Horses, like all other animals large and small, can develop a series of health conditions. Veterinarians are the first stop for treating these conditions, but a relatively recent field in animal care is beginning to see more attention.
Equine chiropractors are called upon to treat injuries related to the spine and other neuromusculoskeletal maladies especially with regard to chronic pain. Practitioners will often use spinal manipulation and other manual therapies such as massage in treatment. The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association defines chiropractic adjustment as a “short lever, high velocity controlled thrust by hand or instrument that is directed at specific articulations to correct vertebral subluxations.”
If you suspect your horse may be in chronic pain, the first place to turn should always be your horse’s veterinarian. Consider asking whether or not a chiropractor would be beneficial for your animal. Some injuries cannot be treated by a chiropractor, but therapy from a chiropractor may save your horse from having to endure pain medications or other pharmaceuticals which could have other side effects.
An equine chiropractor can either be a DVM (Veterinarian) or a DC (Doctor of Chiropractic – initially trained to work with humans). Either doctor will go through a program of at least 210 hours, during which they will study topics including manipulative techniques, neurology, and rehabilitation.
Though doctors are accredited by the Animal Chiropractic Accreditation Commission, some researchers say there are still risks associated with the practice. These risks, however, fall within the normal range of risks for chiropractic care in humans and animals alike. Excessive force or poorly applied techniques could result in further injury. Regardless, most equine chiropractors are well-trained and it is always reasonable to ask to speak with the chiropractor’s clients or to decide against the treatment if you feel uneasy about it.
For many horse owners, especially those whose horses work or compete, keeping these animals pain-free and in good physical shape is essential. While veterinarians specializing in equine care are undoubtedly very proficient, not all will be able to treat effectively the various spinal or skeletal conditions that an equine chiropractor specializes in.
Keeping your horse pain-free is essential for its well-being.
As the field of animal chiropractic grows, and more veterinary schools begin to incorporate the field into their course of studies, more equine chiropractors will become available. For the time being, it may be difficult to find such a chiropractor in your area, but your veterinarian may know where to find one. The Internet is a great place to start as well, and the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association website contains a list, by state and country, of nearly one thousand doctors certified around the world.
No feline image is more enduring than a cat perched over a bowl of milk, lapping it up contentedly. But is milk really good for cats? The simple answer is no, but every cat is different and more important than accepting general cat rules is to know your own cat and what is or isn’t good for her.
Cats, like all mammals, grow up drinking their mothers’ milk , but once the kitten is weened, their tolerance for milk tends to drop dramatically. Most adult cats are lactose intolerant, which means that the enzyme for digesting milk called lactase is no longer being produced. Once the kitten is no longer drinking mom’s milk, the body tends to stop producing this enyme.
While lactose intolerance is rarely a truly dangerous condition, drinking that bowl of milk may give your cat bloating and diarrhea. Naturally, both of those symptoms are not very pleasant for your cat and, left unchecked could lead to serious dehydration and later kidney damage.
Not all cats are lactose intolerant however. Nevertheless there is no way to determine your cat’s tolerance beyond laying down a dish of milk and observing the effects.
If your cat is lactose intolerant, this does not mean that you can’t give out a milky treat now and again. There are several alternatives to consider. For one, most pet stores carry some sort of milk substitute for cats such as Catmilk from Whiskas or Cat-Sip. Another option is to pick up some lactose-free cow’s milk from most any grocery store. Milk alternatives like soy milk or rice milk are also options.
Catmilk from Whiskas will only set you back a few dollars.
The important thing to remember is that milk or milk substitutes should never replace water or food in your cat’s diet. These things should be considered treats, and most veterinarians agree that a cat’s diet should be no more than ten percent treats.
Of course if you were to adopt an orphaned kitten milk would be an essential part of its diet. Still, cow’s milk does not have nutrients that are valuable to any cat. The best option would be to find a “wet nurse” for your kitten, a nursing cat who could nurse your kitten as well. Failing this, there are several recipes available for mother’s milk substitutes specifically formulated for cats. These often involve ingredients like mayonnaise or yogurt, in other words dairy products with many nutrients and fats.
Playing with your cat can be one of the more rewarding aspects of pet ownership. Everyone loves watching a cat tear around the house after a toy, but owning a pet can always be expensive, and sometimes buying a new motorized mouse at the pet store is just not financially feasible. The good news is that cat toys are easy to make and even easier to find around the house, all at little or no extra cost to you.
