The term complementary/alternative therapies refers to holistic methods of healing that differ from that a regular veterinarian does. It includes massage, acupressure, acupuncture, and aromatherapy. While these therapies should not entirely replace veterinarian care, especially in serious situations, they can be used in conjunction with it. For example, you can use massage therapy when your horse is injured in addition to have your vet come out.
Acupressure and Acupuncture
Acupressure is a form of therapy used in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that an energy flow, called the chi, runs along channels(meridians), through every person and animal, giving them balance and health. When this energy flow is blocked somehow, a health problem occurs. To fix this, a person must apply pressure on certain points along the meridians, depending on the health problem, to continue the flow of energy. Acupuncture works the same way, except small needles are used. According to the Illustrated Guide to Holistic Care for Horses, by Denise Bean-Raymond, both therapies have several benefits. Among these are a strengthened immune system, and increased blood flow, and reduced inflammation. If your horse has a disease or a fever, the veterinarian should be called to care for him. Also, do not perform acupressure/acupuncture until at least few after your horse has eaten and when he is completely cooled down from any recent exercise.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses extracts, called essential oils, from various beneficial plants, including lavender, chamomile, wintergreen, and clove, to benefit both physical and mental health. Some are very potent and should not be applied directly to skin, while others can safely by applied topically. Horses will often show that they need a certain oil by perking up their ears when they smell it, or pinning their ears if they do not need the oil at the time. You should only use pure, therapeutic grade essentials because the cheaper kinds may be diluted with harmful chemicals. It may be more expensive the buy therapeutic grade oils, but you can save money in the long run since they are more beneficial and do not have the chemicals others might have. If you would like to learn more about essential oils and using them for your horse, email me at paola.pedranti@gmail.com
Massage
Massages are something most of you are probably familiar with. Someone giving a massage will rub and knead the person's muscles, reducing discomfort and increasing blood flow. The same thing works in horses. Equine massage therapies work with their patients to relieve muscle tension and pain, cause the horse to become more relaxed and ready to learn, and prevent injuries. Massaging your own horse is also a way to bond. When combining it with essential oils, you can increased benefit from both the oils and the massage(see Raindrop Technique 1, 2).
Stretching
Although stretching isn't an alternative therapy, it does have its benefits. It causes muscles to become more supple, elastic, and flexible, preventing many injuries. Remember to never stretch a cold muscle. Stretching should be done after your horse warms up since stretching a cold muscle can cause it to become injured. Also remember not to strain the muscle too much when stretching it, gently lifting and stretching it. Hold it for a short amount of time at first(about 5 seconds) and over several days work your way up to about 15 seconds. If you horse seems agitated about you stretching a certain body part, release it.
These therapies can be beneficial, if done correctly. Remember that they are not meant to replace veterinarian, so if your horse becomes sick or injured, call you vet before attempting any of these therapies.
Showing posts with label essential oils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label essential oils. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Friday, February 7, 2014
Understanding a Horse's Digestive System
Understanding your horse's digestive system, which is a bit different than our own, is an important step in keeping your horse healthy. Knowing what is going on as food is digested and the specific dietary needs of your horse can help you ensure that he is healthy. The major difference between a horse's digestive system and that of a human's is that horses have hundreds of bacteria, called microbes, in their hindgut(cecum and large colon). These microbes break down(ferment) the plant fiber into a usable energy.
A horse's digestive proccess is much like ours. It begins with the horse taking bites of food, grinding it into small, digestible pieces and swallowing it. From there, it travels to the stomach, which is quite compared to the rest of their body size, holding only two to four gallons. This is because horses are meant to eat many small meals all day long. Once in the stomach, acid and enzymes further break the food down, and it moves on to the next step: the small intestine(70-feet long). There, sugar, starch, protien, fats, vitamins, and minerals are absorbed before the remaining food travels to the hindgut(cecum and large colon). The cecum(three to four feet long) and large colon(ten to twelve feet long) store fluid to be used during prolonged exercise, while at the same time fermenting the food and providing 30 to 70% of a horse's energy. Finally, whatever is leftover enters the narrow, small colon, where 90% of the fluid is absorbed, and exits through the rectum.
Now that you know how everything works, you can better understand some of the problems that occur in the digestive tract.
Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers are becoming increasingly more common among domesticated horses. This is due to the fact that domesticated horses are fed only several times a day, rather than being allowed to eat all day long as they do in the wild. Since a horse's stomach continuously produces stomach acid, whether he is eating or not, long periods of not eating can cause the acid to burn the stomach, creating an ulcer. Too much grain, intenste exercise, stress, and illness can also cause stomach ulcers. Symptoms can be a rough coat, poor performance, grinding of the teeth, and possibly colic-like symptoms. The only way to know how severe an ulcer is, or if your horse even has one, is by your veterinarian performing an endoscopy.
