One topic that many horse owners don't like to think about is that horses need to be transported from time to time. It is important to be prepared for this and to actually practice loading and transporting your horse in advance. Because when it suddenly comes to "putting the horse in the horse trailer," some animals can be more stubborn than expected. Loading and transporting horses causes a certain amount of stress for them. Even the most experienced horses, who travel to competitions every weekend, will show some signs of tension. But transport is a matter of practice; the more we make it a routine, the easier it becomes for the horse. To get a horse from A to B, it goes without saying that the towing vehicle and horse trailer must be compatible and that the technical requirements must be met. It is also very important to carry the horse's equine passport with you.
When we take our horse on a long journey, it makes sense to ensure that it has the necessary protection. Special transport boots are available to protect the legs. These should also be put on during all loading exercises so that our horse does not find them new and disturbing in an emergency, but is already used to the different feeling on its legs.
The question of whether a horse must wear a blanket during transport depends not only on the weather, but also on whether the horse is used to it. It is also extremely important that the blanket cannot slip during transport. A separate rubber belly strap can help here. Depending on the weather conditions, a sweat blanket or a fly blanket may be the right choice.
It is mandatory to provide bedding for the area where the horse stands. Straw or wood shavings are best suited for this purpose. The aim is not to make it soft and comfortable for our horse, but to absorb what our horse excretes during the journey.
Whether and which windows can be opened during the journey depends on the weather. Everyone can use their common sense to judge what is best for their horse. Of course, we should not keep all the windows and the tailgate closed in the middle of summer, but we should do so in freezing temperatures. It is important that our horse gets enough fresh air, even on longer journeys.
Solid, stable equipment for loading and transport is important. The horse should wear a halter that is wide enough and cannot cut into the skin anywhere. The lead rope must be long enough and well made so that it does not break immediately. It should also be equipped with a panic hook. Some trailers offer the option of tying the horse on the right and left, in which case a second lead rope is required. The person leading the horse onto the trailer should wear sturdy shoes and, ideally, gloves.
It is up to you which side the horse stands on. However, some horses prefer to stand on the left or right, so let your horse decide.
Lead the horse straight and confidently onto the trailer ramp and up in one smooth movement. The side hooks of the trailer ramp must be under the ramp to eliminate the risk of injury in the event of an accident. Ask your helper to stand to the side of the trailer ramp so that the horse cannot "fall" sideways.
Once the horse is standing at the top, an assistant should hook in the rear bar and secure it with a split pin before the horse is tied up. The rope used to tie up the horse should be long enough to allow the animal to balance itself with its neck during the journey, but not long enough for it to step over the rope with its front legs.
Close-meshed hay nets should always be hung high enough so that a hoof cannot get caught in them.
There are also a few things to keep in mind when unloading the horse. It is best to have someone to help you. First, untie the horse. Once the ramp has been opened (make sure to slide the hooks on the right and left under the ramp), the helper can stand next to the ramp to prevent the horse from slipping sideways. When leading the horse backwards, make sure to give it enough time so that it does not panic and rush down the ramp, injuring itself.
With a little practice, loading will be no problem. Slow and steady wins the race.
Pulmonary stenosis, also known as pulmonary artery stenosis, is one of the most common congenital heart diseases in dogs and describes the narrowing of the pulmonary artery, which originates in the right ventricle. This heart disease is extremely rare in cats.
A withers fistula refers to any disease of the horse's withers that is accompanied by inflammation and fistula formation.
Many people find birds fascinating. And some feathered friends can not only live with "their" human for a very long time, but also form a close bond with them. But what do you actually need to ensure that everything is perfectly prepared when your feathered roommates move in?
Both dogs and cats can have allergic reactions to certain ingredients in their food. This causes the immune system to overreact to certain ingredients in the food. Between 1 and 5% of all allergic skin diseases in dogs are caused by food allergies. Animals of all breeds and ages are affected. As in humans, an increase in allergies can also be observed in dogs and cats.
This disease is a mostly congenital vascular malformation of the liver that was first described in 1949. The "shunt" is a connecting vessel that directs blood from the body's circulation past the liver directly into the main vein and thus unfiltered to the heart. The liver's inability to detoxify the blood leads to gradual internal poisoning of the animal.
Leptospirosis is a contagious infectious disease of dogs that is widespread worldwide and can also be transmitted to humans, which is why it is also referred to as a zoonosis. This bacterial disease was first discovered in dogs in 1852. Almost half a century later, it was observed at a dog show in Stuttgart, which is why it was initially called Stuttgart dog disease. In Germany, leptospirosis is a notifiable animal disease.
Scintigraphy uses substances labeled with weak radioactive isotopes to visualize pathological changes in the body. The image produced is called a scintigram.
Dental disease is one of the most common reasons for visits to the vet for both rabbits and guinea pigs. Since their teeth grow throughout their lives but are not sufficiently worn down in their current living conditions, pathological changes to the teeth often occur.
Syncope refers to fainting or circulatory collapse that occurs suddenly without warning and leads to a temporary loss of consciousness in animals. The dog collapses suddenly and shows no signs of life. After a short time, it regains consciousness and behaves as it did before the syncope.
Ectropion is a malposition of the eyelid that mainly affects the lower eyelid. The outer edge of the eyelid is turned outward and hangs down, which is why it is also referred to as a "drooping eyelid." This malposition prevents the eyelid from closing normally, leaving the eye permanently slightly open.
Tracheal collapse is a condition in dogs that causes the windpipe (trachea) to collapse. It mainly affects small breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, miniature Spitz, poodles, and Pekingese. The condition often manifests itself in the first few months of life, sometimes with severe breathing problems.
The tendons are part of the musculoskeletal system and act as the connecting links between the muscles and the skeleton. They consist of strong, flexible tissue, transfer energy from the muscles to the bones, and thus enable targeted movement. Their special structure, consisting of parallel connective tissue fibers grouped together in bundles, gives them enormous tensile strength and elasticity. The flexor tendons of the front legs are particularly exposed to extreme stress in horses, as more than half of the body weight has to be carried by the forehand. Tendon damage is one of the most common causes of lameness, especially in sport horses. In most cases, the structures affected on the front leg are the superficial flexor tendon, the deep flexor tendon, the suspensory ligament, and the fetlock joint (see diagram). As there are very few nerves and blood vessels in the tendon tissue, healing is very slow.
