Horses are flight animals. They need their sense of sight to spot enemies as quickly as possible. We therefore sometimes have to battle our favorite's instincts, because a horse sees—and flees.
Horses have (almost) all-round vision. They can see almost 360 degrees without having to move their heads. There is only one blind spot in front of the forehead, which can be important when riding, and another directly behind the tail, which should not be forgotten when handling horses.
The horse's pupil is elongated and oval, which gives it panoramic vision. However, the lateral position of the eyes limits three-dimensional vision. A horse only sees three-dimensionally in a frontal area of about 60 degrees, while its side vision is two-dimensional. When interested in an object, a horse will move it to the appropriate angle and viewing distance to see it clearly. So give your horse enough headroom when working so that it can see better. Show jumpers often demonstrate this clearly. Before a jump, they have to raise their head to focus sharply on the obstacle.
Please note that the signal color for horses is blue. Studies have shown that horses can recognize this color best. For this reason, it is recommended that barriers, trot poles, and obstacles used for training be kept in this color. Horses cannot recognize red. Instead, they see the world like a human with red-green color blindness: yellowish tones, blue, and many shades of gray. This is due to the cones in the retina. Humans have three different types of cones for the colors red, blue, and green. Horses only have blue and green cones.
When horses have to adjust their eyes from light to dark, it takes them a while. We humans are definitely faster at this. This explains certain behaviors of our beloved animals. From the pasture to a dark stable? Horses become insecure. Climbing into a dimly lit horse trailer when the sun is at its highest, or voluntarily walking into a dark treatment room? These are real exercises in trust for a horse.
Seeing details is not that important for horses. As flight animals, they only need to be able to perceive the slightest movements quickly so that they can get away when things get serious. Unfortunately, this means that what was supposed to be a leisurely ride can suddenly become dangerous for our four-legged friend. Things are shaking here, twitching there, enemies are lurking everywhere. The same thing can happen to us in the riding arena. Horses sometimes see ghosts peeking out from behind the fences, unidentifiable objects in the stands, or monsters running from A to B.
Your horse does not require much eye care. On the contrary, the eye is sensitive and should not be constantly wiped. You can remove minor crusts from the corner of the eye with a soft, clean, slightly damp cloth. Always wipe from the eye towards the inner corner of the eye. But that's all you need to do. In summer, a fly veil can help protect the eye from annoying insects.
Reddened conjunctiva, increased tearing, swollen eyelids, and cloudiness are always signs that something is wrong. The eye is a very important sensory organ for your horse. Therefore, be very attentive to changes, but do not experiment. As soon as you notice anything unusual about your horse's eyes, take the animal to your veterinarian.
They are lively, curious, and entertaining, and you will have a lot of fun with a hamster. If you get involved and accept their peculiarities, you can become a really good team. With enough attention for your little darling, nothing should stand in the way of a long, happy hamster life.
One of the horses in your stable has a fever and nasal discharge. This is not necessarily cause for concern, as it could just be a harmless cold. But a few days later, three more horses in the stable have exactly the same symptoms. It is noticeable that all affected horses have severely swollen lymph nodes on their heads. By now, at the latest, the veterinarians who have been called in are alert, because this respiratory disease is obviously very contagious. Swab samples are sent to the laboratory and the suspicion is quickly confirmed. It is strangles, a highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract in horses. Even though the disease is not notifiable or reportable, stable owners and horse owners should now act carefully to prevent further spread.
Age is not a disease. We all get older and our bodies show signs of wear and tear. Some of us age faster than others, while others stay fit a little longer. Our horses are similar. From a certain age onwards, the signs can become increasingly noticeable. But this is no reason for us horse owners to get nervous. With keen observation skills and a little support, our beloved animals can grow old in good health.
Cats are among the most popular pets, with around 14.7 million living in German households alone and a total of approximately 46 million across Europe. Only about half of them are vaccinated and neutered, and therefore well protected against disease and unwanted reproduction. Many thousands of them roam the countryside as abandoned, stray, or feral cats.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is currently the most dangerous disease affecting rabbits. It is caused by a virus and causes blood clotting disorders (hemorrhagic = bleeding, causing hemorrhages). It is highly contagious and occurs worldwide in both domestic and wild rabbits. The infectious disease was first described in China in 1984, which is why it is also known as Chinese disease. Young animals and unvaccinated adult animals are particularly at risk.
Many dog owners will be familiar with this condition, which is colloquially referred to as foreskin inflammation. Recurring, yellowish-green, dripping discharge is very common, especially in young, unneutered male dogs.
You've probably heard sayings like these before: Cats only see their owners as "can openers"! Cats aren't dogs, waiting to serve their masters... But cats can learn rules too.
Tetanus is a usually fatal, notifiable infectious disease caused by the toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This disease, also known as lockjaw, has been known since ancient times and is widespread throughout the world. Both humans and horses are particularly susceptible to the toxin, whereas dogs have only a low sensitivity and therefore do not need to be vaccinated.
Some people love it when their pony's coat shines in all its glory and even sparkles here and there. It is groomed and sprayed, the mane is braided, and hardly a hair is out of place. But coat and hoof care is not just a matter of appearance. Regular brushing means much more than that.
Horse ears come in different sizes, depending on breed and genetics. They usually feel soft and fluffy – but not every horse likes to have its early warning system touched. If you are a horse owner and your horse lets you stroke its fluffy ears, this is actually a sign that your horse trusts you. The horse's ear is something very special.
Birds groom themselves almost constantly: they clean themselves, sharpen their beaks and bite. But sometimes our feathered friends need a little help.
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in a dog's mouth. It can develop primarily (on its own) or secondarily as a result of other underlying diseases and can affect only a limited area or the entire mouth. Small dogs and dogs with misaligned teeth are particularly affected.