Prevention is the best cure, and can be done by feeding your horse several small, more frequent meals rather than two or three bigs ones, or allowing him to graze all day if possible. Reducing grain may also help. Essential oils, too, can assist with the prevention of stomach ulcers, according to Lisa Carter from Heavenly Gaits Equine Massage. She recommends three to five drops of copaiba oil between the lip and gum, taken two to three times a day.
Colic
There are several types of colic: impaction, gas, and intestinal twists. The first is caused by solid food becoming lodged inside of the digestive tract, and can be prevented by providing plenty of fresh, clean water for your horse to drink. Gas colic, as the name suggests, is when a horse becomes bloated and gassy. It can be caused by too much starchy grains or by a sudden change of diet and is not as serious as other kinds of colic. Torsion colic, or an intestional twist, is the worst, but also the most rare, kind. Only surgery can fix it. Since it usually isn't readily apparent what type of colic has occured, call you veternarian as soon as you notice any symptons.
Laminitis
Laminitis can also be very serious. It is an inflammation in the hooves and can be caused by a horse eating food high in non-structural carbohydrates(sugar, starch, etc.). Limiting concentrate feed(grain) to 1/2% of your horses body weight or less per meal can help prevent laminitis.
Understanding your horse's digestive system is a huge step in creating a healthy, happy horse.
A horse's digestive proccess is much like ours. It begins with the horse taking bites of food, grinding it into small, digestible pieces and swallowing it. From there, it travels to the stomach, which is quite compared to the rest of their body size, holding only two to four gallons. This is because horses are meant to eat many small meals all day long. Once in the stomach, acid and enzymes further break the food down, and it moves on to the next step: the small intestine(70-feet long). There, sugar, starch, protien, fats, vitamins, and minerals are absorbed before the remaining food travels to the hindgut(cecum and large colon). The cecum(three to four feet long) and large colon(ten to twelve feet long) store fluid to be used during prolonged exercise, while at the same time fermenting the food and providing 30 to 70% of a horse's energy. Finally, whatever is leftover enters the narrow, small colon, where 90% of the fluid is absorbed, and exits through the rectum.
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| Digestive system credit |
Now that you know how everything works, you can better understand some of the problems that occur in the digestive tract.
Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers are becoming increasingly more common among domesticated horses. This is due to the fact that domesticated horses are fed only several times a day, rather than being allowed to eat all day long as they do in the wild. Since a horse's stomach continuously produces stomach acid, whether he is eating or not, long periods of not eating can cause the acid to burn the stomach, creating an ulcer. Too much grain, intenste exercise, stress, and illness can also cause stomach ulcers. Symptoms can be a rough coat, poor performance, grinding of the teeth, and possibly colic-like symptoms. The only way to know how severe an ulcer is, or if your horse even has one, is by your veterinarian performing an endoscopy.
Prevention is the best cure, and can be done by feeding your horse several small, more frequent meals rather than two or three bigs ones, or allowing him to graze all day if possible. Reducing grain may also help. Essential oils, too, can assist with the prevention of stomach ulcers, according to Lisa Carter from Heavenly Gaits Equine Massage. She recommends three to five drops of copaiba oil between the lip and gum, taken two to three times a day.
Colic
There are several types of colic: impaction, gas, and intestinal twists. The first is caused by solid food becoming lodged inside of the digestive tract, and can be prevented by providing plenty of fresh, clean water for your horse to drink. Gas colic, as the name suggests, is when a horse becomes bloated and gassy. It can be caused by too much starchy grains or by a sudden change of diet and is not as serious as other kinds of colic. Torsion colic, or an intestional twist, is the worst, but also the most rare, kind. Only surgery can fix it. Since it usually isn't readily apparent what type of colic has occured, call you veternarian as soon as you notice any symptons.
Laminitis
Laminitis can also be very serious. It is an inflammation in the hooves and can be caused by a horse eating food high in non-structural carbohydrates(sugar, starch, etc.). Limiting concentrate feed(grain) to 1/2% of your horses body weight or less per meal can help prevent laminitis.
Understanding your horse's digestive system is a huge step in creating a healthy, happy horse.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Naturally Treat a Horse's Wounds
Horses tend to get themselves into a lot of scrapes, sometimes coming out of the pasture with cuts or wounds on them. While these wounds generally aren't serious, it is still helpful to learn how to treat these them, preventing infection and helping them to heal more quickly.
The first thing to do if your horse comes out of the pasture with a wound is to check how serious it is. Is the wound just a slight cut or is it deep enough to require stitches? It is not really necessary to call the veterinarian it the wound is not deep or does not have a flap of skin hanging off. Use your best judgement.
Next, clean out the wound as best as you can and apply an ointment or spray. I use the Animal Scents Ointment for my dog when she gets wounds. It can be mixed with five drops each of Thieves, Melrose, and Helichrysum for every tablespoon of ointment. It is helpful to set aside a small amount of the ointment as you will not be using the whole container. Apply the ointment several times a day. Don't use a lot–a little goes a long way.
Something that I often use, both for myself and for my dog, is a mist spray. I pour some distilled water into a small glass spritz bottle and mix several different anti-infectious oils in with it. I generally use Purification, although lavender, Melrose, helichrysum, myrrh, and other anti-infectious oils can be used in addition to or in place of Purification. This spray can be sprayed several times a day or as often as needed.
If the wound is bleeding a lot, take some sterile gauze and hold it to the wound to stop the bleeding. If you plan on putting your horse in the pasture, or even his, it's a good idea to keep the gauze on; it will help keep the wound clean and prevent in infection. Take the bandage off several times a day to spray it or put ointment on it, then put it back on. You can use both the spray and the ointment, but if you do, you should apply the ointment after the spray.
The first thing to do if your horse comes out of the pasture with a wound is to check how serious it is. Is the wound just a slight cut or is it deep enough to require stitches? It is not really necessary to call the veterinarian it the wound is not deep or does not have a flap of skin hanging off. Use your best judgement.
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| click to enlarge. |
Something that I often use, both for myself and for my dog, is a mist spray. I pour some distilled water into a small glass spritz bottle and mix several different anti-infectious oils in with it. I generally use Purification, although lavender, Melrose, helichrysum, myrrh, and other anti-infectious oils can be used in addition to or in place of Purification. This spray can be sprayed several times a day or as often as needed.
If the wound is bleeding a lot, take some sterile gauze and hold it to the wound to stop the bleeding. If you plan on putting your horse in the pasture, or even his, it's a good idea to keep the gauze on; it will help keep the wound clean and prevent in infection. Take the bandage off several times a day to spray it or put ointment on it, then put it back on. You can use both the spray and the ointment, but if you do, you should apply the ointment after the spray.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Natural Treatment for Saddle Sores
When being ridden, a horse may develop saddle sores–wounds caused by ill-fitting tack, unbalanced riders, or people who ride their horse to roughly. Chafing of the saddle can will create little inflamed abrasions, and continuous use of the poorly-fitting saddle will worsen the wound. Sometimes, after the wound has healed, white hair will grow back where the sore once was, permanently marking the spot.
There are several types of saddle sores: saddle galls, an abrasion caused by the tack rubbing parts of the skin; and heat rashes, rashes caused by dirty saddle pads or even allergic reaction to a synthetic pad. Heat rashes can turn into saddle sores if the cause is left unfixed.
Once a horse has a saddle sore, you should immediately find the problem and fix it. Does the saddle not fit? Are you leaning a little to one side when you ride instead of staying centered in the saddle? Is the pad wrinkled? Does it have dirt, leaves, or other lumps on it? Once you discover what the problem is, you can work on fixing it. The best thing to do is to stop riding for a week or two until the sore heals completely.
According to the Animal Desk Reference, there are several oils that can be used to help heal the saddle sore, whether is is raw, something that occurs in extreme cases, or just slightly swollen. The book recommends applying several drops of Melrose or/and Idaho balsam fir on the wound daily. Other excellent oils include Roman chamomile, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, and myrrh. You can also use the Animal Scents Ointment one to two times a day, mixing a small amount of it with some of the above oils if desired.
Of course, prevention is the best cure. Before tacking up, you should make sure your horse doesn't have an dirt on his back, brushing him down if necessary. Make sure the saddle pad is smooth before you place the saddle on his back. If you need to adjust the saddle, do not slide it forward, an act that can wrinkle both the saddle pad and the horses hair. Instead, lift it and set it into place.
There are several types of saddle sores: saddle galls, an abrasion caused by the tack rubbing parts of the skin; and heat rashes, rashes caused by dirty saddle pads or even allergic reaction to a synthetic pad. Heat rashes can turn into saddle sores if the cause is left unfixed.
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| Click to enlarge. |
Once a horse has a saddle sore, you should immediately find the problem and fix it. Does the saddle not fit? Are you leaning a little to one side when you ride instead of staying centered in the saddle? Is the pad wrinkled? Does it have dirt, leaves, or other lumps on it? Once you discover what the problem is, you can work on fixing it. The best thing to do is to stop riding for a week or two until the sore heals completely.
According to the Animal Desk Reference, there are several oils that can be used to help heal the saddle sore, whether is is raw, something that occurs in extreme cases, or just slightly swollen. The book recommends applying several drops of Melrose or/and Idaho balsam fir on the wound daily. Other excellent oils include Roman chamomile, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, and myrrh. You can also use the Animal Scents Ointment one to two times a day, mixing a small amount of it with some of the above oils if desired.
Of course, prevention is the best cure. Before tacking up, you should make sure your horse doesn't have an dirt on his back, brushing him down if necessary. Make sure the saddle pad is smooth before you place the saddle on his back. If you need to adjust the saddle, do not slide it forward, an act that can wrinkle both the saddle pad and the horses hair. Instead, lift it and set it into place.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Natural Treatments for Thrush
Thrush is a hoof infection that many horse owners are aware of. It is caused by not properly caring for the hooves, especially in a wet, muddy environment, or by not mucking out the horses stall and or not changing the bedding often enough. This buildup of moist debris allows bacteria, commonly Fusobacterium necrophorum, to grow in the hoof. The result is a frog with a putrid-smelly, greasy black substance coming from. If caught early enough, you can stop the infection from spreading to inside of the hoof, causing lameness. A good way to prevent thrush is by regularly scheduling your farrier visits and making sure your horse's paddock and stall is clean and dry.
