Kissing Spines is the laymans term for overriding or impinging dorsal spinous processes in the horse. The dorsal spinous processes (DSPs) protrude vertically from the vertebrae and run from the withers to the pelvis. In a normal spine the DPS's are regularly spaced with a sufficient gap in between them. In a horse with kissing spines the gaps are r...
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Dog eye complaints are common place in a vets consulting room. This is largely due to the vast array of eye complaints dogs can suffer from. All breeds of dogs, and at any age, can be affected with many types of eye problems, each with differing forms of severity. Although, certain dog breeds are more prone to different eye conditions than others.S...
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The liver makes up around 1% of the horse's total bodyweight and is probably the most important organ in the body since every other organ depends on it. It works closely with the digestive system and has an array of different functions: Blood from the intestinal tract is drained to the liver where nutrients can be stored or metabolised to produce e...
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Winter is when most horses will start wearing their heavy turnout rugs, as the majority of those in work will be clipped. If you’re not exercising your horse over the winter months, you probably won’t need to rug him as his thick natural coat will insulate him from the elements. There are many reasons why rugging is necessary for some h...
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We all know the principles of travelling our horses short distances – putting on travel boots, tying horses securely, hanging a hay net, making sure lorries or trailers are roadworthy, and giving the horses a smooth ride. However, more and more horses are travelling longer distances within the UK and often abroad. The longer the distance the...
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Equine Strangles is a bacterial infection (Streptococcus equi subspecies equi) of the upper respiratory tract of horses, causing enlargement of the lymph nodes in the throat, which may impair breathing. Strangles is highly contagious and is one of the most commonly diagnosed equine diseases in the UK. Some horses may carry the infection but show no...
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Feed balancers are designed to fill the ‘nutritional gaps’ in a horse’s diet, and are becoming increasingly popular as a versatile foodstuff. Formulated with concentrated levels of essential proteins, vitamins and minerals to ensure a fully balanced diet without added calories, feed balancers eliminate the need for additional supp...
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A recent survey by Hill’s Pet Nutrition showed that an astounding 60% of cat owners have experienced their cat urinating indoors, outside the litter tray. Many of those might be described as having a condition known as FLUTD, or feline lower urinary tract disease. An indoor lifestyle, inactivity, neutering and weight gain have all been shown...
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Here at Royal Canin we recognise the frustrating position many owners are put in when faced with a cat that refuses to eat its usual dinner. Although it may be painful to hear, refusal of food is not a natural behaviour that occurs in healthy cats. Unfortunately, most fussy feeding behaviour is actually a learnt response to human behaviour, as we (...
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Behavioural problems in caged and aviary birds are relatively common and tend to occur for several reasons e.g. because of boredom, cage issues (lack of natural light, poor size and thoughtless positioning), fear, sleep deprivation or illness. Trying to resolve bad behaviours once learned is a difficult task and they are better approached with an u...
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