Cats by their very nature, are independent creatures with a will of their own. But gone are the days when cats spent their whole lives roaming outside and were hardly seen by their owners. Nowadays, having a house cat is fairly common, and something an increasing number of people are choosing to do. Most free-roaming cats will be getting more than...
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Horses are active animals that need regular exercise to thrive. They have evolved to graze acres of land a day, which necessitates constant movement and stamina. Ideally, your horse should be getting exercised every day, even if this takes the form of being turned out with other horses rather than being ridden, but the daily workout will depend ent...
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You may have heard the term ‘cold back’ used when talking about horses that exhibit soreness and sensitivity in the back muscles, usually when tacked up or exercised. In response to the sight of a saddle or rider, ‘cold-backed’ horses may dip away or put up their backs in readiness of the sudden pressure being placed there -...
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When it comes to caring for a sick pet and making the right decisions for a speedy recovery, common sense is usually the only guide you need. Like humans, convalescence usually calls for lots of rest and TLC. The length of time your pet is in recovery will depend on factors such as the severity of the illness, injury or surgery and, as every pet is...
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What is massage therapy and when is it needed? Did you know that muscle tension is one of the most common causes of poor performance in horses? This can be caused by a number of different things, including high levels of work, periods of box rest, travelling, and following bouts of injury or back complaint. By reducing tension and improving the fle...
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Healthy kidneys are responsible for many different tasks most importantly filtering the blood of toxins and excreting them in urine. If the kidneys are not functioning properly then this can result in a variety of problems. Any condition which stops the kidneys performing properly is referred to as kidney or renal disease. It means some damage has...
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Hoof supplements are widely used within the equine community- we've all heard the saying "No Hoof, No Horse". Weak hoof structure leads to hoof wall problems such as quarter cracks, toe cracks, sand cracks, brittle hoof walls and hoof wall separation. These hoof wall defects often create an environment ideal for bacteria associated with white line...
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In this exceptionally hot weather, it can be difficult knowing when and how to exercise your horse. Obviously, it is important to keep fitness up, especially in summer when your horse is likely to gain a few extra pounds enjoying lusher grazing and conserving its energy, but it is important to know when enough is enough and how to cool your horse e...
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Good digestive health is essential to your horse's overall wellness and performance. The horse's gut is populated by billions of beneficial or "good" bacteria and protozoa - particularly in the colon and caecum of the hindgut. These organisms ferment the fibre (grass, hay etc) that horses eat. A key product of fermentation in the hindgut is volatil...
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As with dogs, mild stomach upsets in cats are not uncommon. Typically a sudden change in diet, over-eating or an intolerance to a food not usually consumed can cause stomach upsets in cats. Starving for a period of time and giving a bland diet for 7 days before transitioning back onto their normal food is recommended. However cats should not be sta...
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