Your vet’s experience and knowledge should be a reliable guide on how to keep your horse happy and healthy. As a horse owner, you should commit to ensuring your beloved pet is at its optimal health levels at all times. This largely involves consultations with your pet doctor. 

Generally, geriatric and foal horses have to visit the veterinarian more times than adult horses. However, adult horses become ill too due to various reasons such as aging, injury, and others. Therefore, vet exams are necessary for ensuring your horse’s health is uncompromised. Here are a few insights.
 

For Parasite Infestations

Vet visits are essential, especially for foals. Like many people, young horses require a series of vaccines. For this reason, they should visit the vet more often than adult horses. All horses follow a deworming regiment.

However, the young ones require some kind of treatment for parasitic infestations. Depending on the severity of your horse’s parasitic infestation, your vet might prescribe a wellness plan to counter the negative health effects.

Vet exams for this infestation include blood and stool tests that should be done annually to monitor your horse’s overall health. However, these tests should be done twice a year when they are 20 years old and above. This is because, at this age, they are more vulnerable to age-related illnesses.
 

For Vaccinations

Annually, your horse will need the necessary vaccinations, including the ones recommended for your particular region. Some of the most common vaccines that your horse should get to prevent conditions such as tetanus, rabies, and influenza, just to name a few. 

Also, if your horse resides in a region with recurring health issues or a high mosquito population, additional vaccines are necessary. Administration of these vaccines can be done by your vet or a trained individual.
 

For Physical Exams

Your professional vet is well-trained to notice external issues in your horse. To determine the physical condition of your horse, your vet will check their weight, damage to hooves, and their teeth for sharp spots. Additionally, your horse may require hoof trimming every six weeks. Your vet can perform this task during that period or you could hire a farrier for the task.
 

For Emergencies

For every emergency required as a result of your horse’s health, you should visit your veterinarian. These circumstances are sure to occur at one time, and you should be prepared for them.

This is not a time-specific occurrence and could happen at any time. In their daily routine, your horse can get minor injuries. These injuries include cuts by a fence or broken bones. The same is true for more serious illnesses that have noticeable symptoms.
 

The Takeaway

If your horse requires long-term care or physical rehabilitation, your visits to the vet will happen more frequently than other times. However, routine vet exams can help in reducing such visits. When caught early, some conditions are more easily treatable or manageable than when caught later on.

To know more about how often your horse needs a vet, visit South Willamette Veterinary Clinic at our office in ​​​​​​​Creswell, Oregon. You can also call (541) 313-3352 to schedule an appointment.