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What Is A Wellness Visit

Posted in Uncategorized | August 27th, 2011

what is a wellness visit
How often do horses need a visit from the vet, just for a wellness check?

I’m considering buying or leasing a horse, so I’m trying to find out all I can. How often do horses need to see vets, for a wellness check? Are there other checkups horses should get regularly?

Also, what are some preventive measures you can take to reduce the risk of minor to major injuries and illnesses?
sorry the link Veda V posted didn’t work on my computer…
also, how often do horses need vaccines, on average (i know different ones are supposed to be done at different times, but in general)? or their teeth floated or checked up on?
i’m not planning to show for a while, or maybe a schooling show once or twice in the summer. not any major ones at all.

Mine are seen twice a year, but they are older and I monitor them closely since they have metabolic syndromes and are on daily dewormer and paste, so I do bloodwork to assure their kidney and liver functions are intact. A young healthy horse should still be seen once a year by your vet, in my opinion.

What I do to maintain my horse’s wellness includes:

Maintaining a consistent, correct diet (I research this and work with my vet)
Deworming
Have my barefoot trimmer out every 5 weeks….6 at most
Manage their pastures to eliminate weeds and maintain grasses
Provide safe fencing and keep their areas clean and hazard-free
Float teeth as needed
Vaccines twice a year at vet visits and per what she advises
Pick hooves and groom daily
Provide ample fresh water
They are out 24/7 with a large run-in shelter. Fans run 24/7 in the run in all summer, and the water is heated in winter. The shelter is matted and enclosed on three sides at both ends. I keep the manure picked up and use fly masks and insect repellent on them in summer, and use fly traps to keep the populations down.
My horses are 22 and 23, and are literally never sick. they are barefoot, and never have hoof problems. So the way they are maintained is working well for them. I also never blanket them, and they are out even in the coldest of weather without a sniffle (it gets as low as -40 F here).