4,777 answers about horses & farm animals
Horses and farm animals run on routine — feeding schedules, hoof and health care, safe fencing and calm handling, in all weather. This page gathers the horse and farm animal library of KinsLe Answers in one place, organized by topic from daily care to travel and senior animals. Every answer is original, written by KinsLe, and tied to a real KinsLe feature.
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449 answers in Health & Vet Care — page 19 of 19
Colic — abdominal pain — is the horse emergency every owner must recognise, and the first move is always the same: phone your vet as soon as you suspect it, because some colics are surgical emergencies where hours decide survival. The signs include pawing the ground, looking or biting at the flanks, getting up and…
A healthy goat is easy to picture once you know the daily pattern: bright and alert, up with the herd, eager at feeding, and chewing cud contentedly during rest, because a ruminating goat is a goat whose digestion is working. Look for clear, bright eyes, quiet breathing, a smooth coat, even movement, and firm pellets,…
Quarantine only works when new arrivals are truly separate: house them away from the resident herd or flock for three to four weeks, with no fence-line contact, no shared buckets or tools, and no shared water or feed. Tend the newcomers last each day, wash your hands and clean your boots before returning to your own…
Think like the animals testing your fencing: build the coop and run as a closed box, not a fence with a roof. Use hardware cloth with apertures no wider than half an inch, about 1.3 centimetres, over every opening, lay an outward skirt of the same mesh at ground level to stop digging, and fit latches that need two…
Look for a practice that lists farm or large-animal work — the wording to search for is 'farm animal vet', 'large animal practice', or a mixed practice (one that treats pets and livestock), because many small-animal-only clinics do not treat farm species at all. Keep notes on what you notice and when, and take them to…
Some do, depending on where you are and how your birds were raised. The chicken vaccine most backyard keepers meet is the Marek's disease vaccination, usually given to chicks at hatcheries on their first day — most hatchery chicks arrive already vaccinated, and it cannot usefully be given later at home. Keep notes on…
Take it seriously if an animal stops eating, can't stand, struggles to breathe, has severe diarrhea, shows signs of bloat in ruminants like goats, sheep, or cows, or is straining unproductively to give birth. Isolate a sick animal when you can, keep it warm and dry, and contact a veterinarian promptly rather than…
Goats and sheep typically need trims every month or two, pigs may need occasional hoof attention, and cattle are usually trimmed as needed or on a schedule your vet or hoof trimmer recommends. Soft or wet ground means hooves wear less and grow long faster, so check feet regularly instead of trusting the calendar…
Watch for weight loss, a rough coat, diarrhea, pale eyelids and gums, and a swollen jaw, all of which can be signs of a heavy parasite load — and learn checks like eyelid scoring from your vet. Pasture rotation, avoiding overcrowding, and fecal testing help you treat only when needed rather than on a blind schedule.…
Yes, all farm animals benefit from a relationship with a veterinarian — ideally a large-animal or farm vet — before an emergency happens, since not every clinic treats livestock or poultry. A vet can advise on vaccinations, parasite control, and nutrition for your area and help you recognize problems early. KinsLe's…
Keep a single running record of vaccine dates, deworming, dental work, injuries, and medications, and update it the same day so details don't get lost between barn visits. Paper barn binders work until they get wet, misplaced, or left behind when a horse travels. KinsLe's Pet Passport turns that binder into a…
Call promptly for colic signs, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, eye injuries, sudden lameness where the horse won't bear weight, choke, or a horse who is down and can't rise. For milder concerns, taking temperature, noting appetite and manure, and describing what changed will help your vet advise you.…
Most adult horses benefit from a dental examination about once a year, while younger horses with changing teeth and seniors may need checks more often. Dropping feed, tilting the head while eating, weight loss, or resisting the bit are all reasons to book a check sooner. KinsLe's Pet Passport keeps dental visit dates…
Floating is the routine filing down of sharp enamel points that naturally develop as a horse's teeth wear against each other while chewing. Those sharp points can cut the cheeks and tongue and make eating or wearing a bit uncomfortable, so floating is a normal part of dental maintenance done by a vet or qualified…
Watch for restlessness, pawing, repeatedly looking at the flank, rolling more than usual, loss of appetite, reduced manure, and sweating or a raised heart rate. Colic can become serious quickly, so don't wait it out — call your veterinarian promptly if you notice these signs, and keep your horse from eating until…
Modern guidance has moved away from deworming every horse on the same fixed calendar toward targeted plans based on fecal egg counts and individual risk. Your vet can help you test and decide which horses need treatment and when, which also slows parasite resistance to dewormers. Follow-up questions about your horse's…
Most horses receive core vaccines annually, with some boosters given more often depending on risk, region, travel, and exposure to other horses. Your veterinarian will set a schedule based on where you live and how your horse is kept, so keep those dates recorded rather than relying on memory. KinsLe's Pet Passport…
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