SPOTTING SIGNS OF TROUBLE

Knowing your horse’s normal behaviour is the best way to identify any abnormalities. Seek veterinary advice if you spot any of the following: Quidding (dropping partially chewed food from the mouth while eating). Coughing or retching after feeding, excessive salivation and food coming from the nose or mouth may indicate your horse is trying to dislodge food during an episode of choke. Changes in behaviour, grumpiness when being girthed, weight loss or poor performance — any of these could be indications of ulcers forming. Changes in your horse’s manure, as this may reveal information about hydration, efficiency of digestion or parasitic burden. Flank watching, rolling, box walking, lack of appetite, vocalising, looking dull/quiet, diarrhoea, or a lack of faeces are strong indications of colic.

Excessive rolling can be a sign of colic XLVets Equine is a community of independently owned practices that work together to achieve the highest standards of veterinary care. For more information, visit xlvets.co.uk. WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK