Keeping Your Horse Healthy Through Preventive Care

At Cedar Ridge Veterinary Hospital, we emphasize the value of routine wellness exams as a proactive approach to equine health. Regular checkups allow veterinarians to identify potential health concerns early, ensuring that horses remain sound, comfortable, and performing at their best. Preventive care is not just about treating illness but about optimizing your horse’s long-term well-being through proper management, nutrition, and early intervention.

Early Detection of Health Issues

Horses are experts at masking signs of discomfort, making it crucial for veterinarians to conduct comprehensive physical exams to detect hidden issues. Routine wellness exams can uncover subtle lameness, metabolic imbalances, dental problems, or early signs of disease before they escalate into more serious conditions. Early detection allows for faster, more effective treatment and improved outcomes for your horse.

Vaccinations and Disease Prevention

A critical component of every wellness exam is reviewing your horse’s vaccination protocol. Horses are at risk for infectious diseases such as West Nile Virus, Equine Influenza, and Strangles, which can be prevented with proper immunization. Based on your horse’s lifestyle, travel schedule, and exposure risks, a customized vaccination plan helps protect them from potentially life-threatening illnesses.

Dental Care and Nutritional Assessments

Routine wellness exams include dental evaluations, ensuring that your horse’s teeth are wearing evenly and free of sharp points that could cause pain or difficulty eating. Proper dental care supports better digestion and overall health. Additionally, assessing body condition and diet helps determine if your horse is receiving adequate nutrition to maintain a healthy weight, energy levels, and muscle condition.

Hoof and Lameness Evaluations

Lameness is a common concern among horse owners, and routine hoof and joint evaluations play a key role in preventing long-term soundness issues. During a wellness exam, veterinarians assess hoof balance, joint health, and gait patterns to detect early signs of discomfort. By addressing these issues proactively, horse owners can reduce the risk of chronic pain and performance limitations.

Deworming and Parasite Control

Parasite management is an essential part of equine health, and a wellness exam is an opportunity to evaluate your horse’s deworming program. Fecal egg counts help determine the effectiveness of current parasite control measures and guide targeted deworming strategies that minimize resistance and keep your horse healthy year-round.

Schedule Your Horse’s Wellness Exam Today

Preventive care is the foundation of a long and healthy life for your horse. At Cedar Ridge Veterinary Hospital, we are committed to providing comprehensive equine wellness exams tailored to your horse’s individual needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and ensure your horse receives the best possible care.