If your horse gets thrush, the first thing you have to do is get him to a dry, clean environment. Make sure to pick out his hooves daily. Thus prevents more bacteria from building up. A helpful strategy is to use a popsicle stick to clean the frog and heel bulbs.
You should also make sure you disinfect to the kill the bacteria. According to Melissa Shelton, DVM, you apply several drops of Thieves oil blend directly to the affected area two to four times a day or as often as needed. Other oils you can apply are cassia, cinnamon, eucalyptus globulus, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, melaleuca, alternifolia, mountain savory, ocotea, oregano, black pepper, and thyme. You can also use the following oil blends in addition to the Thieves oil blend: Abundance, Exodus II, Melrose, Purification, R.C.(Respiratory Congestion), Thieves Household Cleaner, and Thieves Spray.
It is important that you use at least one of these oils several times a day on the infected hoof. Apply several drops of the oil directly onto the infected and clean out the hoof. Also, it is important to talk to your farrier if your horse gets thrush, as he may be able to help by shoeing your horses(if he isn't already) and trimming his hooves regularly.
If your horse gets thrush, the first thing you have to do is get him to a dry, clean environment. Make sure to pick out his hooves daily. Thus prevents more bacteria from building up. A helpful strategy is to use a popsicle stick to clean the frog and heel bulbs.
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| Click to enlarge |
You should also make sure you disinfect to the kill the bacteria. According to Melissa Shelton, DVM, you apply several drops of Thieves oil blend directly to the affected area two to four times a day or as often as needed. Other oils you can apply are cassia, cinnamon, eucalyptus globulus, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, melaleuca, alternifolia, mountain savory, ocotea, oregano, black pepper, and thyme. You can also use the following oil blends in addition to the Thieves oil blend: Abundance, Exodus II, Melrose, Purification, R.C.(Respiratory Congestion), Thieves Household Cleaner, and Thieves Spray.
It is important that you use at least one of these oils several times a day on the infected hoof. Apply several drops of the oil directly onto the infected and clean out the hoof. Also, it is important to talk to your farrier if your horse gets thrush, as he may be able to help by shoeing your horses(if he isn't already) and trimming his hooves regularly.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Snakes and Horses
Summer is here, and almost everyone is ready to enjoy some time with their horse during the long days. However, snakes pose a great hazard, especially if you live in a hot, dry climate with long grass. People living in Western and Eastern states are on the lookout for rattlesnakes, the most common type in the area. In the Southeast, you are most likely watching for water moccasins and copperheads, who live in humid climates. No matter where you live, though, snakes are most likely a major concern during the summer for both you and your horse.
Snake bites in horses most often occur when a horse is grazing and is bitten on the muzzle by a resting snake. When that happens, the horse's muzzle will quickly begin to swell, possibly blocking his airways. He may begin to appear depressed before the swelling even begins. If you see a pair punctures in the horse's muzzle, tell-tale signs that he has been bitten, phone the veterinarian immediately.
While you wait, keep a close eye on the horse, making sure that he doesn't show any signs of respiratory distress. If he does, insert a syringe case, a segment of a garden hose, or another tubular item as far as you can into his nostrils so that he can breathe as his face continues to swell.
Be warned that snake bites can become infected with bacteria from the Clostridia family, which can cause infections such as tetanus or sepsis.
Fortunately, no venom is injected in almost 20% of rattlesnakes, and most adult horses survive, even if venom is injected. However, bites are most deadly when inflicted to one of the horse's lower limbs. As the wound swells, the blood flow into the limb can become restricted, and a near fatal crisis can occur.
Veterinary treatment for snake bites uses anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics since antivenin is expensive and most horse respond well to other treatments for snake bites anyways.
While waiting for the vet to arrive, try spraying the wound with Melrose and Purification to reduce infection. Clove can also be helpful to fight infection.
Make sure to closely monitor any horse that has been bitten, even if medical treatment has already been administered. Ensure that he is able to breathe, eat, and drink properly. Also, keeping him in a stable until he is well is advised because some cases can cause altered liver function, which photosensitivity. Keeping a photosensitive horse in the sun can have adverse effects to his body and skin.
One way to prevent snake bites is to make sure no rodents get in the stable. Store food where rodents can't get to them, preferably in a rodent-proof container, thus attracting less snakes. Also, if you live in an area where snakes such as water moccasins and cottonmouths regularly patrol the waterways, check for them before leading your horse in to drink.
This post is linked to: The Home Acre Hop
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| Always watch for venomous snakes, such as this rattler. (credit) |
While you wait, keep a close eye on the horse, making sure that he doesn't show any signs of respiratory distress. If he does, insert a syringe case, a segment of a garden hose, or another tubular item as far as you can into his nostrils so that he can breathe as his face continues to swell.
