This condition is called tying-up, or rhabdomyolysis, and is comparable to severe cramps that a human might experience. During these episodes, muscles become damaged and unable to function properly. Why does a horse tie up? Tying-up, or azoturia as it is also known, is a muscle metabolism condition found in Read more…
Edible chestnuts are easy to tell apart from unrelated toxic species like horse chestnut or buckeye. Edible chestnuts belong to the genus Castanea and are enclosed in sharp, spine-covered burs. The toxic, inedible horse chestnuts have a fleshy, bumpy husk with a wart-covered appearance. Do buckeyes look like chestnuts? Their Read more…
This has led many people to believe that the application and removal of this shoe can be painful for both horse and human – but in reality, it doesn’t hurt either time. The good news is that the nails that hold the shoes in place only go through the part Read more…
Horse Chestnut Trees – Be cautious around Horse Chestnut trees from September onwards. The tree bark, leaves and flowers can all be fatal to animals if consumed. It can cause gastrointestinal distress, disorientation, spasms and even death. Are horse chestnuts poisonous to cats? Conkers from the Horse Chestnut tree can Read more…
Veterinarians should advise clients to: Avoid high-potassium feeds such as alfalfa hay, brome hay, canola oil, soybean meal or oil, and molasses. Feed timothy or Bermuda grass hay, beet pulp, or grains such as oats, corn, wheat and barley. Pasture is usually OK. Feed several times a day. Provide regular Read more…
Horse hoof care is an important issue for all horse owners. While a horse may be able to sustain injury or illness in many parts of its body, the hoof bears weight and so adds hundreds of pounds of stress to any ailment. Maintaining a healthy hoof is the best Read more…
Blow flies that parasitize horses are also called screwworm flies. Flies lay their eggs which hatch into larvae (maggots called screwworms) in necrotic flesh and decaying organic material. How do horses get maggots? Bots (Gastrophilus) Bot flies are the most common irritant to horses during the summer grazing season. They Read more…
If you find maggots in your horse’s feet, the first thing to do is to clean and scrub the feet out with a dandy brush and warm soapy water. Let the foot dry naturally, making sure the area he’s standing in is clean, then use a good quality antiseptic spray Read more…
Sulfur, an important component of collagen, is required for both joint health and, in horses, healthy hooves. One dietary source of sulfur is methionine, an essential amino acid that the body can convert to another “sulfur containing” amino acid called cysteine. How much sulfur do you give a horse? Sulphur Read more…
approx. 1 teaspoon per day. Research has shown Flowers of Sulphur (yellow sulphur) is 99% indigestible to the horse. Therefore if you feed approx. 1 teaspoon per day you will not be doing your horse any harm. How much yellow Sulphur do horses need? Sulphur Powder is a traditional remedy Read more…