“Ten Tips To Prepare For A Vet Visit”
10 Tips To Prepare For A Vet Visit
About Andrea
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http://horsechats.com/Andrea Riedel-Carrison.
About This Epsiode
” Ten Tips: Preparing for a Vet Visit ”
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” Ten Tips: Preparing for a Vet Visit “
1: Well secured exam area
Pre-purchase or lameness examinations need to be conducted in a well lit secure area preferable undercover in winter.
Owners may possibly need to book an indoor arena, the vet clinic may have a suitable area to do a physical examination, but not enough area to see the horse moving in hand or ridden.
Some vets like to see a ridden/competition horse in a strange environment to asses temperament.
2: Rubber flooring
Vets find treating young horses a constant challenge, as they can be very sensitive to strangers and may have had limited handling. A 12 x 12 minimum area with rubber flooring is preferred.
Older horses can also be difficult to handle, there are many who find getting needles very sensitive, especially if they are ex-race horses.
3: Well lit area.
Good lighting is essential for vets especially for eye examinations, preferably the area would also be undercover.
4: Electricity
This is essential for examinations that may involve the use of a scanner or clippers.
Using a scanner outside is very difficult as the sunlight on the screen makes it very hard to interpret/read.
5: Large flat non slip surface area.
For a lameness examination it is essential the surface is level and not slippery.
It is usually a process of elimination by the vet to diagnose the problem area.
Often starting at the hoof and working up the leg.
The examination often involves a flexion test. This is when the horses leg is held in an elevated position by the vet with the joint to be checked bent to apply a small amount of stress, for a measured length of time, before the horse needs to trot smartly away from the vet in a straight line, led by the owner. This examination may involve all 4 legs during the examination.
6: Lunging
This is essential for a non broken in horse that is having a pre-purchase examination, or a lameness examination.
The vet usually needs to see the horse is walk/trot/canter in both directions.
If the horse has not been taught to lunge, a property with a round yard will need to be organised by the owner prior to the vet visit.
7: Twitch
Horses will need to get used to having a twitch used as an aide to help the horse stand still for an examination or tube drenching for sand or worms.
It is very important that during some visits the horse does not move i.e. during an eye examination, or applying eye medication. Or during tube drenching when a length of plastic flexible pipe is passed up the horses nostril and into the stomach, it is very important the vet is sure the tube goes into the stomach and not the lungs.
8: Clean water available.
Clean water is essential, with hot and cold if possible. This is necessary if a vet needs to clean instruments with a sterile scrub solution diluted in water, prior to stitching wounds.
The wound itself will need to have a surgical scrub before surgery, often several times with several changes of sterile solution and water.
Cleaning of a hoof prior to drilling out an abscess, and before applying a poultice is also necessary.
After treatment the vet will need to clean up themselves and their instruments, as they will often travel onto the next client without returning to the clinic first.
9: Extra set of hands
Very often vets are dealing with owners that have not always been bought up with horses. In this case it would be essential for the owner to organise another horsey person, to be at the examination.
In stressful vet visits the owners are often given a lot of after care information and medication to be given in the following days/weeks, and it is much better if there is another non emotional person to also hear the information given.
This person may also be the one to give on going medication in the next few days after the visit. i.e. penicillin injections or wound dressing changes.
Another example of an additional person, would be during a visit where the farrier needs to be involved to possibly make up a shoe to help treat the horse with a lameness issue.
10: Crush
A crush can be an essential item depending on the purpose of the vet visit. Scans of tendons or internal organs often need to be performed with the horse in a crush.
Sometimes it is essential for the horse being examined for the above reasons to be sedated as well.
A crush can often be essential for the safety of the vet and the owners.
If the horse owner does not have a crush at their property, they will need to pre-organise with the vet to book a facility, that has one available.
Many vet clinics that treat horses, will have a crush available to be used.
Time Stamps
00:53 – Background
01:12 – Why it is important to prepare for a vet visit
02:00 – 1: Well secured exam area
05:24 – 2: Rubber flooring
08:04 – 3: Well lit area.
09:52 – 4: Electricity
12:00 – 5: Large flat non slip surface area.
15:20 – 6: Lunging
17:30 – 8: Clean water available.
20:15 – 7: Twitch
21:15 – 9: Extra set of hands
23:15 – 10: Crush
26:27 – Summary
30:12 – Contact: see details below
Andrea’s Contact Details
Phone: 08 8726 8202 or +61 8 8726 8202 or
0417 849 754 or +61 417 849 754
Email: craig.carrison@bigpond.com
Facebook: Hi-Pine Equestrian Centre
Music
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