Equine & Feline Articles
We’re passionate about keeping your cats and horses happy and healthy. Our blog shares expert advice, tips, and insights to help you navigate common concerns, prevent issues before they arise, and better understand your feline and equine companions. Whether it’s wellness, behavior, or care, we’re here to support you and your animals.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a viral disease that affects cats worldwide. It's a complex and potentially life-threatening condition that can impact any system in your cat's body. What are the symptoms of FIV? FIV can cause a wide range Read more
Juvenile gingivitis and periodontitis are two painful oral conditions that affect young cats, particularly those of oriental breeds. These conditions can lead to severe periodontal disease if left untreated or not managed properly. Understanding Juvenile Gingivitis Juvenile gingivitis refers to Read more
Cats with CKD require special care to manage their condition and slow disease progression. One crucial aspect is providing an unlimited supply of fresh, clean water to compensate for the kidneys' reduced ability to concentrate urine. As the kidneys lose Read more
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a viral disease that affects cats worldwide. It's a retrovirus that can integrate into a cat's DNA, making it difficult to eliminate. The virus is shed through saliva, feces, urine, and milk, and can be Read more
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a complex and potentially fatal viral disease affecting cats worldwide. Until recently, FIP was considered a death sentence, but advancements in treatment have offered new hope. Understanding this disease is crucial for cat owners to Read more
Hoof balance is a critical aspect of equine health, as it directly affects a horse's performance, comfort, and overall well-being. One of the most effective ways to evaluate hoof balance is through radiography, commonly known as X-rays. In this article, Read more
Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), also known as Equine Cushing's Syndrome, is a common endocrine disorder affecting horses and ponies. It's estimated that one in seven horses over 15 years old are affected, although it can also occur in younger Read more
Hyperthyroidism is a common disease affecting middle-aged and senior cats. It occurs when the thyroid glands produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, leading to various health issues. What Causes Hyperthyroidism in Cats? Most cases of hyperthyroidism are caused by a Read more
Regular dental check-ups are vital for maintaining your horse’s overall health. Read more
Protect Your Cat with Vaccinations At Horse and Cat Vet, we strongly recommend vaccinating your cat to safeguard them against contagious and potentially fatal diseases. Why Vaccinate? Even well-cared-for cats can contract diseases through direct contact with other animals or Read more
Feline osteoarthritis (OA) is a common yet often underdiagnosed condition that can significantly impact a cat's quality of life. The pain associated with OA can manifest as reduced mobility, difficulty jumping, or changes in behavior. Fortunately, Solensia, a once-monthly injectable Read more
What Causes Lameness in Horses? Lameness in horses can stem from a variety of issues, ranging from minor injuries to serious conditions. Common causes include hoof abscesses, bruises, laminitis, tendon or ligament injuries, arthritis, fractures, or even poor hoof care. Read more
I'm writing this on a cold and miserable day, but Spring is in fact upon us. Do you have a mare due to foal? If so, have a wee read to make sure you are as ready as you can be Read more
We hope you've had a reasonable winter and are excited about the season ahead. We've put together some interesting articles below for you to have a read, plus we have some specials and information to mention.Dressage WairarapaLouisa came along to Read more
Hi All! It's that time of the year to be thinking about worming again.. Everyone that owns horses knows the importance of worming to keep their pride and joy in the best of health but it can be difficult to Read more
Vaccination provides your horse with important protection against some serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines act to stimulate the body’s natural response to a disease, allowing a rapid and effective response if that disease is encountered later in life. This Read more
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva; the clear thin membrane coating the sclera (white part of the eye) and the underside of the eyelids. The conjunctiva has many important roles including: lubrication, protection, and the supply of nutrients to the eye. Failure Read more
Wolf teeth are technically known as the first premolar teeth in horses. They usually erupt into the mouth at between five and twelve months of age, but do not continue to grow or erupt into the mouth as do the Read more
This is the name given not to "affectionate backs" but to over-riding or impinging of the dorsal spinous processes of the vertebrae commonly in thoracic [chest] or lumbar [lower back] region of the horse. Often it is in the region Read more
It’s a question that’s come up time and time again for me over the last year or two. Often, clients will explain that their horses or ponies are not worth very much money, and so they don’t think it’s worthwhile. Read more
During April 2019, Louisa visited an interesting case in the Wairarapa. The owner’s 5 year old dressage mare had recently had treatment for an orthopaedic problem and was being returned to ridden work. The owner noticed that she was behaving Read more
Castration is a common surgical procedure performed by a vet. The purpose of a castration is to remove both of the testicles. The testicles are the source of sperm and testosterone, by removing them the horse’s behaviour is changed and he is Read more
We're starting to see more and more resistance, including the start of Moxidectin resistance - our main tool against life threatening encysted cyathastomes. Please consider changing your worming schedule to one based around faecal egg counts as follows: Exceptions: Read more
This is a question that has come up time and time again for me over the last year or two. Often, clients will explain that their horses or ponies are not worth very much money, and so they don’t think Read more
In the wild, horses don’t get their teeth checked and rasped. Why do we need to? Power Float with Equivets system of mag floats Due to our improved care and knowledge of our equine friends, horses and ponies now live Read more
This year, more than others, we’ve been dealing with more underweight animals than usual. There are some common problems and basic guidelines that can be helpful for getting your equine in a good order. Firstly, identifying when they are losing Read more
Why is my horse crying all the time? Horses and ponies can get a variety of problems that affect their nasolacrimal duct system, which can result in some discomfort for them. What is the nasolacrimal duct system? The system copes Read more
The old adage about feet being very important to horses is as true now, as it ever was. Whether you need your horse to be capable of galloping at your enemy across a battlefield, or to be able to get Read more
Selenium supplementation is a very topical issue for all horse owners. An essential component in all diets, Selenium plays a vital role in a horse’s metabolism. Together with Vitamin E it is a powerful antioxidant, protecting their cells from damage. Read more
Foaling is divided into 3 stages. Stage 1 - Labour begins Womb contractions begin, and the birth canal opens ready for the foal to pass through. Signs you may observe are: This stage can last about an hour. Do not Read more
The useful links below have been listed to provide more information on the topics of sarcoids, shoeing, Cushings, saddlery and ageing horses by their teeth. Click on the links below: Sarcoids:http://www.liv.ac.uk/sarcoids Farriers in NZ:http://nzfarriers.co.nz Equine Cushings (PPID) and Pergolide treatment:http://www.prascend.com Read more
Every owner dreads that moment.. you go into the paddock to retrieve your trusty steed and you find something wrong. For one owner of a certain cheeky pony, the discovery was pretty drastic! 'Witchy', a 30 year old pony, was Read more
Why do foals become windswept? This filly foal was born at 364 days gestation and had been very well 'cooked' by her dam. The foaling was uneventful but it became apparent that the filly had an angular limb deformity (ALD) Read more
Here's a review on Equine Health Sunscreen, one of our summery products. I have been using Animal Health Sunblock for a number of years now and, after experimenting with many of the sunscreens options on the market, it is still my block Read more
Sedating to clip – a hairy job in more ways than one! Hi there all – I have been asked about sedating horses to clip them quite a lot lately, so I thought I would explain some of the drugs Read more
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