The house cat’s ancestors were all skilled hunters and some of these instincts have been passed down. It can be hard to imagine your cat, as it lies sunning on the windowsill, as a ferocious hunter, but we are all familiar with the stories of cats bringing mice they’ve hunted inside and leaving them as a “present” for their owners. These instincts are directly related to how cats like to play.
While the ancestors of the dog hunted in packs using speed and endurance to take down their prey, cats often hunted alone by using their knack for stealthy, quiet movement. When making a cat toy, imitating the movements of a prey animal can turn into your cat’s favorite game. Using something as simple as a string with feathers tied to the end can provide your cat endless amusement. The feathers do not need to be brightly colored; cats care more about the movement than the colors.
Cats are also attracted to certain noises. Many cats can amuse themselves for hours just by stepping on a sheet of tissue paper laid on the floor. Even a small jewelry box filled with beads or pebbles and taped shut can be a fun toy, especially if attached to a string so you can dangle it or drag it along the floor.
While not entirely safe, cats love balls of yarn.
Perhaps no homemade cat toy is as enduring as the paper bag. Easily acquired after a trip to the grocery store, the bag appeals to a cats love of small, dark spaces.
Of course any toy can be enhanced by adding a little bit of catnip, a plant that can be easily grown in a pot or in the garden. A bandanna stuffed with a little catnip and tied up will give your favorite kitty hours of pleasure at no cost to you.
Table tennis balls, sticks, string, feathers – with a little ingenuity, ten minutes of prowling around the house can reveal an endless number of cat toys.
Perhaps you have heard about a cat getting “blocked.” If not, you may be wondering what the heck being blocked means. Well, cats can not only get bladder stones (uroliths) they can also get what is known as a urethral plug- a combination of mucus, proteins, and crystals. These plugs can get stuck in the urethra of the male cat. This makes it impossible for urine to flow out of the bladder, hence the cat is “blocked.”
Your blocked cat may appear agitated. Watch for signs like excessive genital licking, blood in the urine, little to no urine present in the litter box, or a painful abdomen.
Besides the fact that this is extremely painful for your kitty, there are several really poor consequences to being blocked. So bad that if you do not seek immediate treatment for your pet, this condition can be fatal within 24 hours. Often times, the obstruction has been there well before an owner has noticed any symptoms. Therefore, it is important to recognize when your cat has a urinary obstruction. If your can seem irritable, restless, or is licking their genital region more frequently than usual, they may be blocked. The single most common reason owners bring in their pets is because they appear constipated in the litter box. In reality, the cat is not trying to defecate, but rather is straining to urinate. If you see your cat straining in the litter box, but don’t see any urine actually coming out, get him to the vet right away. If the condition goes untreated, you can cause kidney failure, or worse, the bladder can become so distended with urine that it ruptures, leading to death.
Unlike this comfy kitty, blocked cats will be straining to urinate and appear very uncomfortable in their litter boxes.
When you bring your cat to the vet they will place a urinary catheter in order to flush out the plug or stone causing the obstruction. Often times cats will need to be sedated for this procedure, which is fine, because they are likely in a tremendous amount of pain and discomfort anyway. Your vet will also want to do blood work and a urinalysis. This will help determine the extent of damage done by the obstruction, what types of crystals or plugs caused the obstructions, as well as help indicate the best type of fluids to administer to your pet. Fluids will most likely be given intravenously, which will help the kidneys recover, and help your cat recover if the blockage caused them to go into shock. The vet may also choose to take some radiographs of the bladder and kidneys. This will help them visualize the problem, as well as serve as a benchmark for attempts made at dissolving crystals in your pets bladder after they recover.
Your cat may need to wear an E-collar while the urinary catheter is in place, so they dont chew it out or spread bacteria from their mouth to the catheter.
In order to ensure that your cat does not block again, you can feed a special diet formulated to prevent the formation of crystals. Several companies have these special diets. Science Diet, for example, has a struvite dissolution (s/d) diet to help rid the bladder of preformed crystals. After about one month on the s/d diet you can switch over their c/d diet, which will help prevent the formation of crystals. Wet foods are the best for cats that have been blocked, as they are contain a lot of water content and water helps to dilute urine in the bladder, again preventing formation of crystals. However, there are dry foods available which are also formulated for cats with crystals.
Keeping an eye on your cat’s litter box habits can help you spot this deadly disease before it is too big of a problem to fix!
