It’s important to note that there is no such thing as a “standard” pre-purchase exam.Good communication between you and your veterinarian is helpful in ensuring the vet examines everything you as the buyer want examined! It’s also important to choose a veterinarian that is impartial- meaning that he or she has never worked on the horse and should have no financial stake in the potential sale of the horse.

In fact, horses produce up to 16 gallons of acidic gastric juice each day. That’s equivalent to: – The gas tank of an average car, – Three 5-gallon water buckets, – Half of an average bathtub.

A specialized three-hole locking compression plate was then placed with three transarticular screws across the face of the joint to stabilize it and support healing of the soft tissue around it.

Does the hay look good, fresh and green? Or is it brown inside (the outside of the bale may be yellow or brownish due to sun bleaching), or do you see tell-tale white puffs when you open a bale? Stick your nose in it (not if you see the puffs of mold of course!). How does it smell? Like a dirty, wet basement? That’s mold. Fresh hay smells, fresh…like grass. Feel it. Is it stalky, are there prickers, dust, or other extraneous material? If it feels rough in your hands, how will it feel in your horse’s mouth? Good hay has a fine texture, feeling soft in your hands. In addition, it has a high leaf to stem ratio, as the majority of the digestible nutrients are found in the leaves.

When considering the 377 equine West Nile cases recorded across the United States in 2016,1 Dr. Hankins cautions, “The numbers are likely much greater. Some states only report West Nile virus cases if the disease is presented in neurological form.”

“The AVA has also embarked on a three-year project in partnership with Animal Medicines Australia to develop best-practice antibiotic prescribing guidelines for horses and the main livestock species.”

“The signs of repetitive stress injury are quite broad. Although many horses appear obviously lame in one limb, this is a disorder that commonly afflicts two, three, or four fetlocks. As a result, trainers or jockeys often describe the horse as simply ‘moving poorly,’ and general observations give the impression that the horse just looks uncomfortable and stiff, not necessarily lame,” Professor Richardson said.

“Signs of a sleep attack include drowsiness with hanging of the head, and buckling at the knees, to sudden and total collapse where some horses will fall and injure themselves, but usually get up quietly within seconds to a minute or so.”

Bella, a 16-year-old American Quarter Horse mare, has historically suffered from chronic hind limb issues. She was previously diagnosed with bilateral osteoarthritis of the lower tarsal joints (hock), but intra-articular medication had failed to significantly improve her lameness on the right hind.

Most competitive horses experience quite a few big changes in their lives. They will change barns, find new owners, work with different trainers and learn new skills or disciplines. Upsets in their routine can cause stress, which contributes to performance-robbing equine stomach ulcers.1