Preventative Care for a Healthy, Thriving Horse
Regular general physical exams are a vital part of keeping your horse healthy and thriving. These comprehensive check-ups allow our equine veterinarians to assess your horse’s overall well-being, catch potential health issues early, and provide tailored care to help them stay in peak condition.
From evaluating vital signs like heart rate and respiratory function to checking for signs of lameness, dental issues, or nutritional imbalances, physical exams help identify concerns before they become serious problems.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” — Benjamin Franklin, 1736
A Complete Picture of Your Horse’s Health
The brightness of a horse’s eye, their body posture, and their appreciation of the activities around them are all key indicators of a healthy body. These subtle signs are best noticed by your veterinarian during a yearly exam.
A general physical exam gives your veterinarian a clear picture of your horse’s overall health and happiness, ensuring they are not only physically sound but also mentally engaged and content.
Preventive care is especially important for horses, as they often mask signs of illness or discomfort. Whether your horse is a competitive athlete, a beloved companion, or a working partner, regular exams are key to maintaining their performance, comfort, and longevity.
Core Immunizations
Protecting your horse from serious infectious diseases is crucial for their long-term health and performance. We provide annual core vaccinations to safeguard horses against Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus, West Nile Virus, and Rabies.
We also recommend biannual flu and rhinopneumonitis vaccinations to help prevent respiratory infections and keep your horse at their best, whether at home or in competition.
Many boarding facilities require horses to be up to date on vaccinations. Maintaining these immunizations supports compliance while promoting a healthier environment for all horses.
Gut and Intestinal Health
Maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal tract is essential to your horse’s overall well-being. Our team focuses on diagnosing and managing parasitic infections, which can contribute to concerns ranging from colic to poor weight gain.
Regular deworming, tailored to your horse’s needs and environment, is key to preventing these problems. With current research and effective treatment protocols, we help support optimal digestive health for the long haul.
Routine Dental Checks
Regular dental exams are a crucial part of a comprehensive preventative care plan. Horses can develop dental issues that affect their ability to eat, drink, and perform.
By identifying sharp points, uneven wear, periodontal disease, and other concerns early, we can help prevent painful and costly conditions. Routine dental care supports optimal nutrition, comfort, and performance throughout your horse’s life.
Soundness Evaluation
Lameness is one of the most common reasons horse owners call their veterinarian. It can develop slowly, and by the time a limp is noticed, the condition may already be advanced. In some cases, lameness affects two legs at once, creating a shortened gait, tripping, or changes in performance instead of an obvious limp.
During a thorough soundness evaluation, your veterinarian assesses your horse’s gait, tests hoof sensitivity, and performs joint flexion tests to help pinpoint the source of discomfort.
Early detection allows preventive measures that can reduce the progression of pathology, support your horse’s longevity, and lower the eventual cost of treatment.