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.
Spring Visit (March-May)
Physical exam
Eastern & Western Encephalomyelitis/ Tetanus
West Nile
Rhino-Flu Booster (EHV 4)
Rabies (only once a year in spring or fall)
Other available vaccines
Potomac Horse Fever
Strangles Booster (Intranasal, twice yearly if in a high risk area)
Fall Visit (Sept-November)
Physical exam
Body condition scoring/ Winter Nutrition consult
Dental Exam & Float if due
Rhino-Flu Booster (EHV 4)
Fecal Exam
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 and both CFIA signed health papers and a negative coggins test are required to cross the border. This proccess takes from 5 – 10 business days.
