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 4 of 19
In a Friesian, skin trouble often hides where the hair is longest: look for rubbing at the mane and tail head, flaky or crusty skin when you part the feathering, sores or thickened skin on the pasterns, and patches where hair thins or breaks. A dull coat, persistent stamping, or a horse biting at its lower legs also…
An aging Thoroughbred with joint discomfort often loses the long, fluid stride the breed is known for, coming out stiff, landing short in front, or growing reluctant to gallop, turn, or step downhill. Retired racehorses carry hard miles, so watch for one-sided changes: a shortened stride on one rein, trouble picking…
In an aging Tennessee Walking Horse, joint discomfort often steals the running walk first: the smooth glide shortens into a choppy step, the head nod fades, and the horse may pace or trot instead of holding his gait. Stiffness after rest, trouble backing, and reluctance on inclines add to the picture, as does resting…
An aging Quarter Horse with joint discomfort often shows it in the hind end first: a shorter hind stride, stiffness after standing in the stall, and reluctance to rock back onto his hocks for stops, turns, or backing. Watch for a horse who drags hind toes, swaps leads behind, or bunny-hops into the lope, and one who…
An aging Morgan that comes out of the stall stiff, shortens his hind stride, or starts refusing the animated trot he is known for may be signaling joint discomfort. Morgans are compact and hardy, and they tend to stay sound-looking while quietly compensating, so subtler signs matter: struggling to hold up a hind foot,…
An aging Arabian showing joint discomfort often shortens his normally floating trot, comes out stiff after rest, and loses the easy bend he once offered on circles. Arabians are expressive, so read the whole horse: a tail clamped or lashing during transitions, resistance to backing, and difficulty holding a hind leg…
An aging Appaloosa that starts short-stepping, stiffens through the first minutes of work, or struggles to rise from a nap may be showing joint discomfort rather than simple stubbornness. Appaloosas often keep a willing attitude, so watch the body instead: reluctance to back up, trouble holding a hind foot for the…
Heat in a hoof, a strong bounding pulse at the fetlock, sudden lameness, swelling along a leg, or a hoof that cracks, smells foul at the frog, or loses a shoe and turns sore should all prompt a call. A horse resting one hind leg constantly, pointing a front toe, or reluctant to bear weight is asking for help even…
A Toulouse goose that stops grazing, ignores its feed pan, or leaves the flock at feeding time should be seen by a vet, particularly if the drop lasts into a second day. Toulouse are heavy, placid geese that normally graze steadily for hours, so a bird sitting apart with its bill tucked and no interest in grass or…
A Rhode Island Red that stops foraging at the front of the flock, leaves layer feed behind, or roosts with an empty crop needs a vet call if it lasts through the day or comes with falling egg numbers, a shrinking comb, watery droppings, or standing apart with ruffled feathers. Reds are assertive feeders, so rule out…
A Plymouth Rock that stops coming forward for scratch, leaves layer feed in the trough, or roosts with an empty-feeling crop needs a vet call if it lasts through the day or comes with fewer eggs, a fading comb, loose droppings, or unusual quietness in this normally calm, curious breed. Handle her and feel her breast…
A Pekin that stops rushing the feeder, leaves pellets scattered and uneaten, or sits while flock mates splash and forage needs a vet call if it lasts through the day or comes with limping, drooping wings, watery droppings, or reduced drinking. Watch its walk as closely as its eating, because this heavy, fast-growing…
A Muscovy that stops grazing grass and hunting insects, leaves offered feed, or sits apart wagging its tail less and eating nothing needs a vet call if it lasts through the day or comes with drooping wings, runny droppings, limping, or discharge around the eyes. Watch at grass level rather than at the feeder, because…
A Merino that stops grazing steadily, leaves hay at the fence line, or rests without chewing cud needs a vet call if it lasts through the day or comes with drooping ears, scouring, rapid breathing, or drifting away from the flock. Part the dense fleece and feel the ribs and spine directly, because a full Merino fleece…
A Leghorn that stops scratching and foraging, leaves layer feed untouched, or feels light with an empty crop at roosting needs a vet call if it lasts through the day or comes with falling egg numbers, a pale or drooping comb, watery droppings, or hiding away from the flock. Feel the crop gently in the evening and…
A Khaki Campbell that stops racing to scattered feed, dabbles in water without eating, or leaves pellets untouched needs a vet call if it lasts through the day or comes with a drop in laying, drooping wings, watery droppings, or sitting apart from the flock. Offer a small dish of familiar feed with water deep enough…
A Jacob that stops browsing hedgerow and weeds, arrives last at feeding and then leaves, or rests without chewing cud needs a vet call if it lasts through the day or comes with head pressing, drooping ears, scouring, or unsteady walking. Watch horned and polled flock mates at the feeder, because this smaller primitive…
A Berkshire that turns away from a trough it normally empties, mouths feed and drops it, or skips rooting for scattered treats needs a vet call if the change lasts beyond one feeding or comes with quietness, loose droppings, coughing, or less drinking. Check the trough for spoiled or unfamiliar feed and watch whether…
A Rhode Island Red chicken stressed or unwell after moving home often either fights for rank noisily or, more worryingly, goes quiet, stops ranging and laying, eats little, and shows a fading comb or watery droppings. Reds are bold birds, so a new hen hanging back, being driven from water, or fluffed and silent in a…
A Plymouth Rock chicken stressed or unwell after moving home often hides at the coop edge, stops dust-bathing and scratching, eats and drinks little, and may have a pale comb, watery droppings, or a pause in laying. Plymouth Rocks are docile and steady, so a new hen being chased from feed, sleeping apart, or staying…
A Khaki Campbell duck stressed or unwell after moving home often hides or freezes instead of exploring, stops laying, eats and drinks little, and may pant, tremble, or produce watery droppings. Khaki Campbells are active, prolific layers with a nervous streak, so a new bird that will not enter water, will not forage,…
A Dorper sheep stressed or unwell after moving home often isolates from the new flock, stands with its head low, refuses grazing or hay, grinds its teeth, and may scour, cough, or breathe fast after transport. Dorpers are hardy hair sheep, so a new arrival that will not eat, drink, or settle within the first day…
A dehydrated Wyandotte chicken often has a pale, dry-looking rose comb, sunken eyes, dry droppings, and a pause in laying, and she may sit fluffed and quiet instead of ranging with the flock. Wyandottes are hardy, well-feathered birds, so dullness in one deserves a check of drinker access, heat, and flock bullying…
A dehydrated Toulouse goose often goes quiet instead of honking, holds its head lower, has sunken eyes and a dry bill, and loses interest in grazing and bathing. Because a Toulouse is a large, calm goose that must dip its whole head to keep its eyes and nostrils clear, check that its water is deep, clean, and not…
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