There are lots of factors that come into play when determining the proper balance of nutrients to provide your horse. Age, weight, activity, climate and health all come into play. Also, don’t forget that an important aspect of nutrition is water! The average horse will require 12-15 gallons of water a day, and this could increase to as much as 25 gallons for horses doing work in high temperatures. Because feed accounts for nearly 70% of the cost of maintaining your horse, you want to make sure you are getting the most out of the feed you choose!
Horses in different life stages have different nutritional needs.
In Pregnant mares, there are actually three phases which all have different nutritional needs. In early gestation your mare will need around 18,000 calories a day, increasing to 22,000 in late gestation and 34,000 in lactation. In early gestation requirements are very similar to the regular maintenance needs of your mare, and forage should still make up the majority of the diet. Be sure to provide a mineralized salt block in addition to free-choice loose mineral. If you only have access to a poor quality pasture, also include a balanced concentrate feed at between 0.5 and 0.75% of the mare’s body weight.
In late gestation, the mare requires 15% more energy than in early pregnancy. At this stage in the game you will need to provide concentrate, as forage will not meet all the nutritional needs of your mare, and the foal growing inside her!
When your mare is lactating, she will require even more energy, up to two times as much! You will need to provide 2.5 to 3% of her body weigh tin feed. Be sure to provide a concentrate along with forage, usually a ratio of 50:50 is sufficient.
The growing foal’s needs also change rapidly. By 90 days old, your foal will need food to supplement mother’s milk. You should supplement a foal diet daily with one pound of grin mix per month of age. Weanlings should be fed to maintain a steady growth rate. You will need a high quality protein, lots of trace mineral and vitamins, balanced calcium and phosphorous ratios and 14% protein for weanlings. Protein should be decreased to 12% for yearlings.
In older horses, feeds with added fat and digestible fiber should be used to maintain a good body condition. Control NSC levels to avoid insulin resistance. A dietary level of 12 percent should be provided, along with processed hay (hay cubes, etc.) to make consumption easier for horses with poor dentition.
If you have questions about your pet’s diet, ask your veterinarian! They will be able to assist you in coming up with a proper feeding plan for your horse’s specific needs.
The Palomino is not what most people think of as a traditional “breed.” It is, however, recognized in the United States as a color breed. Because of this, horses belonging to the breed are identified by appearance, not genetics. The Palomino has a golden coat with a white mane and tail. Famous Palominos include Mr. Ed and Roy Rogers’ steed, Trigger. Queen Isabella of Spain is reported to have loved Palominos, so much so that in Spain horses of this color are still referred t as “Ysabellas” after her majesty! She even sent a stallion and several mares over to the New World in order to perpetuate the breed there.
Characteristics
Palominos have darks skin and brown eyes. Palominos can be registered with the Palomino Horse Association (PHA) or the Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA). The PHA will register horses of any breed based on color and conformation. Colors can range from light to dark gold, with a white, silver or ivory tail. The PHBA also requires horses to have the structure of light riding breeds, meaning they are 14 to 17 hands high with no draft horse or pony characteristics. The Palomino is alert and fiery, but still manages to work well with people. Some people characterize Palominos into three types: stock, saddle bred, and pleasure.
The golden body and white mane are characteristic of the Palomino.
In order to breed a Palomino, it is best to start with a homozygous Palomino and breed to a chestnut, bay, or sorrel. All foals will either be Palomino or buckskin in color. Make sure you also take into account good conformation, suitable personality and an excellent bill of health before breeding.
A Palomino colt.
Genetic Health Problems
Because these horses can have a multitude of genetic backgrounds, there are not genetic health problems specific to this color breed of horse. Look into your horses genetic background, and the breeds of his or her parents, to determine and medical conditions that could become a problem.
Best Suited to What Type of Owner
The Palomino is a versatile horse. Therefore, owners with a variety of equestrian interests will find themselves well suited for a Palomino. Palominos will excel in ranching, racing, rodeos, pleasure riding, parades, jumping trail rides, and just about any other activity you can imagine.
The Palomino is well loved and recognized all around the globe, and not without good reason. This versatile creature is sure to please any horse lover!
Horses are different from their human owners in a lot of ways, not the least of which is the way in which they digest food. Horses are known as hind gut fermenters, they depend on microorganisms in their gastrointestinal tract to help them get the maximum nutritional value they can out of their food. Probiotics work to keep those microorganisms healthy, and the healthier the microorganisms the better the digestion. To reap the maximum benefits of probiotic use, you should use probiotics on a consistent basis. One way to due this is to add the supplement directly to the feed.
