Excessive drooling could be a sign of something much more serious. Photo used under Creative Commons License.
Have you ever had that moment when you’ve walked into the barn and found your horse drooling? And I mean really drooling. Like that adorable, yet super slobbery Mastiff that you (regrettably) stopped to pat while out for a walk? Slobber, drool or saliva is always pretty gross to have to deal with because it inevitably seems to end up on me at some point.
While seeing your horse drool buckets is not exactly something that is commonplace, many times it can be dismissed as a horse “just eating too much clover.” But excessive salivation could be a sign of something much more serious. Head on over to The Horse to check out an article on the topic, which discusses a wide array of potential root causes of your horse being excessively drool-ey. Check it out here.
And while you’re at it, here are some other headlines in horse health news to check out:
Herbal Alternatives to Phenylbutazone: Interested in natural alternatives to using bute as a pain reliever or fever reducer in your horses? And article over at Horsetalk examines the “bute debate” among horse owners and take a look at some alternatives to the drug. [Horsetalk]
Recurrent Colic Risk Factors Identified: Horses with a history of colic are less likely to colic again if they are turned out for long periods of time in a field, a recent study showed. A number of other factors were identified as being contributors to repeat cases of colic. [The Horse]
Prevention Better than the Cure with Bowed Tendons: While there have been advances in the treatment of tendon injuries through the use of stem cells, it turns out that many horse owners would prefer injury prevention over the treatment. Currently diagnosing a tendon injury prior to a rupture can be challenging, and finding a way to be able to identify problems early would be very beneficial to equine athletes. [Horsetalk]
Equine Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies Syndrome: Learn about multiple congential ocular anomalies (MCOA) syndrome over at The Horse. MCOA is a non-progressive and non-painful condition that is caused through gene mutation — and many horses who are affected mildly can still have normal vision. [The Horse]
The Importance of Massage Therapy for Horses: Why is it so important for your horse to maintain their proper range of motion, and what can you do in order to help promote the muscular health of your equine? An article over on Horsetalk discusses uses of massage therapy in identifying potential injuries and for injury rehabilitation. [Horsetalk]
Fat Soluble Vitamins 101: Want to learn more about those teeny tiny organic compounds otherwise known as vitamins? Since vitamins can have a sizable impact on the overall health of your horse, it may help to familiarize yourself with them. Head over to The Horse to get the 411 on fat soluble vitamins, including their function and sources, as well as ways that you can tell if your horse is deficient (or at levels of toxicity) of each. [The Horse]
