Imaginative Horse Care

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

By PM, Barnchick suggested the following:

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

Some more via PM from Barnchick:

imnumberjuan · Allowance Winner Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 352

Shammy,

I'll have to quiz my partner, but I am pretty sure he mentioned cod liver oil in one of our BS sessions about 10 years ago
_________________
Gotta keep on Keepin on - Joe Dirt

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

imnumberjuan posted:

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

Stole this from LKR on another thread regarding colic:

soundfast · Allowance Winner Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 336

For minor wounds I pour on hydrogen peroxide which does not sting. When my old mare had a serious neck wound I used nitrofurazone ointment on it + gave her the powder form in her food. The farm supply store sells it for cattle,poultry,etc. She had a swollen face and tongue and I think she could not taste too well. Vegetable oil in their food helps keep their stomach healthy and gas free and keeps everything moving,supplies essential fatty acids and helps them to have a beautiful shine. My dogs love to have some poured on their food. I use a combination of corn and soybean oil. The feed store version for horses also has wheat germ oil and Vitamin E. Corn oil can increase prostaglandin levels. Carrots are an excellent source of biotin as well as other nutrients so I give those every day. Broom straw can be used in place of other bedding and is common where I am.

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

Thanks to everyone who has posted to this thread. There is some really neat suggestions contained in the posts. I was thinking that as the US economy is going soar, it is definitely going to affect the horse industry. If you know of any internet links that contain substantative and cost saving information, please post them to this thread. He one that may help stretch your hay dollar:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/livestk/01625.html

soundfast · Allowance Winner Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 336

My horses get extra fiber when needed from eating broom straw after it has turned pale and dry or by gnawing on a dead tree that fell over and sometimes they have eaten a few leaves. They also eat sweet acorns in the fall and so do the cows. I use a complete horse feed with forage products. Ice cold water is the best treatment for burns. The area needs to be gotten cold right away,kept cold enough so there is no pain and kept cold until there is no pain when the cold is removed. It can take hours before there is no pain. If horses get enough exercise and are kept barefoot one can skip the farrier visits. You can get a rasp and rasp their feet regularly if they dont exercise enough. It is not difficult if they are used to it. My horses have not had any farrier visits and are doing fine. There are books on hoof care.One is called "Well Shod" another is "The Horse Owners Guide To Natural Hoof Care". Farrier kits and horseshoes can be ordered by mail but I think horses are generally much better off barefoot. I believe in natural hooves.

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

Pulled the shoes on a mare who we are going to run barefoot. Wanted to make the transition to barefeet easier for her, so thought about a hoof toughener. Went to the local Tractor Supply Store to purchase Venice Turpentine. $21 a pint! Said the hell with that and went home and made my own. Here's the recipe. Hope it saves other horsepeople a few bucks.

1/3 axle or gear grease
1/3 Ichthemol
1/3 Turpentine
Dash of Sugar

Stir until all ingredients are blended into a paste. Then apply with paint brush.

roxie901 · Weanling Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 40

Hi- Long time but miss the forum!
My favorite remedy which has worked on many large wounds is scarlet oil- I found it from an old vet when one of my horses came home from the trainer with a very *large* wound in her chest from the trainer- the vet told me after ligating the severed artery- that all I could do to close the wound that I could place my entire arm into her chest cavity- was to clean it with water twice per day and spray with scarlet oil which I did faithfully. the mare healed with almost no scar- and sound!
the scarlet oil keeps flies etc from the wound and the wound moist so it heals faster. Burn units use this for large areas in humans with good results. I keep some in my barn all the time now
PS- how is Sassy?

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

Roxie901 asked:

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

nfz puffer is an inexpensive solution for eye and ear infections and can also be used for minor wounds and abrasions.

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

Often Vets recommend Psyllium as a laxative to prevent impaction and constipation. To save $ substitute 2 tablespoons of Epsom Salts daily to the feed to encourage fluid intake.

madelyn · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

This post is on the topic of wormers.

There are really only a few basic wormers for horses, although brands abound and prices vary quite widely.

Ivermectin is ivermectin and is the active worm killer in a lot of the wormers out there. Effectively, the $1.99 generic is as good as the $10 brand name. It is the broadest spectrum, and one of the safest wormers on the market. Usually, it is in the wormers whose names end in "ectin" or "ectrin." But don't double dose it.

Fenbendazole is the same kind of deal. It is safer than ivermectin in large doses and is the basic worm killer in the power pac products. There is no effective difference - a power pack is just fenbendazole in double dosage tubes. Safeguard makes a 290 gram tube (which requires a one time purchase of a dosage gun for about ten bucks) that sells for $36-$42 and has about two power packs in it. Fenbendazole is the active wormer in Panacur, Safeguard, etc. etc.

Pyrantel Pamoate, ditto, it is the effective worm killer in a bunch of different brands. In a double dose, it kills tapeworms. TapeCare is pyrantel pamoate in a double dose tube. Exodus makes a two-horse tube for less that ($5.90 or so), when given to ONE horse, is the same as TapeCare. I love the multidose Exodus for doing foals. I can double dose them safely, and get 4-6 foals done from one tube. It is the SECOND wormer I use on foals, after their first little taste of fenbendazole at about 225 lbs. Note I try not to worm babies based on age but on weight.

Praziquantel blends - Zimectrin Gold, Quest Plus, Equimax, etc. The only difference here is that you have got either ivermectin or moxidectin with praziquantel which is a tapeworm killer. See pyrantel pamoate, above. Seems like an overpriced product, even at $9.88 a horse.

NOTE THAT for a really bad case, in my opinion fenbendazole is the first wormer you give, and carefully based on the horse's actual weight, not target weight. Pyrantel Pamoate, Moxidectin, and the Praziquantel blends are specifically NOT to be given to horses who are in really bad shape. The only two wormers that are "safe" or even recommended in a double dose are fenbendazole and pyrantel pamoate. So it is pretty important to calculate the weight of the horse and dose accordingly. Moxidectin has killed off piss-poor horses when overdosed. (Quest). Not mine - just read reports of it.
_________________
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....

Shammy Davis · Chef de Race: Classic Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 4451

Instead of Hydrogen Peroxide to cleanse wounds use low percentage Iodine solution (7% or less) and dry wound after application. Research shows that HP has an injurious effect to open wounds and slows healing. In areas where proud flesh may occur restrict moisture on and around the wound as it apparently encourages proud flesh. Keep severe wounds clean protected, and dry to prevent proud flesh.