Routine and early dental care plays a vital role in your horse’s long-term health. Annual exams should be scheduled to closely monitor your horse’s dentition.
Annual exams ensure early detection of problems like ulcers, hooks, caps, fractures, abscess, waves, inclusions, and diastema for prompt attention and appropriate treatment. Their teeth continuously erupt throughout their lifetime, older horse can outlive their teeth at which time disscusions on alternate feed options may take place.
Your horse’s teeth will not necessarily need to be floated at every exam, but identifying a problem early allows for quick intervention.
Vaccines
Horses can contract infectious diseases in two ways: from other horses, and from their environment. Even horses that live alone can contract infectious diseases from contaminated feed, water, or soil, or from infected insects or wild animals. Prevention has never been so important. The number one way to do this is through an effective vaccination program.
Coggins
A Coggins test is performed to check a horse for the disease, Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). If you are traveling with your horse, a current Coggins test is required. Your Coggins test is valid for 6 months from the result date.
Health Papers
Health papers are required when travelling to the U.S. Health papers are good for 30 days from the issuing date, the veterinarian will do a health exam and pull blood for a coggins test. CFIA signed health papers and a negative coggins test are required to cross the border. This process takes from 5 – 10 business days.
