Health and Husbandry

• What must be checked before administering drugs to an animal?

  Route and method of administration, dose required, in date/expiration, risk drug posed to handler, What the drug is treating and potential side effects or adverse reactions.
• What is anorexia?

  Lack of/ absence of appetite
• Symptoms of anorexia


  Eating less food than normal

  Refusing to eat food

  Refusing to eat treats

  Lack of interest in food

  Trying to eat but unable

  Weight loss

  Weakness/ Lethargy

  Vomiting
• What is laminitis? 


  Extremely painful condition, can cause permanent damage to the hooves of horses/ ponies. It can occur in any hooves but more seen in front hooves.
• What does laminitis affect?

  Tissue called sensitive laminae which is found in the horses hoof. The sensitive laminae act like velcro to form a strong bond to support the pedal bone with hoof.
• What does laminitis cause?

  Causes the sensitive laminae to stretch, weaken and become damaged which can cause the pedal bone to move within the hoof.
• What can happen in extreme cases with laminitis?


  The pedal bone can rotate or drop through the sole of the hoof which is painful. Euthanasia is likely to be the only treatment option to end horses suffering.
• Cause of inflammatory laminitis

  Ensure concentrates aren’t fed in excess and are ideally fed over at least 2 meals a day to aid digestion.

  Eating large amounts of concentrates in one go can cause overload in digestive system with undigested sugar and starch pushed through to hind gut, where it breaks down. This process can damage the gut causing toxins to enter bloodstream, the toxins affect blood supply reaching laminae and increase risk of laminitis.
• Cause of inflammatory laminitis

  Inflammation of laminae/ sensitive tissue in the hoof of an equine animals/ within the hoof
• Accessory glands involved in mono gastric digestion

  Salivary Gland

  Gallbladder

  Liver

  Pancreas