Maintaining the health of your horse by taking preventive precautions will help you to maximize the lifespan and quality of life of your equine companion. Keeping up on health care precautions is especially important when you perform in competitions with your horse that put a great deal of demand on your horse's body. The following are four things you need to do on a regular basis to ensure your horse's continued  good health:

Scheduling a physical exam every year for your horse

Having a regular physical exam performed on your horse is probably one of the most important things you can do on a regular basis to ensure continued good health.

When a physical exam takes place, your veterinarian will thoroughly look over any vital health measures like respiration, pulse, and temperature. Also, blood work can be performed during exams to look out for any significant health problems that need to be addressed with therapy or medication. 

Looking into any vaccinations your horse needs on a regular basis

Keeping up on vaccinations is one of the easiest things you can do to prevent severe health problems in your horse. A lot of vaccinations need to be given annually to ensure their continued effectiveness. Some important vaccinations to keep up on include vaccinations for West Nile virus, rabies, tetanus, and equine encephalitis. 

When you see your veterinarian for a checkup, it's important to ask about what vaccinations or boosters your horse needs in order to be able to enjoy continued immunity to all the health threats out there. 

Knowing what your horse's deworming needs are

Another important health demand is the need for regular worming. If you do not keep up on worming, your horse could develop a potentially life threatening parasitic infestation. 

Your horse's feces can be tested during a vet appointment for any worm or parasite issues. It's important to make note of the fact that worms can quickly spread to other horses on the same pasture through contamination, so regular deworming is important to ensuring the health of both your horse and his or her neighbors. 

Scheduling a dental exam every year for your horse

Your horse's dental health is very important because it ensures that your horse is able to keep eating properly. An annual dental exam will determine if your horse is suffering from any mouth problems that can hamper the maintenance a healthy diet and the absorption of adequate levels of vital nutrients.

For more information, contact a center such as Clovis Veterinary Hospital P A.

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