Horses use microorganisms to help them digest their food.
So what exactly are probiotics? They are live bacteria. That may sound gross, but probiotics are gaining popularity in the human diet as well. Several brands of yogurt, such as Activia, use probiotics to aid in human digestion as well!
Probiotic supplementation in pregnant horses has been shown to increase the quality of their milk upon lactation, thereby helping foals of horses fed probiotics to grow better. In growing horses fed probiotics, it had been found to increase muscle and bone growth. Additionally probiotics may help to stimulate an animal’s immune system, boosting their chance of fighting off infections!
Daily Start Pro-Biotic by Equi-Shine is one available probiotic product. This product is intended for daily use to improve digestion and reduce digestive upset. It contains Lactobacillus acidophilus and four other probiotics, to establish a population of good bacteria in horse’s gut. Daily Start also contains over five antioxidants to protect against free radical damage, particularly in older horses. Check it out here.
Equi-Shine's product will help your horse out-shine the competition!
For-A-Flex Multi-Vitamin Mix is a complete vitamin and mineral supplement that provides an excellent foundation for essential equine nutrition. This mix contains a blend of microscopic organisms to help support and maintain your horse’s overall nutrient utilization. Just add it to your horses daily feed to maximize their digestion and overall health!
Vita Flex Accel Horse Supplement Complete Program is formulated to provide maximum nutrition for the performance horse. This product supplies all the necessary fat and water soluble vitamins, chelated trace minerals, electrolytes, amino acids and probiotics. With a highly palatable formula, both you and your horse will love it!
Accel provides maximum nutrition for your performance horse.
There are lots of options out there, so make sure you find one that is complete and easy to use. If you have any questions, just ask your veterinarian!
Grooming your horse is enjoyable and presents the opportunity for bonding horse and owner. Additionally, grooming is a great time to check your horse over for any injuries or abnormalities. Always groom before riding so any dirt trapped under the saddle won’t irritate your horse during the ride.
Start by cleaning the hooves. Using a hoof pick, pry out any dirt or manure that has become stuck in the frog or sole of the hoof. Check out the ultimate hoof pick here. A rubberized handle will improve your grip. Additionally, a larger pick angle makes cleaning packed hooves easier.
The oster collection has everything you need to groom your horse.
Next you will use your curry comb or grooming mitt to loosen up the dirt. Pay attention to your horse’s reaction to grooming, and make sure you are not brushing too vigorously. The Oster Course Curry Comb has been designed to fit in your hand easily, and reduce fatigue encountered while grooming. It is very durable and can be stepped on, soaked, or otherwise abused and still be ready to groom when you need it!
The Oster Curry Comb is a popular choice.
Use a mane comb or brush to rid the mane and tail from any tangles. The Solocomb mane comb allows you to attain the look of a traditionally pulled mane without pulling! It has an integrated clipping blade to cut away unwanted hair. It also works on whiskers. The closer you clip to the roots, the thinner the mane will be. If you are looking for a non-traditional grooming option, the Solocomb may be right for you.
Use the Solocomb if you hate pulling manes.
The body brush is used to whisk away dirt that was loosened via the curry comb. The Flex Body Brush has a flexible back that will feel similar to using a grooming mitt. Check it out here.
The Flex Body Brush will feel like a grooming mitt.
Follow up with the finishing brush to perfect your horse’s coat. Oster has a great finishing brush with rubber control touch handle for a better grip while grooming. The densely packed soft hog-hair bristles in this brush help to distribute oils for a beautiful shine.
The Oster finishing brush has densely packed bristles to help distribute oils.
If you are just starting out and are looking for several or all of the tool above, you might want to check out the Oster Equine Care Series Collection 7 Piece Grooming Kit. The kit includes a course curry comb, soft finishing brush, stiff grooming brush, mane & tail brush, hoof pick, and main and tail comb, all in a nylon carrying case with shoulder strap. The set is available in blue/gray or hot pink. All tools have ergonomic, non-slip handles.
The oster collection has everything you need to groom your horse.
Just like people, horses can get “cabin fever.” It is important to enrich your horse’s environment to avoid the formation of stereotypies. Toys provide a great form of enrichment for your equine companion. The toys that you choose need to be both entertaining and safe.
One popular option is the Jolly Ball for horses. The great thing about the Jolly Ball is that bites and punctures won’t cause it to deflate like other toys. The Jolly Ball comes in sizes ranging from 4 1/2” to 10” and a variety of colors. Scented balls are available in bubble gum, peppermint, green apple, and blueberry! The creators of the Jolly Ball have lots of great options for stall toys, including a Jolly Apple, an Amazing Graze treat dispenser, and a Pas-A-Fier. Check them out here!
