Wellness Exams
Your horse ages at a rate of approximately 3 years to a human’s one year. With advances in preventative care and research, horses are now living into their late 30s and even 40s (equal to over 100 years old in “human years”!). To keep your horse at the top of his game, consider semi-annual or annual wellness exams.
In the March 1, 2008 issue of The Horse magazine, Nancy Loving, DVM wrote an extensive article on the benefits of frequent equine wellness exams. Since animals can’t “speak”, veterinarians are trained to glean a plethora of information from observation, palpation, and listening to the owner’s experiences. A typical wellness exam consists of a head-to-tail “hands-on” assessment. All body systems – eyes, ears, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurologic, metabolic and dermatologic - are included.
Take advantage of this examination time to talk with your veterinarian about conformation, performance issues, nutrition, chronic problems, or other topics that are particular to your horse or farm. We will record what is “normal” for your horse, so that both our office and you will have a copy to refer to over time. Then, as he/she ages or in times of sickness, a record of health will help us recognize subtle changes. Ancillary tests may include fecal examination for parasites, ophthalmic exam for eye health, rebreathing exam or endoscopy for respiratory problems, bloodwork, or a podiatry exam. Please see our separate article for more information on the importance of podiatry exams.
Proactive wellness care maximizes quality of life through prevention and early treatment of disease. You will have a healthier, more active animal ready to perform with you – plus minimized costs for veterinary care. Recognizing and treating disease early on can save the emotional and financial strife of treating a very sick horse on an emergency basis.
The best time to perform a wellness examination is during a preventative health care visit such as spring and fall vaccinations. Please call to schedule at your convenience. We look forward to helping you maximize the quality and quantity of your relationship with your equine friend.