Are you are savoring the last nice day by hitting the mountains with your horse before the snow is too deep?
Or maybe getting ready to ride indoors for the winter?
One important item is having your veterinarian check to see if your horse needs dental care. Even if your horse looks in great condition, he or she may still need teeth floated. Dental care should be a priority in maintaining the health and well-being of your horse.
Just because a horse does not appear to you to have a dental issue, this does not mean there isn’t one brewing. Often there is a significant amount of potentially irreversible wear to a horse’s teeth before outward signs of a problem appear. This is why it is important to address potential dental problems BEFORE develops outward signs of a dental issue.
Here is a list of signs that could be indicators of a dental problem:
Dropping feed or hay while eating
Excessive salivation
Difficulty in chewing
Weight loss
Undigested feed or hay particles in manure
Head tossing
Bit chewing
Fighting the bit
Resisting bridling
Foul mouth odor
Nasal discharge
Swelling of the face
“An oral examination should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by a veterinarian. Every dental exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance. The end result is a healthier, more comfortable horse that is able to gain maximum nutrition from hay through the winter. This is not only great for the health of the horse, but also great for reducing the feed bill!”
At Hardaway Veterinary Hospital you will get to be part of the entire experience. Dr. Parrott and our other equine veterinarians use gentle and sensitive techniques while handling your horse.
If you are interested in more information before scheduling an appointment click HERE to read an article recommended by our very own Dr. Parrott.
Do you have a memorable anecdote about how dental health greatly affected your horses health? We would love to share your story!
You can schedule an appointment either by phone or directly through our website.
We will also be running our second annual Fall Equine Dental promotion during the month of November! Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details!
Have any of you heard about Fear Free? Perhaps you read something briefly about it in an e-mail that we sent out. Maybe you were in recently for an exam with your pet and it was mentioned by one of our veterinarians or veterinary technicians. If you haven’t heard about it, we are bursting at the seams to tell you about it!
Fear Free was developed by Dr. Marty Becker. He has been working with a team of leading board certified veterinary experts for about the last six years creating what the veterinary community is now calling, “The Fear Free Movement.”
“Take the pet out of petrified”
– Dr. Marty Becker
A recent publishing by The Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study stated that:
26% of dog owners said just thinking about a visit to the vet is stressful
38% of cat owners said just thinking about a visit to the vet is stressful
37% of dog owners said their beloved dogs hate going to vet
And a whopping 58% of cat owners said their cats hate going to the vet
Would you agree with those statistics? Where do you fall?
These numbers bring one question to mind, what can we do at Hardaway Veterinary Hospital to change that? For starters, making our hospital a more pet centered practice! Are you familiar with our slogan?
“From our family to yours, we will treat you like you’re part of the family”
If you and your pet don’t feel comfortable, then that means less well check visits for your furry companion. That can leave a doorway open for disease to sneak its way in undetected. We want to help keep your pet healthy and live a long life to the fullest at your side! Our slogan says it all! We care deeply about your pets as if they were our own.
The next coming blogs will be a series focused all on Fear Free!
We are very excited to be a part of this movement. We can’t wait to share more about it with you!
Crystal Sharp CVT
We are pleased to announce the addition of veterinary chiropractic services to our practice!
Dr. Tami Parrott has completed 210 hours of postgraduate training in animal chiropractic at the Options for Animals program in Wellsville, Kansas.
This training has included extensive lecture and practical hands-on training in the chiropractic care of horses and dogs. In addition, Dr. Parrott has successfully completed rigorous practical and clinical competency exams, thus earning certification in Veterinary Chiropractic by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA).
Please call the clinic to talk with Dr. Parrott regarding the benefits of chiropractic care for your dog or horse!
During national dental health month, we run an annual discount of 10% off anything associated with the dental procedure. The only exclusion is pre-anesthetic blood work.
This year, we have teamed up with Hill’s to offer you another perk.
