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 7 of 19
A dehydrated Shetland pony shows it in gums that feel dry and sticky, a skin pinch that sinks back slowly, eyes that look dull and a little sunken, and droppings that turn dry, hard and few. The Shetland's thick coat and naturally round shape hide fluid loss completely, so behaviour matters as much as looks: unusual…
A dehydrated Quarter Horse shows gums that feel dry and sticky, a skin pinch that stays up or sinks back slowly, eyes that look dull and slightly sunken, and manure that turns dry, hard and less frequent with urine reduced and dark. Because this muscular, willing breed keeps working, earlier clues are slower recovery…
A dehydrated Pygmy goat shows skin that stays tented when gently pinched over the ribs or eyelid, a dry nose and mouth, and eyes that look sunken and lose their sparkle. This small, round breed's shape does not change usefully, so rely on behaviour instead: a Pygmy short of fluid stops bouncing, stops cudding, leaves…
A dehydrated Paint Horse shows dry, sticky gums, a skin pinch on the neck that returns slowly or stays tented, dull and slightly sunken eyes, and droppings that become dry and reduced with darker, scantier urine. Paints are stock horses at heart, generally calm and stoic, so also watch for the quiet signs: slower…
A dehydrated Nigerian Dwarf goat shows skin that stays tented when pinched over the ribs or eyelid area, dry mouth and nose, sunken-looking eyes and a sharp drop in energy and appetite. Because this tiny dairy breed has so little reserve, and a doe in milk loses fluid with every milking, you may also see scant, dark…
A dehydrated Morgan shows dry, tacky gums, a skin pinch that returns slowly, dull eyes and droppings that turn hard, dry and less frequent, with urine reduced and darkened. This hardy, willing breed tends to keep working rather than complain, so the earliest clues are often slower recovery after exercise, a loss of…
A dehydrated Friesian shows dry, sticky gums, skin on the neck that returns slowly after a pinch, dull and slightly sunken eyes, and reduced, darker urine with drier droppings. This black, heavily maned breed holds heat, so dehydration often arrives alongside a horse that is unusually quiet, sweating either heavily or…
A Boer goat that is dehydrating shows sunken eyes, dry tacky gums, and skin that stays tented when gently pinched, alongside reduced urination, drier and fewer droppings, and a falling interest in feed, browse, and flock activity. Its rumen movements slow, the left side can look hollow rather than comfortably full,…
A healthy Suffolk sheep is vigorous and fast to the feed, carries smooth, heavy condition over the loin and ribs under its short white wool, and chews cud contentedly at rest with its black head up and alert. Eyes should be bright against that dark face, droppings firm pellets, the breech clean, and breathing quiet…
A healthy Merino sheep is flock-steady and active, feeds keenly, chews cud at rest, and carries dense, springy fine wool that parts to reveal clean, undamaged skin. Eyes stay bright, breathing quiet, and droppings firm pellets with a clean breech, while condition is judged by feeling the spine and ribs because that…
A healthy Jacob sheep is alert and active, keeps up with the flock, chews cud at rest, and holds lean, steady condition under its spotted fleece without that leanness slipping into thinness. Its two to six horns should be sound and firmly attached, eyes bright, breathing quiet, and droppings firm pellets with a clean…
A healthy Dorper sheep is bright and flock-minded, comes up eagerly at feeding, chews cud while resting, and produces firm, pelleted droppings while keeping steady condition under its short hair coat. Because Dorpers shed rather than need shearing, a healthy coat sheds in patches seasonally without bare, itchy, or…
A Welsh pony with early dental trouble may quid small wads of hay, chew on one side, take much longer over hard feed, or start fussing with a bit it previously accepted happily for a child rider. Because Welsh ponies are often easy keepers, do not wait for visible weight loss; earlier clues are dropped feed, a pocket…
In a Thoroughbred, early dental trouble usually appears as spilled concentrate, slow or one-sided chewing of hay, quidded forage under the feeder, and new resistance when the bit is taken up for work. Because Thoroughbreds are often fed energy-dense rations and expected to perform, also watch for unexplained loss of…
Early dental trouble in a Tennessee Walking Horse often shows at feeding and under saddle before it shows in the mouth itself: dropping partly chewed hay, chewing mostly on one side, losing condition despite a good ration, or newly tossing the head and resisting the bit during that smooth gait. Watch the ground under…
In a Standardbred, early dental trouble often appears first in the feed tub and then in work: hay quidded or eaten slowly, grain dropped or sorted, chewing favouring one side, and a horse who begins tossing the head, pulling on one line, or breaking gait when pressure is applied. Foul breath, a lump along the jaw, and…
In a Quarter Horse, early dental trouble commonly appears as dropped or quidded hay, slower and one-sided chewing, grain spilled from the bucket, and performance changes such as head tossing, gaping, or resistance to one rein during collected work. Bad breath, dunking hay to soften it, and a tender swelling along the…
In a pet Pygmy goat, early dental trouble often shows as cud dropped during rest, hay mouthed and let fall at the rack, and chewing that clearly favours one side of the jaw. Drooling, a wet chin, sour breath, and a small swelling along the jaw are other early flags, as is a goat who comes eagerly to treats and then…
In a Paint Horse, early dental trouble usually shows as mechanics rather than illness: wads of hay dropped at the feeder, chewing that favours one side, grain spilled or eaten slowly, and a horse who starts arguing with one rein while staying soft on the other. Bad breath, a tender lump along the jaw, and dunking hay…
In a Nigerian Dwarf goat, early dental trouble often appears as cud that is chewed unevenly or dropped, slower browsing, and a goat who mouths hay or leaves and lets it fall instead of swallowing. Look for chewing that favours one side, a small lump along the jaw, drooling, and sour breath, plus a doe who leaves the…
A Mustang, especially one still wary of close handling, may show dental trouble only from a distance: grazing or browsing for shorter spells, dropping partly chewed forage, chewing visibly on one side, and drifting down in condition while herd mates hold theirs. Quidding, a swollen cheek line, foul breath noticed at…
A willing Morgan rarely complains loudly, so early dental trouble tends to surface as small protests: partly chewed hay dropped at the feeder, chewing that drifts to one side, grain eaten slowly or spilled, and new fussiness about taking or settling on the bit. Foul breath, a lump along the jaw, or a horse who soaks…
A Kunekune with early dental trouble often grazes less keenly than usual, drops or mouths grass without swallowing it, chews mainly on one side, or becomes picky about firm vegetables while still taking soft food. Watch for drooling, a sour smell from the mouth, swelling along the jaw, and tusks that are cracked,…
Early dental trouble in a Haflinger is easy to miss because these sturdy ponies often keep a round outline even while chewing poorly, so look past condition to behaviour: slower finishing of hay, mouthfuls dropped or pushed around, head tilting to one side, and new grumpiness when the bit goes in. Bad breath, a…
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