Be warned that snake bites can become infected with bacteria from the Clostridia family, which can cause infections such as tetanus or sepsis.
Fortunately, no venom is injected in almost 20% of rattlesnakes, and most adult horses survive, even if venom is injected. However, bites are most deadly when inflicted to one of the horse's lower limbs. As the wound swells, the blood flow into the limb can become restricted, and a near fatal crisis can occur.
Veterinary treatment for snake bites uses anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics since antivenin is expensive and most horse respond well to other treatments for snake bites anyways.
While waiting for the vet to arrive, try spraying the wound with Melrose and Purification to reduce infection. Clove can also be helpful to fight infection.
Make sure to closely monitor any horse that has been bitten, even if medical treatment has already been administered. Ensure that he is able to breathe, eat, and drink properly. Also, keeping him in a stable until he is well is advised because some cases can cause altered liver function, which photosensitivity. Keeping a photosensitive horse in the sun can have adverse effects to his body and skin.
One way to prevent snake bites is to make sure no rodents get in the stable. Store food where rodents can't get to them, preferably in a rodent-proof container, thus attracting less snakes. Also, if you live in an area where snakes such as water moccasins and cottonmouths regularly patrol the waterways, check for them before leading your horse in to drink.
This post is linked to: The Home Acre Hop
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Insect-Borne Illnesses and Horses
Insect-Borne Diseases
It's summer, and bugs, ranging from flies to mosquitoes, can be found everywhere. Besides being irritating for both you and your horse, they can carry all manners of diseases. Fortunately, horses are vaccinated against Equine encephalitis and West Nile Virus, two of the most common ones for mosquitoes to spread.
Flies, too, can spread diseases. Among them are Equine infectious anemia(similar to HIV), which causes the body to waste away. Horses are vaccinated against EIA and are annually tested(Coggins test).
Furthermore, flies can carry parasites. Bot flies lay their yellow eggs on a horse's leg, where he is most likely to lick them off, continuing their life cycle in the horse's stomach. Black flies spread onchocerca cervicals, a hair-loss causing parasite.If Onchocerca spreads to the eye, it can cause anterior uveitis, also known as moon blindness. Face flies are known to transmit thelazia and stable flies(habronema) lay larvae in the horse's eyes and mouth, causing ulcers. Another fly, the warble fly(hypoderma), cause swollen nodules. Warble flies usually go for cattle, so check horses that are pastured near cows often.
Fortunately, if a horse gets any of these parasites, they can just be dewormed by your vet.
Some biting flies can carry pigeon fever, a disease found in hot, dry climates. Pigeon fever causes swelling in the abdomen and chest. It comes from the bacteria Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Unfortunately, a vaccine is not yet available, but scientists are currently studying one.
Another common disease-causing insect is the tick, which is known for causing ehrlichiosis, Lyme, and piroplasmosis. Deer ticks most commonly cause Lyme since the carry the organism know as Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme commonly causes shifting lameness, arthritis, stiffness, muscle pain, fever, behavioral changes, uveitis, weight loss, and neurological problems. Blood tests can identify what sort of treatment is necessary.
Insect Repellant
There are many essential oils that can repel insects, including ticks, and boost the horse's immune system to decrease his chances of developing Lyme. Try anti-viral, anti-infectious, immune-system boosting oils. Many people recommend using pure, therapeutic grade essential oils. The more drops of oil you use, the better because you may need something stronger for horses, but keep in mind that some of these oils can burn if you use too much. I recommend putting several drops of the following into a spritz bottle filled with clean water(leave a little bit of room):
Directions: Spray on your horse at least once a day, especially before you let him out. The more often you spray, the better.
Tick Removal Regimen
Never pull a tick off the horse. A good tick-fighting oil is said to be Palo Santo, so put a drop of pure oil on a tick and wait for it to let go. Afterwards, spray the wound with the insect repellant I talked about earlier to prevent infection. Tea tree is known to work great to prevent infection.
Prevention is the Best
Grooming your horse daily is a good way to watch for ticks and keep insects away. Also, keeping the stable and paddock area clean can reduce the number of insects that pester you and your horse.
It's summer, and bugs, ranging from flies to mosquitoes, can be found everywhere. Besides being irritating for both you and your horse, they can carry all manners of diseases. Fortunately, horses are vaccinated against Equine encephalitis and West Nile Virus, two of the most common ones for mosquitoes to spread.
Flies, too, can spread diseases. Among them are Equine infectious anemia(similar to HIV), which causes the body to waste away. Horses are vaccinated against EIA and are annually tested(Coggins test).
Furthermore, flies can carry parasites. Bot flies lay their yellow eggs on a horse's leg, where he is most likely to lick them off, continuing their life cycle in the horse's stomach. Black flies spread onchocerca cervicals, a hair-loss causing parasite.If Onchocerca spreads to the eye, it can cause anterior uveitis, also known as moon blindness. Face flies are known to transmit thelazia and stable flies(habronema) lay larvae in the horse's eyes and mouth, causing ulcers. Another fly, the warble fly(hypoderma), cause swollen nodules. Warble flies usually go for cattle, so check horses that are pastured near cows often.