The Jolly Ball is a popular option for entertaining equines.
Have you ever asked your horse if he likes soccer? Probably not, but there is an easy way to find out! Check out the Sportogo’s giant soccer ball. You can also get an anti-burst horse soccer ball at this site, where you can learn more about the amazing sport of horse soccer. You will also be able to purchase a membership to the American Horse Soccer Association, which will include Horse Soccer rules, a listing of players and team in your area, as well ass discounts on Horse Soccer Merchandise!
The Equine Distraction Aid is marketed particularly for horses that have ices like stall walking, weaving, pawing, wood chewing, and cribbing. Position the toy at mouth or eye level to help distract your horse from her bad habits! Get one here.
The Equine Distraction Aid will help get rid of those annoying vices!
The Talisker Bay Lickit Tongue Twister toy is another great option. It mounts right to the stall wall and uses refills, so your horse can enjoy this toy for a long time! Make sure the center of the toy is even with the withers. You can also smear molasses onto the toy to encourage play. See the Tongue Twister here.
The tongue twister uses refills, so your horse can enjoy this toy over and over!
You can also try some inexpensive, make-at-home toys. Rinsed out plastic milk jugs can entertain many horses when filled with pebbles or treats! Bore a hole through the middle of a turnip and hang in the stall, or float an apple in some water to make horsey work for his or her treat. Metal bells can also be entertaining for your pet. And, of course, horses can always benefit from companionship. If you find that your schedule is too hectic and your horse is missing out on time with you, consider a companion.
With all of these great options, your horse should be de-stressed in no time!
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a devastating retrovirus which infects cats. If you are adopting a new cat, or taking in a stray, it is a good idea to have your pet tested for FeLV, especially if you already have other pet cats in your home. About 0.5% of pet cats have FeLV, however, over 35% of pet cats have been exposed to this virus. Up to 11% of stray and feral cats may be infected with FeLV. As you can see, vaccination goes a long way in preventing exposure to the virus from turning into a persist infection in your pet cat. Make sure you tell your veterinarian you are interested in vaccinating your pets against these devastating diseases.
There are several diseases that are spread by biting, and FeLV is one of them. It is also spread through saliva, such as when cats groom each other or share a common food bowl. Cats who are less than 8 months of age are particularly susceptible to this disease, so make sure you keep these kittens inside and away from other cats who may be FeLV positive.
Kittens under 8 months are especially susceptible to FeLV.
There are several stages in the disease, but basically the virus enters the body after which it infects the blood and lymph nodes. This allows it to distribute throughout the cat, including several organs such as the intestines. At this point, the cat will either fight off the infection or succumb to it. 30% of cats will fight off the infection at this point. Another 40% will retain the virus in a latent form. When the cat becomes stressed or sick, the virus will reemerge and continue into the following phases. If the cat succumbs to infection, it spreads to the bone marrow and epithelial tissues such as the salivary glands, renal tubules, etc. 30% of cats will sequentially progress through all these stages, and eventually succumb to the disease.
FeLV can cause cancer and blood disease, as well as reduce the cat’s ability to fight off other infections. Early on in the infection the cat may show no symptoms at all, but later in the disease you may see other signs. Anorexia, weight loss, poor coat condition, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, pale gums, seizures and eye conditions are some of the signs you may see.
To prevent infection, be sure to vaccinate your cats from this disease. You can also consider keeping your cats as indoor only pets, and housing any infected cats you have separately from uninfected (or naïve) cats.
If your cat is infected with FeLV be sure to schedule a wellness check with your veterinarians at least once every 6 months. Because their immune system is reduced in efficacy, it is important to catch any infections early on. Your veterinarian will want to get blood work, a urinalysis and weight measurements at these check ups. Make sure you feed your cat a high quality diet and provide plenty of access to fresh water. Also make sure you keep your cat indoors only. This is to protect him or her from other cats that may be carrying diseases as well as to prevent your cat from spreading disease.
A weakened immune system may make your cat less able to fight off infections.
While FeLV is not known to be transmitted to people, other diseases they may get because of their weakened immune systems are. FeLV cats are more susceptible to several bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, as well as parasitic infections. Therefore, people with weak immune systems, such as AIDS infected individuals, the very old and the very young should avoid contact with FeLV infected cats.
