Part 3: Non-emergency cases
where veterinary treatments
and advice are necessary
In non-emergency situations, what types of basic signs indicate that a veterinary surgeon should be called?
Veterinary appointments should be made for non-emergency type problems such as :
a) Intermittent lameness. b) Horse gradually losing condition. c) Slight swellings on body or legs that don’t seem to cause the horse distress. d) Small cuts or scrapes. e) Slight stiffness, etc.f) Purulent nasal discharge.g) Lethargic horse. Slightly raised temperature.h) Problems such as ‘stocked up’ or ‘filled’ hind legs in horses kept outdoors, or broodmares stabled overnight, may not require urgent veterinary treatment but should not be ignored. These cases may need veterinary assessment and advice on prevention. On the other hand, ‘filling’ in legs in horses in training may need immediate assessment and treatment as it may indicate an internal problem.A horse in training with heat or tenderness in a leg, especially in the tendon area of the front legs, should have prompt veterinary attention. It could be the earlier stage of a tendon problem and this would be exacerbated by continuing to work the horse. The veterinary surgeon can scan the area to ascertain if there is any damage to the tendon and initiate immediate treatment if required. This approach could in some cases prevent a fully blown ‘Bowed Tendon’.Early diagnosis and treatment is important in non-emergency cases to prevent chronic type problems developing.In addition to the list of emergency situations already outlined in Part 1 and 2 on this subject, if, at any time, there is a concern about a horse’s health or condition, the veterinary surgeon should be called in to check, treat and advise. What routine daily checks should be done to ensure any problems are promptly identified and treated?
Daily monitoring checks on horses should be routinely carried out, whether they are stabled or at grass. This should always include a careful visual check daily for lumps, bruises, scrapes or punctures, runny noses or eyes should be part of the daily health checks.Daily checks on stabled horses are based on the following: The amount of feed being eaten. If a normally good eater suddenly slows down and does not finish the feed, then there is a cause and a problem to be addressed. The amount of water being consumed. The average horse drinks between five and 10 gallons per day, depending on the air temperature, activity level, diet and whether the horse’s main diet is concentrates, grass or hay. Automatic drinkers, a fairly basic fitting in most stables, are a disadvantage for water intake monitoring and may have to be disconnected temporarily for this purpose, in some cases. The amount and consistency of the manure being produced. A stabled horse will pass approximately eight mounds of well formed, firm manure (depending on the size of the horse) a day. ‘Runny’ manure can be a sign of nerves, but also mean illness. Daily checks on horses at grass - the main indicator of a problem here is where a horse leaves its companions and separates itself away from the main group. Where a horse is not grazing consistently there is also a cause for further investigation into it. Where checks on a horse’s feed intake, manure, water are recommended by the treating veterinary surgeon, it may be necessary to stable the horse as obviously they cannot be done while the horse is out with a group of horses at grass.What are the common routine reasons for veterinary calls on treatments and advice?
Other types of routine veterinary calls not directly associated with illness or injuries include the following:Fertility and pregnancy examinations, e.g. opening mares pre-foaling, stitching mares or fillies for fertility (Caslicks Operation), etc.Soundness examinations for sales or pre-purchase.Examination of horses and foals for insurance certs.Routine X-ray sets taken for screening to detect any abnormalities e.g. OCD, Navicular, prior to purchase, or before putting a horse into heavy work.Examination and lunging a horse to detect any wind abnormalities.Endoscopic examination to identify and analyse any respiratory abnormalities.Endoscopic examination for ulcers.Blood tests to ensure that the horse is showing optimum pre-race or pre-competition levels/readings. (even though the horse may look quite healthy).Intravenous drips of electrolytes or vitamins where a horse has a heavy schedule in racing, eventing or show jumping.Routine stomach tubing of horses for worms.Intravenous sedation for farrier work or for clipping fractious horses.Floating of teeth and removal of wolf teeth.Markings and microchipping.Swabs for C.E.M.Blood testing for EVA and EIA.Blood testing new born foals for IgG levels.Administration of plasma to newborn foals.Assessing newborn foals for conformational limb deviations and advisory plus possible surgical follow up where required. Vaccinations.Castrations.Sarcoid removal and treatments.The above are some of the most common reasons where a veterinary surgeon is called to normal healthy horses.