Fortunately, if a horse gets any of these parasites, they can just be dewormed by your vet.
Some biting flies can carry pigeon fever, a disease found in hot, dry climates. Pigeon fever causes swelling in the abdomen and chest. It comes from the bacteria Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Unfortunately, a vaccine is not yet available, but scientists are currently studying one.
Another common disease-causing insect is the tick, which is known for causing ehrlichiosis, Lyme, and piroplasmosis. Deer ticks most commonly cause Lyme since the carry the organism know as Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme commonly causes shifting lameness, arthritis, stiffness, muscle pain, fever, behavioral changes, uveitis, weight loss, and neurological problems. Blood tests can identify what sort of treatment is necessary.
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| Fly sheets can minimize the number of flies that land on your horse(credit). |
There are many essential oils that can repel insects, including ticks, and boost the horse's immune system to decrease his chances of developing Lyme. Try anti-viral, anti-infectious, immune-system boosting oils. Many people recommend using pure, therapeutic grade essential oils. The more drops of oil you use, the better because you may need something stronger for horses, but keep in mind that some of these oils can burn if you use too much. I recommend putting several drops of the following into a spritz bottle filled with clean water(leave a little bit of room):
- Geranium has been to repel insects and help good for skin problems
- Palo Santo is said to be very effective in removing ticks.
- Rosewood oil is used for fungal skin conditions, infections, and works well against parasites.
- Thyme is anti-fungal, anti-infectious, and anti-viral. It is used to prevent infection and boost the immune system. be warned, though, that Thyme is strong, so be careful using it undiluted.
- Myrrh is said to be anti-infectious, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic. It is commonly used for ticks.
- Peppermint is also said to work well against ticks.
Directions: Spray on your horse at least once a day, especially before you let him out. The more often you spray, the better.
Tick Removal Regimen
Never pull a tick off the horse. A good tick-fighting oil is said to be Palo Santo, so put a drop of pure oil on a tick and wait for it to let go. Afterwards, spray the wound with the insect repellant I talked about earlier to prevent infection. Tea tree is known to work great to prevent infection.
Prevention is the Best
Grooming your horse daily is a good way to watch for ticks and keep insects away. Also, keeping the stable and paddock area clean can reduce the number of insects that pester you and your horse.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Heat Stroke in Horses
During the summer months, many people enjoy riding horses, but riding in hot weather involves some hazards, such as heat stroke. More than half the energy a horse uses for muscular activity is converted into heat. As the heat rises, his muscles demand more and more oxygen until his muscles become fatigued, resulting in heat stroke or heat stress. High temperatures and humidity definitely play an important factor in this, though heat stress is most commonly caused by overexertion and/or exercising in a way that causes him to overheat for an extended period of time.
The longer the horse exercises, the more fluids and electrolytes he loses, which also contributes to heat stress. Though racehorses are often lathered in sweat after a race, the exertion does not last long and their fluids are quickly replenished. However, longer exercises, such as endurance racing and eventing, leads to prolonged dehydration and imbalances in the electrolytes since fluids are continuously being lost through sweat to cool down the working muscles.
Performance horses are conditioned so that their muscles work more efficiently, meaning that less heat is generated during workouts.
Knowing how well your horse handles exercising in high temperatures is key to preventing heat stress. You should learn how to measure his vital signs, too. No matter how intense the workout, once the horse has stopped, his heart rate should be at 60 beats per minute(bpm) or lower and he should make less than 60 respirations per minute. After a moderate workout, his heart rate should return to less than 60 bpm within 10 minutes.
Other symptoms are depression, weakness, lack of appetite or thirst, hot and dry skin, and a lackluster appearance.
Try to keep the horse cool during the day. For example, use fans, cold water soaks, ice boots, and shade, and offer him plenty of water; it is very important that he hydrates. Adding a few drops of peppermint to his water can help him keep cool and tastes good, too(horses love peppermint).
After an exercise, walk him to allow his muscles to cool before completing the workout, then let him drink all the water he wants if he just completed an aerobic exercise. If the exercise was anaerobic, then let him drink only in small intervals until he has cooled down. Ideally, the best time to ride is in the morning or evening, when it is cool.
The same advice also applies to trailering. Trailering in early morning or evening is a good way to prevent heat stress and dehydration. Always make sure to give your horse water every few hours while trailering, which also prevents heat stress.
If your horse does get heat stroke, try cooling him down while you wait for the vet to arrive. Adding a few drops peppermint oil to bucket of cool water and then sponging the horse down can have a cooling effect. A fan can also help.
Once the vet comes, he/she will treat the horse with intravenous fluids to restore hydration, maintain circulatory health, and cool the internal organs and muscles.
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| When a horse exercises for a long period of time, such as this eventing horse, he continuously loses fluids and electrolytes through sweat.(credit) |
Performance horses are conditioned so that their muscles work more efficiently, meaning that less heat is generated during workouts.
