10 Things Equine Vets Wish Their Clients Knew

We asked our staff veterinarian, Dr. Lydia Gray, for a list of the top ten things your vet wants you to know, but doesn’t always have time to tell you.

#10 Your horse’s body condition score

A healthy weight is critical to overall wellness — visit SmartPak.com/BodyConditionQuiz for more details (and fun!).

#9 Teeth matter!

Your horse’s dental health can impact his weight, attitude, performance, and more! There’s no substitute for having your vet look and feel inside your horse’s mouth (after all, you can’t get in there!).

#8 The risk factors and signs of colic:

Visit SmartPak.com/ColicRisks to see 10 proven colic risk factors and how you can help your horse. Then head to SmartPak.com/ColicVideo to learn the signs of colic and what you should do to help your horse.

#7 What is an emergency

From eye injuries to colic, we’ve listed 11 common horse emergencies that always require immediate veterinary attention. See the list at SmartPak.com/FirstAid

#6 What should be in your first aid kit

Visit SmartPak.com/FirstAid for a detailed list of suggested items to have on hand. (And don’t forget to replace anything you use!)

#5 Deworming has changed

Rotational deworming is out, and fecal egg counts are in!

#4 Not all vaccines are created equal

Having your vet administer vaccines is your best bet for your horse’s health. You’ll be assured of proper storage and handling, plus vaccines administered by your vet may be backed by a guarantee from the pharmaceutical company.

#3 Don’t skip your annual

The more your vet sees your horse when he’s healthy, the better they’ll be able to help him when he’s unwell. An annual physical is a great way to establish a baseline for what’s “normal” in your horse.

#2 Your horse’s “daily schedule”

Knowing about how much your horse eats (hay, grain, supplements, and medications!), drinks, urinates, and defecates every day will help you have an early warning when things might be amiss.

#1 How to take your horse’s vital signs.

Visit SmartPak.com/VitalSigns for step-by-step info on how to measure your horse’s temperature, pulse, and respiration.