HORSE BREEDS WITH GENETIC PROBLEMS THAT MAY NEED SUPPLEMENTS

 Horse breeds can make a big difference in how you care for and feed a horse.  Different breeds of horses are susceptible to different genetic problems and knowing these problems will give you the inside scoop on what foods and supplements they need to stay healthy.

Factors to take into consideration are horse breeds, body type, age, and usage of your horse.  Just as in humans, older horses can’t always keep up with the younger ones, and pain and ailments are more common.

This important information will dictate the amount of energy your horse requires to help them perform physical activities or even life-giving functions like blood circulation. This energy comes from their diet and supplements they eat every day.

While grazing areas may be plentiful, they aren’t always full of the right nutrients that different horse breeds need over a long period of time.

Many times the genetic problems can be helped with the right diet and supplements.  This could be something as simple as grain, or something more complex like vitamins and other healing supplements.

Understanding Supplements for Horse Breeds

Different supplements are made for different purposes and you need to know how they work and what they are to be used for.  Supplements are meant to complement an already good feeding program.  Below are eight dietary categories that may benefit from supplements.

• Behavioural issues
• Vitamins and minerals
• Joint and bone issues
• Metabolic disorders
• Weight gain/loss
• Performance enhancement
• Hoof and coat health
• Enhanced immune treatment

Horse Breeds with Possible Genetic Problems

Quarter Horses – They have possible PSSM Type 1which includes muscle weakness and atrophy.

Miniature Horses – These small horses are prone to obesity and dislocated hips

Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds – They can, while rare, produce foals with OLWS as well as a genetic component called tying-up.

Draft Horses – They have two genetic problems.  They are PSSM and junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB)

All Other Horse Breeds – They may have genetic problems not discovered yet but all horse breeds experience illnesses that can be helped with supplements.

In cold weather, all horse breeds get coughs and colds so it’s important to treat with supplements for that as well. 

Horses can get nervous or have trouble staying engaged.  There are so many things to know about taking care of different horse breeds.  Below are a few supplements that can help some of these problems and illnesses.

As most equine owners know,  a horse needs digestive support, joint and bone health maintenance.  There coats and hooves need frequent care as well. 

If any of your horses are showing symptomatic signs like the ones above be sure and talk to your vet to see if supplements are the right treatment course.

 What Supplements Can Help These Horse Breeds?

Free Mover

Herbal Calmer (with Valerian)

Red Beets (anti-inflammatory)

There are many more supplements available, depending on what your horse’s needs are.  You know your horse and in what areas they may be experiencing difficulties.  Horses are like part of the family, so give them the best!

Heat Stroke in Dogs – What You Should Know

Humans are not the only ones on the planet that can fall prey to heatstroke.  Dogs and other animals can find themselves in this heated situation as well.  Because many dogs live outdoors they are more susceptible to having a heat stroke.  In fact, heat stroke in dogs happens more often than you might think.

A dog’s normal temperature is already higher than humans, coming in at around 101 degrees so excessive heat and certain medical conditions can be extremely dangerous for them.

Heat stroke in dogs is medically known as hyperthermia and this usually occurs if the dog’s temperature is 106 or over.  This can be very serious and lead to multiple organ malfunctions.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs

Excessive panting

Dehydration

Excess drooling

High body temp

Unconsciousness

Muscle tremors

Seizures

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Reddened gums

Small to no urination

Sudden kidney failure

Breathing distress

Vomiting

Blood in stool

Changes in mental status

  

Causes and Risk Factors of Heat Stroke in Dogs

Excessive heat

Upper airway disease

Poisoning

Excessive exercise

Overweight

Thick hair coat

Age-related problems

History of heart disease

As you can see there are more reasons than just excessive heat that can cause a heatstroke in your dog so knowing what to look for could very well save their life!

Initial Treatment for Heat Stroke in Dogs

Of course you want to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible; however, there are things you can do to help your dog beforehand.  The temperature of your dog will let you know how serious or minor the overheating is.  A rectal thermometer can be used for this determination.

First, remove the dog from the hot area if they are in the sun.  Move inside whenever possible.  Next, you should put cool wet towels around the dog’s neck, under their armpits, and their hind legs.  This will start cooling them down and give them some relief.

If your dog is small enough to be put into the bathtub with cool water, that is best.  Add a pinch of salt to help replace some of the minerals they have lost.

You don’t want your dog to get aspiration pneumonia so be sure and keep its head elevated while in the tub.

Doing these few things may help your dog survive until they reach the vet.  If your dog is unconscious, then skip this step and head right to the vet.  In either case, a trip to the vet is in order.

Dogs need plenty of water and shelter from the heat so it’s important to think about where their shelter outside is and how many hours per day they may be in the sun.  Think about what time of day the sun hits their shelter.  If its morning time they should be fine, but if the hottest part of the day shines on their shelter then it’s probably too hot for some dogs.  Improper shelters are one of the main causes of heat stroke in dogs. 

This problem can be fixed by simply turning their dog house to face another direction or building some kind of canvas or wood awning that protects them from the sun.

Other reasons for heat stroke in dogs can be poor health issues.  These are usually respiratory issues that stop them from being able to pant correctly or problems like breathing too fast.  Problems like these can cause a dog to overheat and experience the same symptoms as a dog that was left out in the heat too long.

Keeping your dog’s immune system healthy includes keeping their blood, respiratory, digestive tract, and other functions operating correctly.  This can be helped tremendously with health supplements.  Natural supplements can help with these problems and also help become an organic immune booster as well as being natural antibiotics and antiseptics.

Dogs truly are man’s best friend and they are great companions.  They are part of your family and understanding how to recognize and treat heatstroke in dogs will hopefully keep them in your family for years to come.