If your pet has a dental cleaning performed during the month of February, then you are eligible for a free 5 lb. bag of Hill’s Prescription dental diet T/D!
To redeem this coupon, you will need to download it from the link below and present it at the time of the admission or discharge of your pet.
A visual on a smart device will be accepted. This coupon can only be printed exclusively from our website.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call the clinic. Our staff would be happy to speak with you!
Crystal Sharp CVT
A photograph of a horse’s skull.
As the outdoor riding season is coming to an end, let’s talk about horses teeth!
We all know how important it is to have our teeth cleaned and checked by a Dentist every 6 months. What you may not know is how important it is for your animals too.
Think of horses teeth being similar to that of a rodent or rabbit. They continue to erupt throughout their life and are worn down by grazing. “Horses with more concentrate feeds in their diet will develop sharp points faster than horses eating grass only.” Grain supplements is an example of the most common concentrate feed given to horses.
A closer photograph of the line of horse’s teeth.
Did you know that dental issues can greatly affect a horse’s performance and demeanor? I was not even aware of how much it could until we purchased our first horse this year. She was a young horse that we were told had some dental issues. Her original personality was sweet, but she seemed nervous and overreacted to things. Upon having her mouth examined by the Veterinarian, it was discovered that the poor little lady had ulcers on the inside of her cheeks and on her tongue. She had a complete 180 degree personality change after her teeth were floated and we could hear her chew for the first time!
Here is a list of “Traditionally recognized signs that your horse might have dental problems”:
Eating slowly
Slobbering
Head tilting
Quidding (Leaving behind cigar-like wads of grass or hay)
Dunking hay in water
Passing long fibers in manure
Weight loss
Fussing with the bit
Head tossing
Bit chewing
Refusing to take a lead or collect
Bucking
Subtle performance changes
It is important to note that not all horses will display any signs at all or only a few while other horses may show that they are in severe pain, but may only have mild dental issues. Each horse is so different which is why a dental exam performed by a Veterinarian is imperative for their overall health.
Let’s talk about how your saddle fits onto your horse and some of the problems you can catch early or avoid completely on your own. Personally, I want to make sure my lady is comfortable before we go out for a ride this season, and that I will stay on her of course… *wink*
Since there is quite a bit to discuss, I’ll break this down into two different posts. You’ll see more about this in the blog next week.
This week, we’ll focus on skin issues that can affect your saddle fit.
It’s always important to brush your horses back before putting on your saddle. While you’re doing this, do you take a close look at the skin, too? Sure, making note that there isn’t anything that can poke into the skin, but what about examining the skin and hair closer?
Did you know that even a color change in the hair coat can be a sign of poor saddle fit due to friction? Or what about girth edema from just having a dirty or ill-fitting girth?
Did you know that September is a month dedicated solely to keeping our feline patients happy and healthy! It’s called “Happy Healthy Cat Month.” There is an entire web council devoted to such a celebration called Catalyst Council, you can check that out too. We will be supporting this great cause by sending goodies home for all our feline patients that come in for the month of September!
Let’s also touch on ways to keep your cat happy. Below is a list of 10 ways to make your feline companion more content.
Visit the Veterinarian. There are many reasons why they should be brought in annually just like our canine friends. During most, if not ALL feline appointments we use a calming spray called Feliway to improve your cat’s veterinary experience.
Provide preventative medications. Thankfully here in Montana we don’t have many parasites issues, but if your furry friend is any kind of a hunter we suggest that you deworm often.
Microchip your cat. Most felines in our area are outdoor. Make sure your friend makes a safe recovery home even without a collar.
Provide toys. Not all cats like the same kind of toys, so experiment!
Train together. I know this may sound impossible, but it can be done! Have you seen the video of the cat running an agility course? Check out the video below.
Work for food. Puzzle food toys are not just for dogs, but for cats too! They are great mental and physical exercise!
Get your cat acclimated to the carrier. Many clients tell us how awful and difficult it is to get their cat into the carrier. Then there is the yowling the entire drive to the Vet. In addition to spraying Feliway in the exam rooms, we will spray a spritz in the carrier for the ride home. Lately clients have raved about how this drive home has been less stressful.
