The topic of deworming is a recurring discussion among horse owners. For anyone wondering whether it’s even necessary to deworm their horse, the answer is: Yes! Anyone who has ever witnessed, during colic surgery, how vast numbers of worms can completely block sections of the small or large intestine will never ask that question again. Without treatment, a worm infestation can become a life-threatening danger to your horse. Initially, noticeably frequent rubbing of the tail root is a sign of this. As the condition progresses, internal organs can be damaged and colic can occur. Your horse loses weight despite adequate feeding. The parasites weaken it more and more. Regular deworming is necessary to reduce the infestation to a level that your horse’s body can tolerate. It is nearly impossible to achieve complete freedom from worms, as new infections occur repeatedly due to the environment. When it comes to deworming, there are two methods: strategic and selective deworming. You should avoid alternative deworming methods.
In strategic deworming, which is commonly used in large stables, all horses are treated at the same time with the same medication at regular intervals. This is done seasonally during the grazing season from spring to fall, a total of two to four times per calendar year. To specifically target different types of worms and prevent the development of resistance in the parasites, different groups of active ingredients are used depending on the season.
With selective deworming, a deworming treatment is administered only when a parasitic infestation has actually been detected. This type of deworming is less stressful for the horse’s body, as treatment is given only when an infestation has been confirmed. Another advantage of selective deworming over strategic deworming is that it leads to reduced development of resistance.
With selective deworming, fecal samples are taken from your horse every two to three months for three days and tested for parasites and worm eggs by a laboratory or your veterinarian’s office. If a worm infestation is confirmed, an appropriate, veterinarian-prescribed medication is administered. To prevent immediate reinfection, all stalls must now be thoroughly mucked out and the paddocks cleared of manure. If neither parasites nor their eggs are found in the feces, new fecal samples should be sent in for testing after two to three months. This is because even with a negative fecal sample, a worm infestation may still be present, as eggs are not continuously shed.
Whether strategic or selective—in a stable with multiple boarders and shared paddock and pasture use—everyone must participate. All measures should be implemented simultaneously. The subsequent stable hygiene routine must also extend to all stalls and all open areas used by the horses. After all, the entire deworming process is ineffective if one horse is not dewormed and excretes parasites in its feces, which the next horse in the pasture then ingests. It is recommended to implement special follow-up care for three days and to suspend group housing during this time.
Neoplasms of the mammary gland account for more than half of all cancers in female dogs. These benign or malignant tumors occur primarily in older, unspayed female dogs and initially appear as small, nodular changes along the entire mammary gland, which can later become very large. Different types of mammary tumors can occur.
Most horse owners are now familiar with Cushing's syndrome and its symptoms in horses. A disease with very similar symptoms is equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). In its early stages, it is therefore often confused with equine Cushing's syndrome. But what is the difference?
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects cats. Humans are considered intermediate hosts, though they usually do not exhibit any clinical symptoms. However, a primary infection during pregnancy is truly dangerous. It can lead to severe fetal malformations and miscarriages.
Just like in humans, the lung tissue of dogs can become inflamed. Medically referred to as pneumonia, this condition is also a serious illness in dogs and can lead to death if left untreated.
Heatstroke occurs when the internal body temperature rises above 41 degrees Celsius, which can cause life-threatening physical damage. Sunstroke, on the other hand, refers to heat accumulation in the area of the meninges caused by intense sunlight on the animal's head, which can also lead to the death of the patient in severe cases. The body temperature does not necessarily have to be elevated in sunstroke.
This muscle disease, which was only discovered in recent years, occurs primarily in Quarter Horses and cold-blooded animals and is characterized by the storage of excessive amounts of glycogen (animal starch stored in cells) in the horse's muscles. It is known as polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).
Having a horse as a partner is something very special. There are many different types of equestrian sports, so everyone can find something that fulfills them and that both humans and horses enjoy. We have listed some of the most well-known disciplines and terms for you below.
Many riders get it at some point: tournament fever—the desire to compete and measure themselves against others who share the same passion. However, it's not quite as simple as just jumping in. In competitive sports, you have to meet a few requirements before you can embark on your adventure as a rider-horse team. Depending on the type of riding or driving, there are various rules and regulations that must be observed. Below you will find the most important information for classic English riding.
The question of finding the right horse is certainly on the minds of many seekers. It is difficult to say right away whether you, as a buyer, will develop a deep connection with a horse you have tried out. Friendship and love grow over time. However, giving it some thought beforehand will certainly help you find your perfect horse in the end.
Endoscopy is an imaging, minimally invasive procedure in which body cavities and hollow organs can be viewed and examined using an endoscope. Endoscopes are either rigid or flexible and have a light source and a camera at the front that transmits the image directly to a screen.
Imaging diagnostics refers to all diagnostic procedures that use diagnostic devices to generate two- or even three-dimensional images of the inside of the body. These images can be used to detect disease-related changes, among other things.
This adrenal gland disorder, also known as Addison's disease, was first described in humans in 1855 by Thomas Addison (chief physician at a London hospital), after whom it was named. It causes adrenal insufficiency (also known as hypoadrenocorticism), which is the partial or total failure of hormone production in the adrenal cortex. It is much less common in dogs than adrenal hyperfunction (Cushing's disease), but can lead to life-threatening symptoms. It primarily affects middle-aged female dogs of large breeds.
