Page 174 - December_2023

VETERINARY VIEWS
WINTER
CARE
by Nancy S. Loving, DVM
Winter in many parts of North America presents some degree of harshness of climate. What can be done to adequately winterize horses and help them combat climatic stresses?
HEALTH CARE IS A YEAR-ROUND ENTERPRISE
One important feature of winter care is dependent on how well horses utilize their food resources to stay warm. Riding activities may slow some in the wintertime, yet the health and preventive maintenance of horses
is as important then as the rest of the year. Deworming programs are continued based on results from twice annual fecal egg counts. Selective deworming targeting high egg shedders reduces reinfection from feces or contaminated feed. Deworming promotes optimal use of feed and reduces the risk of colic and weight loss. Cold nights and warmer days with widely varying temperatures increase a horse’s susceptibility to infections. Viral vaccines, such as those against equine influenza and rhinopneumonitis, help ward off respiratory infections caused by these agents.
A horse’s nutritional needs increase about
5 - 10% for every degree below freezing. To promote greater feed intake and utilization, have your horse’s teeth checked by your vet, and floated (filed) if necessary. Sharp points on the edges of the teeth can cause enough mouth soreness that a horse may not eat necessary amounts to hold weight, or may inadequately grind hay and grain, resulting in inadequate digestion or absorption of nutrients.
A furry winter coat can mistakenly hide
a gaunt frame. Run your fingers across your horse’s thorax periodically to ensure he is still holding flesh on his body. You want to just be able to feel the last two ribs with a light run of your hand across his rib cage.
MAINTAINING CALORIES TO FEND OFF THE COLD
Provide good quality grass hay free choice, when possible, which through fermentation by microbes in the large intestine generates heat from within, like an internal combustion chamber. During cold, wet snaps, it is best to feed more hay to help a horse stay warm rather than adding in more grain. Over time, grain puts fat on a horse’s frame but does very little during an immediate need for warmth.
Estimation of how much hay a horse consumes each day must also account for
A horse’s nutritional needs increase about 5 - 10% for every degree below freezing. To promote greater feed intake and utilization, have your horse’s teeth checked by your vet, and floated (filed) if necessary.
A furry winter coat can mistakenly hide a gaunt frame. Run your fingers across your horse’s thorax periodically
172 SPEEDHORSE December 2023