Horse Care - Getting the Right First Aid Kit - Understanding Worming

When you own and keep a horse the possibility of injuries ranges from a small scratch on the skin to lameness. Having a well stocked first aid kit in your yard enables you to treat injuries immediately which can prevent a small wound from becoming infected and resulting into a festering wound requiring veterinarian treatment.

Your first aid kit needs to be kept in a location that is easily accessed. All supplies should be well labeled and it is important to ensure that none of the items have expired. Your local veterinarian can be a wonderful source of information as to what products and items your first aid kit should contain.

Your veterinarian will also be able to supply you with products that are not sold over the counter, but that are essential for horse care. Some wounds and illness are best treated solely by your veterinarian; this is often dictated by law, by the severity and technical knowledge. Other times your veterinarian may initially treat your horse and have show you the follow up care that is needed for you to carry out yourself.

Mild superficial wounds are easily treated at home as long as you keep the wound clean and treated on a regular basis. If you have any doubt, always consult a veterinarian or a professional horse caretaker who can effectively advise you as to the next course of action.

Horse's health is maintained by having at least one veterinarian exam once a year. This can be coordinated with routine vaccinations your horse has, to prevent illness such as equine influenza.

Dental work in horses is often overlooked and it should not be since his mouth is centre of communication. The bit is placed in the mouth and works in a way to signal to the horse our intentions. When the horse has discomfort in his mouth due to his teeth, this often shows up in what we identify as misbehavior.

We could be riding our horse and wondering with some frustration as to why he is tossing up his head on a regular basis. The most common cause is in the mouth, a small tooth erupts called a wolf tooth and when the bit comes into contact with it, it causes pain. A qualified horse dentist or your veterinarian will examine the mouth for signs of the wolf tooth and extract it.

More simply your horse's health is affected by how he eats his food, if his teeth are interfering with how he ingests the food, he could lose weight and lack energy. A rasping once a year of the teeth will keep this in check.

Lastly but not least your horse needs to be wormed on a regular basis to ensure his health. There is no way to eliminate worms from the equine world, but there are several wormers on the market that can be administered to reduce the worm population and keep them out of your horse.

A good horse owner will have a basic first aid kit and be able to treat his horse, or call for professional help in his time of need.