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A number of factors can cause a horse to lose a shoe. Do any of these conditions apply to your horse?,Few things derail a riding session like your horse losing a shoe—even worse when it happens frequently. If your horse is auditioning for the role of Cinderella and you’re not sure why, we’ve gathered advice from a farrier and a veterinarian to help you keep your horse’s shoes on.
The signs of CCV include an accumulation of fluids in the abdomen, enlargement and bulging of the eyes, and bloody fins. Destroying an infected fish and a thorough cleaning of its environment are the only ways to stop the spread of the CCV infection., ,Herpes Virus
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How to Clean Dog Ears Never use cotton swabs on or in your pet’s ears for any reason. This can lead to serious injury and a trip to the emergency vet. Here are the steps: Dr. Loft recommends holding the bottle over the ear canal and gently squeezing the solution into the ear. He advises not putting the bottle or tip in the ear directly. You then massage the base of your dog’s ear to loosen up the debris within the ear Let your dog shake their head. By shaking their head, your dog is bringing the softened wax and debris to the front of the ear canal, which makes it easier for you to clean away. Use a large cotton ball to wipe away all the wax and debris. Be gentle when wiping inside your pup’s ears. The skin within the ear is very sensitive and can be injured if you continually wipe at it.,Chronic Dog Ear Infections Goetz says having your dog’s ear infections treated early is important for ear health. This is especially crucial for chronic ear infections. Some chronic infections are so bad that surgical removal of the ear canal is the only option left for pain control—total ear canal ablation (TECA) surgery. “If you have chronic ear infections that go untreated, you’re definitely going to be predisposed to having hearing loss earlier in life,” says Goetz.,Image via YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock.com By Teresa K. Traverse Having a dog ear infection or other dog ear problem can cause a great deal of discomfort, so it’s important for pet parents to notice when there’s an issue. Most pet parents are probably not in the habit of peering into your dog’s ears every day. To help protect the health of your dog’s ears, it’s smart to get into a routine of checking them at least once a week. That way you are able to spot any potential dog ear infections or problems, and you can take proactive measures before these issues develop into more serious dog ear problems. Getting your dog used to having their ears handled as a puppy will make it easier to handle them when checking for or treating dog ear infections in the future. Here’s some advice from veterinarians on how to check your dog’s ears, what to look for and how to keep them healthy. Signs of Dog Ear Problems You should check the ears about once a week, especially if your dog has had skin or ear issues in the past. If you have a hanging ear dog breed, be sure to lift up the flap and check on their ears more often to watch for infection or disease. Dr. Loft says you can shave around the ear opening so it’s not as hidden. Before you get out the dog hair clippers, though, make sure to ask a professional groomer or veterinarian how to shave this area properly to avoid rashes or wounds that can lead to infection and irritation. Some surefire signs that your pup is suffering from a dog ear problem are: Pungent odor Discharge Blood Irritated or red skin Inflammation Dr. Goetz cautions that if part of your dog’s ear feels like a pillow or balloon, he might have an aural hematoma. Essentially, the dog has broken blood vessels underneath the skin, which causes the ear flap to start to fill with blood. If you notice that your dog’s ear flap has started to look inflated or swollen, you should take them to your veterinarian right away. They will examine the ear and decide on an appropriate course of treatment. If you notice any of this in your dog’s ears, then it is time to make a trip to your veterinarian.
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WRITTEN BYAmanda-Jo King, DVM Veterinarian Amanda-Jo King DVM is a native Floridian and has always fostered a love for animals great and small. Veterinary medicine was not always her…,Communication is an essential part of our lives, but not all communication is verbal. We can communicate with our horses through the use of body language. By being perceptive, we can learn what they are trying to tell us. And make no mistake, they can read human body language too. Learn how to read our horses from front to back: Ear Body Language We can learn a lot about how a horse is feeling by looking at his ears. If they are forward, it means they are alert and taking in new information in a friendly manner. Horses can move their ears in 180 degrees to receive information from all directions. Ears that are erect and facing backward means they are listening to something behind them. However, when the ears are pinned down and backward–this is a sign of fear, aggression, stress, or pain. Proceed with extreme caution around the horse if you notice this behavior. Rapidly flicking their ears back and forth indicates a horse’s heightened state of alertness. He may be trying to locate a frightening or concerning sound; or be overstimulated. Horses have an extremely good sense of hearing and can hear things over a mile away. If the ears are hanging to the side in a drooping manner, a horse is relaxed, bored, and may be dozing off to sleep. If you need to approach your horse at this time, do so carefully as not to startle them out of sleep.
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