had your spring vet appointment—this visit is all about preparing your horse for the winter months ahead. The perils of winter can be a concern for owners of older horses who want to ensure their horse is healthy and able to handle the challenges that might come from the colder weather.
Physical Exam
Much like when we visit the doctor, regardless of the reason for the appointment, your veterinarian will conduct a physical exam. This will consist of:
- Listening to the horse’s heart, lungs and GI tract for normal sounds
- Taking his temperature
- Evaluating weight
- Dental examination
- Lameness examination (if applicable)
This is a good time to take note of what your horse's normal vital signs are. Have a notebook to write down the veterinarian's data as to what your horse’s normal numbers are, so you have them available in case of an emergency.
According to Total Equine Vets, here are some baseline numbers for your horse:
- The normal respiration rate for a horse is eight to 16 breaths per minute.
- A normal adult horse's heart rate will be 28 to 40 beats per minute
- Newborn foals – 80 to 120
- Older foals – 60 to 80
- Yearlings – 40 to 60
- A horse's normal temperature ranges from 99.5°F to 101.5°F
During your veterinarian's dental examination, the vet will look for any issues that might cause concern, such as weight loss (from dropping feed while eating), resistance to the bit when riding, etc. Your veterinarian should be able to perform any floating work for minor issues, but you may need to look for a licensed dental specialist to do more focused work on the teeth.
Lameness Exam
A lameness exam may or may not be part of your veterinarian's typical annual checkup, but if you have any issues you want to address, you'll want to discuss them at this time. Any subtle bob of the head, tender step or gait abnormality could lead to something worse if not addressed in a timely manner. The colder temperatures, plus a decrease in activities, tend to cause increased stiffness in arthritic joints, so this is a time to discuss proper protocols to keep your horse comfortable during the colder season.
Vaccines
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends developing a vaccination plan for your horse with your veterinarian. There are two different types of equine vaccines:
Core: Protects against diseases that are prevalent in your region, are required and protect against diseases that pose a severe health risk.
- These include: Tetanus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE), West Nile Virus (WNV) and rabies.
Risk-Based: These may vary depending on your region and are based on risk assessments.
- These can include: anthrax, botulism, equine herpesvirus 1 and 4, strangles, influenza, leptospirosis, Potomac horse fever, snake bite and/or equine viral arteritis.
It’s important to note that vaccination does not prevent disease in all circumstances because your horse’s health is also dependent on proper management practices. Vaccination does, however, reduce your horse’s disease risk. This is why it’s important to have a close relationship with your veterinarian to customize a vaccination and health care protocol for your horse. Some vaccines are more successful if they are given in the spring versus the fall. For example, core vaccines such as EEE/WEE and WNV are for diseases spread by insects, which aren’t as viable in colder temperatures, so it would be more beneficial to give these in the spring. Talk with your veterinarian about which vaccines would work better when given either in the spring or the fall for your area and your lifestyle.
TheHorse.com has a handy download that can be used as a cheat sheet for horse owners, which we recommend that you download and have on hand.
Even if your horse never seems to take a lame step or have more than a gunky eye, it’s important to schedule routine check-ins with your veterinarian to keep him healthy and moving without pain. Not only does the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” ring true for these checkups, but it also establishes a veterinarian-client relationship that can help you in the future.
