When to Call the Vet

Has not had a checkup within the last year

Wellness care by your licensed veterinarian is integral to providing good quality of life for your healthy horse. Yearly checkups save you money in the long run by providing preventative care and early disease detection, allows your vet to know your horse when they are in good health, and affords the building of a quality relationship with your vet. The yearly exam also allows you to make the most out of your relationship with your horse’s personal vet; giving you the time to discuss any questions or concerns you might have, such as: nutrition, vaccine guarantees, hoof health, and much more.

Lame

Your horse should be able to stand squarely with its weight evenly distributed, be able to walk, trot, or canter freely on all types of surfaces, and be able to move his neck and head without hesitation. Even a subtle change in your horse’s movement should be evaluated by your vet promptly. A casual attitude toward illness and injury is a huge risk to take with something as precious as a horse.

Lying down/unusual behavior

Most horses lay down to rest for a period of time each day. It is considered an emergency when the resting horse becomes the down horse, or the horse is cast in such a way that it is unable to maneuver into a position where it can stand by itself. The down horse requires prompt veterinarian intervention to prevent progression of disease, irreversible muscle damage, cardiovascular compromise, respiratory difficulty, and undue stress.

Horses are creatures of habit, with their own set of regular routines and activity schedules throughout the day. Unusual behavior is considered anything out of the norm for your horse, and should be followed by a call to your vet as soon as possible. Behaviors such as excessive rolling, thrashing, looking at their flanks, pawing, or cat-like stretching warrant a call to your vet as soon as possible. This is not the time to walk your horse for hours throughout the night. Painful horses need expedient veterinary intervention.

Bleeding

Lacerations in horses can be mildly superficial to life threatening. A bleeding horse is considered an emergency, no matter how small the laceration is. Horses are exquisitely sensitive to tetanus and wound infections. This includes bleeding/trauma to the foot and frog. Do not wait to call your vet if you observe your horse bleeding.

Injured/Swollen

Injuries in horses have a wide range of manifestations.  If you suspect your horse has sustained an injury, or has any swellings on his body or legs, please call your vet as soon as possible.  This is not a time to take a, “wait and see” approach, because the horse is showing there is an urgent problem.  For example, cellulitis can manifest as a single leg swelling that is hot and painful to the touch, as a result of a microscopic break in the skin barrier.  The horse may have a fever as well.  Cellulitis can be life-threatening for a horse.  A call into your vet will save you money and time lost riding your horse, and may save your horse’s life.  Your horse is important to you, don’t wait to call for veterinary help. 

Won’t eat/won’t drink

Your horse should be interested in feed, especially at feeding time.  If you notice your horse’s feed is untouched, or he is standing off by himself at feeding time and is disinterested in feed, this warrants a prompt call to your vet.  The average 1200lb, middle-aged horse with a low exercise schedule should drink 5-10 gallons of clean, fresh water daily.  If you have concerns with your horse’s hydration status, lift his lip and check if his gums are moist and pink.  Tenting the skin on a horse like in a dog or cat, is not a reliable marker of hydration in the horse.