Horse ears come in different sizes, depending on breed and genetics. They usually feel soft and fluffy – but not every horse likes to have its early warning system touched. If you are a horse owner and your horse lets you stroke its fluffy ears, this is actually a sign that your horse trusts you. The horse's ear is something very special.
Let's say you're riding your horse in the arena. You make a noise or give your horse a command. This reaches the horse's ear in the form of sound waves, which are then transmitted to the middle ear and then to the inner ear. This is where the hearing cells are located, which convert the sound waves into signals that the brain can recognize at high speed. The auditory nerves transmit these signals to the brain. The horse then processes the information and, if everything goes well, follows your instructions.
Horses are flight animals. In the wild, they need keen senses to avoid falling prey to their enemies. Their ears are therefore part of an early warning system. The sense of hearing is therefore very important for horses and is correspondingly well developed. Horses hear much better than we do, not least because they can turn their ears up to 180 degrees, even independently of each other. Horses can practically hear mice coughing. This explains why, during a leisurely ride, we may come to a spot where our horse suddenly becomes nervous and refuses to move. We hear and see nothing suspicious, but our horse senses danger. A wild boar mother walking with her young, a family of foxes out on the prowl, or perhaps just a little rabbit that has just hopped out of the way. It's no different in the riding arena. We are completely content, when suddenly our four-legged friend rears up. We humans can hear nothing and see nothing. Until it eventually becomes apparent that a mouse is nibbling at something next to the arena.
It can be even more exciting when the wind is blowing hard. It literally blows sounds into our horses' ears, which can make them nervous. They receive too much information that they may not be able to process. After all, horses' ears are in action 24 hours a day. Even when they are resting, these antennas are on. This is where they perceive, absorb, and process information. In windy conditions, this can be difficult, causing the horse to become constantly agitated.
Horses recognize our voices. The frequency range of human voices is pleasant for our beloved animals, but our spoken language is not the main form of communication for a horse. The ear and its position in conjunction with the eyes, the entire facial expression, and the posture of a horse can be indicators of its mood in the language of horses. This ranges from listening attentively with ears pricked forward to "Watch out, I'm pretty angry" with ears laid flat and perhaps a protruding mouth.
Tetanus is a usually fatal, notifiable infectious disease caused by the toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This disease, also known as lockjaw, has been known since ancient times and is widespread throughout the world. Both humans and horses are particularly susceptible to the toxin, whereas dogs have only a low sensitivity and therefore do not need to be vaccinated.
Some people love it when their pony's coat shines in all its glory and even sparkles here and there. It is groomed and sprayed, the mane is braided, and hardly a hair is out of place. But coat and hoof care is not just a matter of appearance. Regular brushing means much more than that.
Birds groom themselves almost constantly: they clean themselves, sharpen their beaks and bite. But sometimes our feathered friends need a little help.
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in a dog's mouth. It can develop primarily (on its own) or secondarily as a result of other underlying diseases and can affect only a limited area or the entire mouth. Small dogs and dogs with misaligned teeth are particularly affected.
One of the horses in your stable has a fever and nasal discharge. This is not necessarily cause for concern, as it could just be a harmless cold. But a few days later, three more horses in the stable have exactly the same symptoms. It is noticeable that all affected horses have severely swollen lymph nodes on their heads. By now, at the latest, the veterinarians who have been called in are alert, because this respiratory disease is obviously very contagious. Swab samples are sent to the laboratory and the suspicion is quickly confirmed. It is strangles, a highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract in horses. Even though the disease is not notifiable or reportable, stable owners and horse owners should now act carefully to prevent further spread.
Age is not a disease. We all get older and our bodies show signs of wear and tear. Some of us age faster than others, while others stay fit a little longer. Our horses are similar. From a certain age onwards, the signs can become increasingly noticeable. But this is no reason for us horse owners to get nervous. With keen observation skills and a little support, our beloved animals can grow old in good health.
We always want the best for our four-legged companions: to care for them, spend quality time together, and share our world with them. But despite all our care and attention, accidents and emergencies can happen. With an emergency kit, you'll be well prepared. Of course, the kit is no substitute for a visit to the vet. But especially for minor accidents, sudden illness, and stressful situations, a well-stocked emergency kit is an important tool. And in an emergency, you may even save your dog's life if you have the right equipment and know what to do.
Basically, senior cats are just like people who are getting on in years: not everything works as well as it did when they were young. They have a few aches and pains, and sometimes, unfortunately, serious illnesses. And everything can slow down a little. It happens gradually: age becomes more and more noticeable over the years. Some cats age earlier, while others remain young and fit for longer. In any case, the aging process can be accompanied by good care.
Gerbils are sociable pets that are fun to watch as they go about their business. But they also need attention. Before you know it, these little speedsters can jump out of their enclosure with a high leap.
It's an exciting time! You've made the decision to get a puppy, and most of the preparations are done. Now the question is whether you should enroll in dog training classes. Of course, you could also work with a dog trainer. Or you might feel confident enough to go it alone, because you already have a lot of experience with dogs.
You've probably experienced a dog wagging its tail at the door even though the person who was greeted minutes later was nowhere to be seen or heard. It's well known that dogs have better hearing than humans. But did you also know that your dog can block out certain sounds?
Endocrinology is the field of medicine that deals with disorders of metabolism and hormones. Hormones are messenger substances that are produced in the ovaries or testicles and by the endocrine glands, such as the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, and adrenal glands, and released into the blood. Hormones transmit information and thus control all important bodily functions.
