EQUINE WELLNESS

Why should my horse have an Annual Wellness Exam?
A yearly wellness exam will help your horses stay healthy year round. While most horse owners have experienced an equine medical emergency, many of these "crises" can be prevented with good preventive health care. This annual event provides your veterinarian an opportunity to bring your horses up-to-date on season-specific vaccinations and parasite control treatments at the time of year when they are most beneficial. This also provides a time for you to visit with your veterinarian about nutrition, behavior problems, emerging disease threats and other horse health issues. While there's no way to completely eliminate emergency situations, a good preventive health care program will minimize the chances of life threatening, costly illness. Wellness exams are the best way to detect and treat health problems before they become serious.

What time of year is best for the exam?
The Wellness Exam should be performed in March, April or May to take advantage of season-specific vaccinations and parasite control treatments.

What does an Equine Wellness Exam include?
During the Wellness Exam, you will be able to visit with your veterinarian about nutrition, behavior problems, emerging disease threats and other horse health issues. In addition, the exam includes:

• Evaluation of body condition and discussion of feeding program and concerns.
• Checking the haircoat and skin.
• Examination of the eyes and eyelids.
• Palpation and examination of the head and neck.
• Examination of the teeth and assessing the need for floating the teeth.
• Auscultation of the heart rate, rhythm, and detection of murmurs.
• Listening to the abdomen for normal gut sounds.
• Evaluation of musculoskeletal problems and concerns.
• Vaccination boosters.
• Parasite control treatment.
• Optional evaluation of breeding soundness.