Go outside (appropriately). Again, in our area, most felines live mainly outdoors. For those that do not, try using a harness or a blocked off area on the porch to allow for supervised exploration.
Scratch the surface. Providing an approved area in the house to scratch is key! Scratching posts come in all different shapes and sizes. Some even have toys attached!
Think about getting another cat. Our local shelter Heart of the Valley Humane Society is full of adoptees! Be mindful of different personalities and do introductions slowly. Also, do not forget the litter box rule: one litter box per cat, plus one extra. That will help curb any house soiling issues.
Enjoy the extra time you spend with your cat this month and let us know if you would like to bring them in for a wellness exam. We can give you more specific ideas on how to keep your cat healthy when we see you.
Speak to you soon,
Crystal Sharp, CVT
P.S. Here’s your cat agility video!
It’s a well-known fact that cats and dogs do not like having their feet touched. As you can imagine, this can make trimming the nails of your cat, dog, or other small animal extra challenging.
When to start clipping and trimming your pet’s nails
When pets are less than a year of age is the optimal time to start handling their feet. Getting them used to the sensation without any negative repercussions is invaluable.
Step by step instruction on how to cut your pet’s nails
Make the “manicure” a pleasant experience! Choosing a comfortable area, position, or time of day that works best for you pet is important. Supplies that can be used in the trimming area to help calm your pet are; Adaptil spray / diffuser, Feliway spray / diffuser, or Lavender essential oil. “According to our behavior experts, calm, enjoyable nail-trimming sessions are not only possible, that’s how they should be!”
“Make Friends with the Paw!” This is such a true statement!
Getting them familiar with the clippers. “Clip the spaghetti with the clippers while still holding your cat’s paw gently.”
Being sure to not cut the quick. “It’s better to be cautious and cut less of the nail rather than risk cutting this area.” When in a pinch and you’ve cut the quick too short, flour, sugar, or cornstarch can be used to stop the bleeding.
Determining a clipping schedule. “Every ten days to two weeks is a nice routine to settle into.” It also depends on how much the pet is spending outdoors or indoors. Keep in mind that every animal is different.
The quotes in the list above are snippets from this great article on the ASPCA website. It goes into a more in depth explanation of these instructions. The article is mainly geared towards felines, but can be easily applied to canines too.
Let us know at the clinic if we can answer any questions about this. You can ask us to show you some techniques next time you’re in with your pet, too!
Good luck!
Crystal Sharp, CVT
Last time here on the blog, we discussed skin issues associated with saddle fit. This time, let’s touch more on things specific to saddle fit.
A large portion of the time your horse will feel the discomfort of a poor saddle design or fit before you feel or see them. This is why it is important to inspect all your tack before saddling up. It’s like driving a car. One visually glances at the tires and checks the gas gauge before driving.
Let’s check out the seven common faults found in English saddles:
A twisted tree. Twisted saddles do not sit straight, which can cause damaging pressure on the horse’s back.
Panel problems. Uneven, lumpy, or overly stiff panels can cause pressure points on the horse’s back.
A broken tree. Never repair or weld a broken saddle tree. Instead, find a new properly fitting saddle for your mount.
Poor flexible points. If the leather does not cover the point on the tree fully, it can be painful to the horse.
Poor panel fillings. Same as mentioned above, but be sure that the material is a high-quality long fiber wool and that it is not mixed with different types.
Snapped girth straps. These should be repaired immediately. This is mainly for rider safety.
Stirrup bar problems. Any defects with the stirrup bar are major safety issues for the rider.
Hi dog owners,I stumbled across this great video by Dr. Andy Roark about the “5 Facts About Joint Supplements.” Especially pay attention to number five, that’s one that even as a Certified Veterinary Technician, I did not even know about!
It’s also a good reminder that Glucosamine can even be started at a young age.
