With age, signs of wear and tear become noticeable in the body, even in our horses. Good care, adequate nutrition, and appropriate training are the best prerequisites for a long, healthy horse life. It is always important to remain attentive in order to quickly notice small changes and take action.
You probably know your horse best. You know its eating habits. You know when and how often it takes breaks to lie down in its stall or paddock, or whether it prefers to stand in a sheltered corner and take a nap. You know how your horse behaves when working. Does it need some time to get going or is it rather boisterous? What situations make it nervous?
This allows you to notice changes quickly. Is it suddenly leaving food in its trough? Is your horse now standing apart from the group, even though it was always in the middle of it before? Can you touch your horse everywhere, or has it recently become skittish when being groomed? With the right eye for your horse and the right questions, you can perform a small health check yourself on a regular basis.
Vaccinations, deworming, dental checkups, and age-appropriate blood tests provide information about developing problems. In addition to regular health checks that you can perform yourself, there are age-appropriate veterinary care plans—from birth to senior age (see corresponding article). Always remember: prevention is better than cure!
Danger can lurk anywhere, whether at the side of the road, in forests, or even in your own pasture. Eating poisonous plants can be fatal for horses. But plants are not the only source of danger when it comes to poisoning.
The term "cat flu" or "cat flu complex" refers to all infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract and mucous membranes of cats, with the nose, mouth, and eyes being affected in most cases. Since the interaction of various factors leads to the onset of symptoms, this is referred to as a multifactorial disease. Cats that live in shelters, breeding facilities, multi-cat households, or under very poor hygienic conditions are particularly susceptible to cat flu.
Horses and humans speak different languages. While humans primarily communicate through spoken language, horses mainly communicate through body language. It is important that you understand your horse in order to work together harmoniously. Here is a little translation guide to help you.
Piroplasmosis, also known as babesiosis, is a parasitic infection transmitted by ticks that is particularly prevalent in warm climates. Horses, dogs, and humans are all susceptible to this infection. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.
Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial infectious disease transmitted by ticks. It was named after its discoverer, the German physician Paul Ehrlich. The disease, also known as tick fever, is endemic in the tropics and subtropics, but also in the Mediterranean region. It is therefore important to be aware of it when traveling to southern destinations. Ehrlichiosis became known during the Vietnam War, when several German shepherd dogs belonging to American soldiers fell ill and died. German shepherds, Dobermans, and huskies are still particularly susceptible to this disease.
The word acupuncture comes from Latin and is composed of the words for "needle" and "prick." Classical acupuncture is one of the oldest therapeutic methods in traditional Chinese medicine and has also been practiced on animals in Europe since the beginning of the 18th century. It belongs to the field of complementary medicine, which means that it supplements the treatment methods of conventional medicine.
Especially during the cold and wet season, dogs can also suffer from painful inflammation of the bladder (cystitis) and the entire lower urinary tract. The causes and symptoms are similar to those of bladder infections in humans. Is your dog urinating more frequently than usual and in pain when doing so, or has it even accidentally urinated in the house even though it has been house-trained for a long time? Then your dog may be suffering from a bladder infection, which should be treated by a veterinarian.
Not a pleasant sight: suddenly, your dog is lying in a wet bed in the morning. It smells of urine and they look at you sheepishly. Their nose is still working well and they clearly feel uncomfortable.
Every dog owner is very alarmed when their previously fit dog suddenly starts limping for no apparent reason. It can happen to anyone, whether your dog is athletic or laid-back. It is important to take a closer look: fortunately, the causes are often harmless and can be treated quickly.
Sometimes a violent coughing fit comes on completely unexpectedly and frightens us as much as it does our dog. Whether it's a dry "barking" cough, a mucus-filled retching or a wheezing sound, coughing can manifest itself in many different ways. It's important to investigate the cause so that we can help our dog quickly.
Seizures also occur in dogs. How at risk your dog is depends largely on its breed: some breeds are more prone to seizures than others.
These tumors, which occur relatively frequently in cats, are not cancerous, as is often mistakenly assumed. They are benign, pedunculated mucosal protrusions that are often inflamed. Young cats up to two years of age are particularly affected.
