ASK THE VET: EQUINE DENTISTRY

Answered by, Reece Myran, DVM, Pooler, GA
Courtesy of AAEP

Question: My equine dentist somewhat jokingly mentioned my mare should be flossing more. However, I understood his point that horses, as well as humans, get stuff stuck between teeth, which isn’t good. How much of a problem is this, and is there anything an owner can do to help?

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May's Digital Issue Is Now Available

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SPRING PASTURE, FRUCTANS, AND FOUNDER

By Larry Lawrence, PhD, Kentucky Equine Research, and Stephanie Valberg, DVM
The University of Minnesota Extension

All horses are subject to digestive upsets associated with spring pasture. The content of highly fermentable carbohydrates in pasture can be overwhelming to the un-adapted digestive system of horses. Ponies, because of a gene that allows them to survive on limited amounts of medium quality forages, and overweight horses, because of insulin resistance and associated high levels of circulating pro-inflammatory agents, are particularly susceptible to pastures with high fructan contents (commonly found in spring).

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OBESITY

Written by Dr. Tom Lenz on behalf of AQHACourtesy of AAEP

Fat horses are at greater risk for exercise intolerance, founder, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, the formation of colic-causing lipomas (fat tumors in the abdomen), joint and bone problems, reduced reproduction efficiency and increased stress on their heart and lungs.

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HOW BIG A HOME DO YOU TRULY NEED? 5 QUESTIONS TO ASK TO FIGURE THAT OUT

Courtesy of Realtor.com

When it comes to homes, the popular credo is that bigger is better. More square feet = a larger slice of the American dream, right?

Not necessarily. For one, bigger homes obviously cost more, and oversized McMansions can be harder to sell. As such, you’ll want a home that’s neither too big nor too small. But how do you strike that balance?

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March's Digital Magazine Is Live!

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THERAPY PETS SPREAD LOVE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY

Therapy pets are similar to the average pet because they offer stress relief, comfort, and affection. However, therapy pets differ because they are specially trained to travel to and remain calm in various environments, such as nursing homes, hospitals, and college campuses.

Because therapy pets must be able to tolerate potentially stressful situations, such as a crowded room of people, only pets that have been properly trained and temperament tested should be certified as a therapy pet. Once certified, volunteering with your therapy pet and helping community members can be a fun and rewarding experience.

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