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Chia Seeds: A Nutritional Powerhouse for Your Equine Companion
When it comes to equine nutrition, there’s a lot more to consider than just hay. Many horse owners are turning to natural supplements to enhance their horse’s health and performance, and one such superfood gaining popularity is chia seeds. Chia seeds aren’t just a trendy health food for humans; they offer a wide range of health benefits for horses as well. In this article, we’ll explore why chia seeds are becoming a staple in equine diets and how they can benefit your four-legged friend. Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for maintaining overall health in horses. They play a crucial role in reducing inflammation, supporting cardiovascular…
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Merck Animal Health Issues Voluntary Recall for Three Lots of BANAMINE® / BANAMINE®-S (Flunixin Meglumine Injection) in the U.S., Due to Presence of Particulate Matter
RAHWAY, N.J., Sept. 1, 2023 – Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA. (NYSE:MRK), is voluntarily recalling three batches of BANAMINE®/BANAMINE®-S (flunixin meglumine injection) 50 mg/mL in the United States, used for injection in cattle, swine and horses to the consumer level due to the presence of particulate matter. BANAMINE® /BANAMINE®-S (flunixin meglumine injection) is a prescription product in the U.S. Particulates were observed during routine quality testing and reviews for the following batches: A photo of the bottle of each batch number (lot number) that is part of the recall…
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The Importance of All-Day Forage: Why Horses Thrive on Continuous Grazing
One of the most critical aspects of horse care is providing them with proper nutrition. Among the various components of a horse’s diet, forage stands out as a cornerstone. In this article, we will delve into the reasons why horses require all-day forage and how it contributes to their overall well-being. Please note there are many ways you can provide all-day forage, such as slow feeders, if you are concerned about the rate at which your horse eats the hay or potential hay waste. Mimicking Natural Behavior: Horses are natural grazers. In the wild, they spend a significant portion of their day grazing on grasses and plants. This behavior is…
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Facility Management, Horse Breeding, Horse Care, Horse Feed & Nutrition, Horse Health, Horse Ownership in Colorado
Locoweed and Horses: A Toxic Combo
Locoweed, also known as crazyweed, is a type of plant that belongs to the pea family (Fabaceae) and is native to North and Central America. It is known for its toxic properties, which can cause serious health issues in livestock and wildlife that consume it. Locoweed contains toxic alkaloids, such as swainsonine and selenium, which can cause a range of symptoms in animals that ingest it, including neurological, reproductive, and digestive problems. The plant is commonly found in rangelands and pastures, and can be ingested by grazing animals, such as cattle, horses, and sheep, when other forage is scarce. The toxic effects of locoweed can vary depending on the species…
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Foxtail and Horses in Colorado
You may have heard about foxtail and that it poses a danger to horses. But did you know it can actually get embedded in their mouth needing veterinary removal? It even poses dangers to dogs and other outdoor pets, and can get embedded in their paws. First, what is Foxtail? Foxtail Barley (hordeum jubatum) is a showy short-lived native perennial cool-season bunchgrass that belongs to the grass tribe Triticeae. This plant ranges in height from one to three feet tall at maturity. Livestock can safely graze foxtail barley prior to seed development. Once the seeds develop, livestock and other animals should no longer have access, as the seeds form awns…
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Tips for Taking care of your Horses and Equines with -50°F Temperatures
If you haven’t seen yet, Wednesday night through Friday morning, we are supposed to get a MAJOR freeze event in Colorado. They are predicting -12°F as the high in places with a -50°F windchill. This means exposed skin (human and horse alike) can get frostbite in as little as 5 minutes. Not to mention our normal concerns for colic during these drastic weather changes. Important things to consider for your horse and equine friends: Some tips for humans during this cold snap: Thanks to Dr. Kieran Smith from Vetwerx Equine South for providing some of these helpful tips for our horses and equines! If you have other recommendations, be sure…
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USDA warning: Colorado firm’s alfalfa cubes may kill horses
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — State and federal officials are warning horse owners not to feed their animals Top of the Rockies brand alfalfa cubes after nearly 100 horses developed neurologic illnesses — 45 of which have died or been euthanized. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the warning Saturday. The agency said it’s working with state agriculture departments in Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas to investigate the horse deaths. Manzanola Feeds of Manzanola, Colorado, recalled the cubes Friday. The company warns that certain batches may contain bacteria that cause botulism, a fatal paralytic disease. The FDA said more testing is ongoing to confirm the causes of reported illnesses. The company…
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New & Improved Horse Microchip Look Up Website
Microchips are extremely important for keeping your horses safe. Many animals reunite with their owner’s thanks to their chips. A microchip is a great way to guarantee the identity and facilitate fair competition. The American Horse Council and AHC Foundation are happy to support this through two different programs. First, thanks to the great support of our member Equine MicrochipID, the AHC offers free microchips to horse owners. Second, the AHC is proud to debut our updated horse-specific microchip lookup tool, a website helping owners, competitors, rescuers and law enforcement correctly identify horses. The microchip is the first part, but your horse’s microchip number is only half of the journey. The…
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Bees and Horses, How to Coexist
If you are struggling with bees bothering your horses this spring like I am, I feel your frustration! Nothing has bloomed yet, we are having loads of warm days in between the snowstorms, and the bees are HUNGRY AND CONFUSED! My issues with the bees started extra early this year, in late February. Not to mention the fact beekeeping has become really trendy, but unfortunately, a lot of these beeks (bee geeks, yes it’s a term LOL) are not putting out adequate food on these weird in-between storm warm days. Not to mention the fact that, in my experience, many of these beeks are quick to tear you apart without…
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Inexpensive Nanny Cams for your Horses!
I’ve been looking for a way to monitor my horses in their paddocks for a while. The issue I ran into is there isn’t electricity for the cameras, and the WiFi signal isn’t great outside (we don’t have a booster or anything outside). We have a Blink system on our house so I really hoped that would work – but the range just wasn’t strong enough for those cameras central box to connect to. Then I stumbled on these Zeeporte Cameras for under $50. I figured I would order one and give it a shot. Y’all – I am blown away. After doing a trial with that one camera for…
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