How Do You Decide When To Call Your Veterinarian?

5. A fever is a sign of infection, and infections often require treatment. If you don’t have a rectal thermometer, go get one. If your horse’s temperature is greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, then it’s probably worth a call to your veterinarian.

6. An obvious limp is usually worth a call. A horse that’s a little bit off might recover with a few days of rest, but a horse that’s having trouble bearing weight on a limb is a horse that should be seen by your veterinarian.

7. The phrase, “Eating like a horse,” was coined for a reason. If your horse isn’t eating, call your veterinarian.

8. Colic (defined as a pain that originates from the horse’s abdomen) is the bane of the horse world. However, just because your horse has colic doesn’t mean the end is at hand. In fact, most colics will resolve with a minimum of care. As a rule, the more dramatic the signs of colic (rolling, pawing, biting the flanks, etc.), the more likely it is that you should call your veterinarian. Even so, remember that the most conservative thing to do when your horse has colic is to call your veterinarian; even horses with serious problems can be saved if the problem is caught early enough.

9. If your horse is holding his eye shut, call your veterinarian. A closed eye indicates pain, and painful eyes usually have problems that need to be treated.

10. Call your veterinarian if a non-serious problem doesn’t go away after few days. Even problems that aren’t serious or life-threatening, such as a skin problem, may not resolve unless the condition is recognized and treated. That’s the job of your veterinarian.

Not every little glitch requires a veterinarian’s attention. It’s not a bad idea to be patient with problems that you can’t see consistently. If you’re not sure if your horse has a problem (“Hmmm, I wonder if he’s a bit off?), look at him every day and see if you’re seeing the problem regularly.

But, if you’re concerned enough to wonder if there is a problem, also be conservative in managing your horse. So, for example, if you think your horse is lame, cut back on exercise for a few days, instead of riding him normally and potentially turning a minor problem into a major one. If you think he doesn’t feel good, don’t take him out and make him jump fences; would you want someone to force you to exercise if you didn’t feel well? A good bit of common sense goes a long way when it comes to looking after your horse.

If you have a question, pick up the phone and call your veterinarian. Sometimes, people will worry that if they call, it might be a bother. It’s not. Veterinarians care about horses, and we all want to have the opportunity to see a problem early, when we might be able to do something about it, rather than when it’s too late.