Owning a horse comes with a full slate of responsibilities. Keeping your horse healthy with a proper nutritional diet, and giving them fresh water is pertinent just as giving them the proper amount of exercise. Horses are no different than us when it comes to health. They need constant observation to make sure they are healthy. A proper diet and fresh water, while giving them the right amount of exercise will go long ways in assuring that your horse a long and fulfilling life. There are, however, two health concerns that many horse owners are worried about. Colic and Arthritis are very troubling when they become severe. You do have ways to prevent and help your horse, as well as, a competitive market of healthcare providers to choose from to keep your horse in prime shape. Let’s take a look at Colic and Arthritis and then explore your healthcare options.
Colic:
Colic is just a term used for belly pain, and there are various types that can afflict your horse. There can be anywhere from minor to severe cases of Colic that will determine the amount of pain and possibly fatal consequences your horse could suffer. If you have noticed that your horse is clenching its teeth, lying down or constantly fatigued, your horse could be suffering from a form of Colic.
It is important to see a veterinarian as soon as you’ve noticed a difference in your horse’s behavior, as Colic is the most common cause of death among horses. Because of that, you can imagine Colic is one of horse owner’s biggest concerns.
There are different causes of Colic such as Gastrointestinal parasites, improper and interchanging diets, toxic or corrupt water consumption, foreign objects inside the intestinal tracts, etc.
If ignored, depending on the severity, your horse could die, or face major damage in its intestinal and digestive tracts. All forms can be fatal and must be dealt with immediately for proper care.
Arthritis:
There are two forms of Arthritis found in horses. First, is the mild form of arthritis, that is a slowly developing chronic joint disease, in which the cartilage wears down over time resulting in pain as well as fatigue
Infectious arthritis will result in Degenerative Joint Disease from bacteria being built up and invading the joints through your horse’s bloodstream.
There is no cure for either form of arthritis, but with the mild form, you can manage your horse’s health by giving them oral joint supplements or an anti-inflammatory shot. Light exercise routinely also will go a long way for the horse.
Early care and preventative measures during injuries or wounds can reduce further bone or cartilage damage.
Acute or Infectious arthritis is harder to manage due to the difficulties of getting the antibiotic shot inside the joint capsule. Typically, this form of arthritis is the result of a severe joint injury.
One of the best ways in restoring a horse’s health, or taking a preventative measure in your horse’s health is purchasing an equine health insurance policy. There are many types of policies and here a few of the most commonly purchased.
Major Medical:
This policy will cover surgeries, medications, veterinarian visits due to injuries or illness, amongst other forms. Deductibles vary based on the incident and the horse’s value. The amount you receive will also vary on the type of coverage paid per incident and per horse annually.
Surgical:
In the event that your horse needs surgery and you are anticipating it, you may need to apply for the “surgical policy.” This will help cover costs associated with the procedures such as; surgeon fees and medicine that used in subduing your horse.
Full Mortality:
This is one of the more popular selections for policies as it offers coverage for when your horse dies from either an accident, illness or if your horse is stolen. There are age restrictions for certain horses. Generally speaking, if your horse is fifteen years or older than you will have a hard time finding an insurance provider that will offer this program.
Limited Mortality:
This is a branch off from “full mortality,” in the event that your horse dies from some specified reason or an accident, you will be covered. Limited Mortality is often one of the more flexible types of coverage in the sense that you don’t need medical or surgical coverage in order to have it. You will be reimbursed whatever your horse’s value was if the horse should die from the reasons stated above.
Loss of Use:
In the event that your horse is no longer viable to move around as it used to, or you can no longer utilize your horse for riding due to illness or injury, this would be a perfect plan for you. This type of plan pays you out a pre-established amount of money that was agreed upon principle when you signed up for it. In order to have this policy, you must carry the major medical policy.
Personal Liability:
If your horse shall cause damage or injure a person, this would be the policy that would cover you in that event.
Conclusion:
As you can see, there a few things to consider when you own a horse. How you care for your horse, treat them, and what type of policy you have for equine insurance will really speak volumes for you during an unfortunate event. By choosing the right insurance provider, like APSCA, will go a long way for you in the event that something unfortunate was to happen to your horse. Always be on the lookout for any types of signs that your horse could be trying to tell you. The earlier you catch an ailment of any sort, the better chance you have in curating the issue. You don’t want to be left out in the dark when it comes your horse’s health. So be sure to observe and always make sure that you and your horse are covered.