Ask the Vet: Wound Care and What to Expect When the Vet Arrives

Answered by Gary Hanes, DVM, Woodside, CA

Question: I recently had an 18-year-old gelding wrap a 2-3″ diameter grape vine around his back hips and then on around the left leg at the knee joint. The more he pulled the tighter it got until he had broken the tissue and to the bone. Based on our best educated guess, we believe him to have endured this between 2-3 days total.

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Curb Eating on the Trail

Courtesy of Downunder Horsemanship
 
If you have a horse that’s too busy eyeing up his next meal on the trail rather than paying attention to you, use these steps to regain control. A horse can only think about one thing at a time. He’s either got his attention on you or on his next snack. As soon as he snatches grass, bend him around in a circle and kick his side with your inside leg. You’re saying to the horse, “You don’t have time to be eating grass because you’re too busy listening to me and hustling your feet!”

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Dealing with Wounds: When and Why to Call the Vet

By Cynthia McFarland
Courtesy of Farnam’s Stable Talk

Whether your horse is at home, in the trailer, on a trail ride or at a competition, there’s never a “good” time for an injury. But because accidents can and do happen, you should know ahead of time what to do when your horse gets hurt.

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Junior World Finals Inside the Wrangler Rodeo Arena at Cowboy Christmas Set to Run for Ten Straight Days of Competition

Courtesy of NFR Experience

Wrangler Rodeo Arena, one of the seven main interactive features of Cowboy Christmas, will host more than 850 youth contestants in the Junior World Finals presented by YETI vying for championships in nine events. The Junior World Finals will run concurrently with Cowboy Christmas and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 5 – 14.

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Marty Melvin, 9-Time Nfr Qualifier, Passes Away

Courtesy of PRCA

Marty Michael (Chip) Melvin, a nine-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo, passed away Oct. 18 in Paradise, Texas, after battling cancer. He was 59.  Melvin, who qualified for the NFR in 1983-89, 1991 and 1996, finished a career-best second in the PRCA world standings in 1985 and was third in 1988. In 1989, he won the average at the National Finals Rodeo with a time of 57.7 seconds on 10 head and placed fifth in the world standings.

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Putting Weight on a Skinny Horse

Courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research 

The horses in the barn get the same amount of feed every day; it makes feeding time much simpler. The warmbloods look super. Their weight is good, and their coats are gleaming. However, the one Thoroughbred in the barn who arrived a little thin six months ago has not put on any weight. In fact, he has lost body condition.

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Rodeo Fans to Enjoy a Variety of On-Site Entertainment Prior to and Following the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Courtesy of NFR Experience

When rodeo fans arrive at the Thomas & Mack Center for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, they will have multiple entertainment options to enjoy prior to and following each rodeo performance. Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR runs from Thursday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 14.

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What Do Both Republicans and Democrats Really Care About? Housing Affordability

Courtesy of Realtor.com
Lately, it seems like America couldn’t be any more polarized. About half of the country is gunning for President Donald Trump’s impeachment, while the other half remains staunch in its support for the commander in chief (or simply doesn’t care about politics). Throw in fears of a recession, and the picture seems even more dire.

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When is your cat hiding illness or injury?

We do our best to take care of our feline friends, but sometimes signs of pain and sickness go unnoticed. Dr. Stacy Eckman, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, described feline behavior that could mean an underlying health issue.

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Winners Talk Pendleton Whisky “Let ’Er Buck” Stock Of The Year

Courtesy of PRCA

Standing out among a crowd of exceptional roughstock requires a perfect balance of animal athleticism and the cowboys capable of showcasing that talent.

The 2019 Pendleton Whisky “Let ’er Buck” Stock of the Year recognized Beutler & Son Rodeo Co.’s Killer Bee for Bareback Horse of the Year, Northcott Macza’s Get Smart for Saddle Bronc of the Year and Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Hot & Ready for Bull of the Year.

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November's Issue Is Live Now!

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Understanding Equine Insurance: Guidelines You Should Consider

Courtesy of AAEP

Whether a horse is purchased for personal or business reasons, ownership represents a significant investment of time, money and resources. While no one likes to think about the potential for tragedy, horses seem to be prone to illness, accidents and injury. Should some peril befall your horse, nothing may ease the emotional burden, but wise planning can help reduce the economic impacts.

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Winter Water Consumption

By Tom R. Lenz, DVM, MS, DACT

We all know that colic is the number one non-infectious health risk for horses. There are a number of types of colic but the one we see the most in winter is impaction colic.

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Octobers Issue is Live Now!

 

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Collection is Not About a Look

Courtesy of Downunder Horsemanship

Collection should feel light in your hands, not heavy. In other words, don’t worry about where your horse’s head is at; you’re only concerned with how he feels in your hands. I tell people that it’s called a soft feel, not a soft look. That’s the difference between my method and some of the others out there.

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Is your pet obese?

Like humans, pets can develop excess body fat that can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes or degenerative joint disease. But how can you tell if your pet is obese? In recognition of National Pet Obesity Awareness Day on Oct. 11, Dr. Audrey Cook, associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers some insight.

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Potential Horse Hock Problems

Courtesy of Classic Equine Equipment

Your horse’s hock is anatomically similar to a human ankle. It consists of four joints and six bones. Two common hock problems are bog spavin and bone spavin. They sound similar, but are different because some of the hock joints are high motion (they rotate through a wide angle during locomotion) and some are low motion.

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Preventing Shipping Fever

Courtesy of AAEP
By: Joan Norton VMD, DACVIM

Shipping fever is a well-described pulmonary disorder appearing in animals shipped long distances. If left untreated, cases of this pneumonia type can become severe enough to require hospitalization and even endanger a horse’s life.

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Tips For Choosing A Farrier

Courtesy of Barn Chats by Vetoquinol

Choosing a farrier is one of the most important decisions you can make that will impact the well-being and serviceability of your horse. The right farrier will be a trusted and valued partner in the care of your horse. Here are a few tips to help you in your search:

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Traveling with Your Horse? Reduce the Red Tape

By Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA, Medical Director/Staff Veterinarian, SmartPak 
Courtesy of AAEP

Whether it’s a short distance or a long trip, you’ve got a lot to think about any time you haul your horse. Getting all the right tests done and paperwork filled out may seem like a lot of extra time and money. However, there are some very good reasons why these examinations and documents are required. In this article, you’ll find out what you need to travel and why.

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