Knowing how well your horse handles exercising in high temperatures is key to preventing heat stress. You should learn how to measure his vital signs, too. No matter how intense the workout, once the horse has stopped, his heart rate should be at 60 beats per minute(bpm) or lower and he should make less than 60 respirations per minute. After a moderate workout, his heart rate should return to less than 60 bpm within 10 minutes.
Other symptoms are depression, weakness, lack of appetite or thirst, hot and dry skin, and a lackluster appearance.
Try to keep the horse cool during the day. For example, use fans, cold water soaks, ice boots, and shade, and offer him plenty of water; it is very important that he hydrates. Adding a few drops of peppermint to his water can help him keep cool and tastes good, too(horses love peppermint).
After an exercise, walk him to allow his muscles to cool before completing the workout, then let him drink all the water he wants if he just completed an aerobic exercise. If the exercise was anaerobic, then let him drink only in small intervals until he has cooled down. Ideally, the best time to ride is in the morning or evening, when it is cool.
The same advice also applies to trailering. Trailering in early morning or evening is a good way to prevent heat stress and dehydration. Always make sure to give your horse water every few hours while trailering, which also prevents heat stress.
If your horse does get heat stroke, try cooling him down while you wait for the vet to arrive. Adding a few drops peppermint oil to bucket of cool water and then sponging the horse down can have a cooling effect. A fan can also help.
Once the vet comes, he/she will treat the horse with intravenous fluids to restore hydration, maintain circulatory health, and cool the internal organs and muscles.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
How to Treat Hoof Infections Naturally
Everyone knows how important a hoof is to a horse---no hoof, no horse. Horses have used hooves in self-defense and to protect the soft, frog inside of the wall. But what if a hoof becomes so infected that your veterinarian suggests amputation? What do you do then?
This same exact thing happened to a show horse in 2000. Even though the pastern and coronet band were swollen to the size of a cantaloupe, the owner did not decide to amputate, as the vet had suggested. Instead, he used essentials oils to relieve the swelling. It worked miracles.
Day 1:
According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference, you should cleanse the wound with Thieves oil blend and helichrysum(a type a plant belonging to the daisy family), then bandage it. When this had been done to the show horse I have previously mentioned, the pain was alleviated enough for the horse to stand on the foot.
Day 2:
By the next day, the swelling in the show horse's hoof had gone down by 50%. They(the owners) once more cleansed the wound with Thieves and helichrysum before filling it with Animal Scents Ointment.
Day 3-14
For the next twelve days, the wound was cleansed morning and night with Thieves, Melrose, and helichrysum, then filled with Animal Scents Ointment.
Today, the horse walks as well as it used to, displaying no discomfort. At first, the pastern was still slightly swollen, but it was healed completely in within eight months, and only a small scar remains on the pastern.
This same exact thing happened to a show horse in 2000. Even though the pastern and coronet band were swollen to the size of a cantaloupe, the owner did not decide to amputate, as the vet had suggested. Instead, he used essentials oils to relieve the swelling. It worked miracles.
Day 1:
According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference, you should cleanse the wound with Thieves oil blend and helichrysum(a type a plant belonging to the daisy family), then bandage it. When this had been done to the show horse I have previously mentioned, the pain was alleviated enough for the horse to stand on the foot.
Day 2:
By the next day, the swelling in the show horse's hoof had gone down by 50%. They(the owners) once more cleansed the wound with Thieves and helichrysum before filling it with Animal Scents Ointment.
Day 3-14
For the next twelve days, the wound was cleansed morning and night with Thieves, Melrose, and helichrysum, then filled with Animal Scents Ointment.
Today, the horse walks as well as it used to, displaying no discomfort. At first, the pastern was still slightly swollen, but it was healed completely in within eight months, and only a small scar remains on the pastern.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Aromatherapy for Horses: Peace & Calming Essential Oil Blend
Have you ever seen or ridden a very jittery horse that spooked at everything it saw? Maybe you have been trying to introduce your horse to a new environment or train it for something it has never done before. If you have ever been around horses, you know how hard this can be and probably ask yourself if there is something you can do to ease this stress.
The answer to that question is yes, something can be done. You can use essential oils.
Essential oils are potent, concentrated oils made of plants, such as flowers or herbs. These may include lavender, calendula, chamomile, basil, oregano, and many others. The oils are far more potent than just plain herbs or flowers. As plants dry, they lose potency, but if they are distilled when fresh, the resulting oil is as potent as the day the plant was picked.
For example, it takes about 28 cups of peppermint tea to equal the healing powers of one drop of peppermint oil. Also, it takes 5,000 pounds if rose petals to produce one pint of rose oil and 2-3 tons of melissa plant to make a pound of oil. As you can see, there is a lot of nutrients per drop.
Not only do they improve health, but the also lighten mood and relieve stress. Studies have shown that the fragrances create strong effects on both the limbic (this controls the emotions) and the hypothalamus(controls hormones) systems.
