Floating, a method of equine dental care, refers to filing the sharp edges of molars and premolars.
The lateral grinding movement of the jaw develops chisel-shaped surfaces on the inner edge of the lower and the outer edge of the upper molars. It is sometimes necessary to file down these sharp edges. Floating helps to prevent injury to the tongue and mouth.
For more information on Equine Dental Care:
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Cryptorchid is an animal that has had one or both testes remaining in the abdominal cavity that fails to descend into the scrotum. Cryptorchidism can either be unilateral, where one testicle fails to descend, or bilateral, where both testicles fail to descend. A cryptorchid still produces testosterone and will show stallionlike behaviors. Photo courtesy: Debra Hagstrom, University of Illinois.
For more information, see Stallion Anatomy Exam.…
In contrast to pony and light horse breeds, draft horses are the gentle giants of the industry. These horses may also be characterized as a heavy horse breed that stands from 15 to more than 18 hands tall and can weigh more than 2,000 pounds.
They were the workhorses used for agriculture production and hauling freight in days gone by. Today, many draft horses are used on farms and ranches across North America and in exhibition hitches in the show …
Caslicks is an operation to partially suture together the lips of the vulva. Caslicks are used to prevent fecal contamination problems in mares that have abnormal vulva conformation. Mares that have a Caslicks must have the lips of the vulva opened at least 30 days prior to foaling.
See Management of the Pregnant Mare for more information.…
Cribbing is a serious vice in horses that can lead to:
What is Cribbing?
Cribbing is when the horse grasps onto a surface (often wood) with its teeth, flexes its neck, and swallows air.
Stop Cribbing
There are a variety of cribbing collars and other equipment available to stop cribbing, but most are effective only in reducing cribbing or are not effective at all.…
Botulism is caused by a neurotoxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The bacterium is found in the soil. It’s closely related to Clostridium tetani, the bacterium that causes tetanus. The toxins produced by C. Botulinum is one of the most potent poisons known to man. Horses are particularly sensitive to botulinum toxin; untreated foals can suffer up to 90 percent mortality. Mortality is also high in untreated adults.
Clinical Signs
The clinical signs of botulism can …
Equine Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease, which spreads rapidly among susceptible horses. It is rarely fatal except in young horses. The incubation period of influenza is ~1-3 days. Clinical signs begin abruptly and include high fever (up to 106 degrees F [41.1 degrees C]), serous nasal discharge, and coughing that is dry, harsh, and nonproductive. Depression, anorexia, and weakness are frequently observed. Clinical signs usually last less than three days in uncomplicated cases. Cough develops early in the …
A blind spot is an area where the horse cannot see. A horse’s blind spots are directly in front (closer than 4 feet) and directly behind its body. It’s important to touch and talk to your horse when walking around these areas so that the horse knows where you are.
For more information, see Horse Vision.
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Internal parasites are small organisms that live a portion of their life cycle in a host animal — in this case, the horse.
They live in internal organs, body cavities, and tissues while gaining their nutritive source by feeding on the host animal.
Above is a picture of Bots in a horses stomach.
For more information about internal parasites visit:
…Curry combs come in many varieties and sizes. They can be rubber, metal, or plastic, depending on preference.
