Seasonal Information
Spring Fling!
Spring is here, and it’s time to plan for your horse’s Annual Wellness Exam and spring vaccinations. [Read more about our Wellness Goals.]
Annual Wellness Exam
Spring Vaccinations
- Eastern & Western Encephalomyelitis
- West Nile Virus
- Tetanus
- Rabies
- Influenza (we recommend Intra-Nasal vaccine for competing, boarded, or at risk horses)
- Rhinopneumonitis
- (Situational vaccines: Strangles, Potomac Horse Fever, Botulism)
Coggins Test
Fecal Egg Count
Do just before Spring deworming. Lets you know how well your parasite control/deworming program is working. This gives an actual count, rather than just an estimate. It requires 2-3 fecal balls. If your horse is rubbing his/her tail, we also recommend a perineal scraping sample to check for pinworms.
Competition Horses
Selenium Blood Level: Selenium is a micronutrient that is low in the soils in the Northeast and therefore can also be low in feeds grown here. Deficiencies in selenium can cause weight loss, performance problems, muscle soreness and ill thrift in addition to other health issues. A yearly blood level is recommended for all performance horses to make sure that he/she is receiving enough, but not too much, selenium in the diet.
Complete Blood Count & Serum Chemistry
Get a baseline on your horse before the competitions. Check for underlying anemia, low blood protein, and muscle or internal organ problems before they become an issue.
Vitamin E Serum Level
A fat-soluble vitamin, found in fresh grass and in fresh hay, Vitamin E dissipates rapidly in stored hay. Vitamin E works with Selenium, and is important to muscle function.