Now let's return to the original question. How can you make a jittery horse relax? Horses, too, can benefit from the oils I previously mentioned. A brilliant blend to use for this is Peace & Calming(an oil blend from Young Living), as the name suggests.
Anytime something stresses your horse out, try letting it inhale the oil. You can even diffuse it in the horse trailer using Young Living's portable essential oil diffuser whenever you bring your horse to shows, competitions, or anywhere else.
Horses can only learn when they are calm and actually focused on learning, not running. Because of this, Peace & Calming can also be used before your horses's training sessions to make sure he or she gets the most out the it.
As you can see, Peace & Calming can be used anytime your horse is either stressed because exposure to something new, or frightened. Don't forgot, though, that essential oils work just as well for humans as it does for horses. You can use it to relieve your own stress and anxiety. Remember that if ever feel stressed about a
If you are interested in learning more about essential oils or want to buy some for yourself, hop over Jo's Health Corner
The answer to that question is yes, something can be done. You can use essential oils.
 |
| Click here to learn more |
For example, it takes about 28 cups of peppermint tea to equal the healing powers of one drop of peppermint oil. Also, it takes 5,000 pounds if rose petals to produce one pint of rose oil and 2-3 tons of melissa plant to make a pound of oil. As you can see, there is a lot of nutrients per drop.
Not only do they improve health, but the also lighten mood and relieve stress. Studies have shown that the fragrances create strong effects on both the limbic (this controls the emotions) and the hypothalamus(controls hormones) systems.
Now let's return to the original question. How can you make a jittery horse relax? Horses, too, can benefit from the oils I previously mentioned. A brilliant blend to use for this is Peace & Calming(an oil blend from Young Living), as the name suggests.
Anytime something stresses your horse out, try letting it inhale the oil. You can even diffuse it in the horse trailer using Young Living's portable essential oil diffuser whenever you bring your horse to shows, competitions, or anywhere else.
Horses can only learn when they are calm and actually focused on learning, not running. Because of this, Peace & Calming can also be used before your horses's training sessions to make sure he or she gets the most out the it.
As you can see, Peace & Calming can be used anytime your horse is either stressed because exposure to something new, or frightened. Don't forgot, though, that essential oils work just as well for humans as it does for horses. You can use it to relieve your own stress and anxiety. Remember that if ever feel stressed about a
If you are interested in learning more about essential oils or want to buy some for yourself, hop over Jo's Health Corner
Friday, March 22, 2013
Aromatherapy for Horses: Lavender Essential Oil
Throughout the centuries, humans have used flower remedies, called essential oils, to heal or to strengthen the immune system. In fact, some doctors even use them today. But did you know that lavender can be used to calm horses?
Recently, the McNeese State University has performed a study on the affects of lavender on horses. Horses are timid by nature. When their acute ears hear something unusual, or if they notice something strange, their instinct tells them to run.
In humans, therapeutic oils such as lavender can reduce both stress and anxiety. So Dr. Ferguson, an animal scientist from MSU, decided to test this method of calming on horses. He states that environmental stimuli can cause chronic stress in many animals, horses included.
After taking their resting heart rate, Ferguson exposed two groups of horse to humidified air, which caused stress. Then one group was allowed to sniff lavender from an essential oil air diffuser. One minute later, both group's heart rate were measured, and the students working on the project discovered that the horses exposed to lavender had a slower heart rate than that of the control group.
"...There was a significant decrease in the change of heart rate from the stressed heart rate to the recovery heart rate in lavender-treated horses compared to the other group," explains Dr. Ferguson.
Dr. Ferguson recommends the use of lavender in horses during post-competion examinations or any other time that your horse may be stressed. He also says that aromatherapy is beneficial to the equine industry.
This study has proven that lavender really can relieve stress in your horse just like it can relieve your own stress.
For more information on essential oils, visit:
McNeese State University: MSU study on aromatherapy for horses published
 |
| This photograph comes from the McNeese State University website(see bottom of post). |
In humans, therapeutic oils such as lavender can reduce both stress and anxiety. So Dr. Ferguson, an animal scientist from MSU, decided to test this method of calming on horses. He states that environmental stimuli can cause chronic stress in many animals, horses included.
After taking their resting heart rate, Ferguson exposed two groups of horse to humidified air, which caused stress. Then one group was allowed to sniff lavender from an essential oil air diffuser. One minute later, both group's heart rate were measured, and the students working on the project discovered that the horses exposed to lavender had a slower heart rate than that of the control group.
"...There was a significant decrease in the change of heart rate from the stressed heart rate to the recovery heart rate in lavender-treated horses compared to the other group," explains Dr. Ferguson.
Dr. Ferguson recommends the use of lavender in horses during post-competion examinations or any other time that your horse may be stressed. He also says that aromatherapy is beneficial to the equine industry.
This study has proven that lavender really can relieve stress in your horse just like it can relieve your own stress.
For more information on essential oils, visit:
McNeese State University: MSU study on aromatherapy for horses published
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