[Giveaway] Pain Awareness For Horses

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, founded by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). Like all caring horse owners, you’d do anything to help your horse if you knew they were in pain. But due to their deep-rooted instinct to avoid showing vulnerability, horses tend to only show very subtle signs whens they’re not feeling their best. Even the most attentive horse-keepers, trainers, and veterinary professionals may miss the signs.
To help spread the word about Animal Pain Awareness Month, PetMeds® is giving away a Pain Awareness Prize Package for your horse through the month of September. Read on to learn how to identify signs of pain in your horse. Then enter for a chance to win!
How To Tell If A Horse Is In Pain
Current research suggests that nearly half of all sports horses show at least some signs of lameness. Animal behavior researchers are discovering subtle behaviors, changes in gait, and facial expressions that can indicate that a horse is hurting. Looking for these signs can ensure that you can treat your horse before their pain becomes more severe, greatly increasing their chances of a successful recovery.
Many horses that come off as “grumpy” or “lazy” are actually experiencing a chronic pain issue. If your horse becomes despondent, bites, or kicks when you approach with tack, when their girth is tightened, or when a rider attempts to mount them, a vet visit is in order to rule out an injury.
Some signs of pain are not noticeable when the horse is in the stable, though they may appear when the horse is hand-walked or ridden. Forelimb injuries tend to be more obvious, and they tend to originate in the hoof. Hindlimb injuries are harder to detect, but they generally present as consistent poor performance, rather than obvious lameness.
As a general rule, soft-tissue injuries are usually more apparent when the horse is walked on soft substrate, while bone and joint issues tend to become more symptomatic on hard surfaces.
Pain may not be evident in a horse’s overall disposition or in their gait, but it may be indicated in their facial expressions. Grimacing, tightened muscles around the eyes, dilated nostrils, a clenched jaw, pinned ears, and a tense stare are all possible signs of pain or stress.
Treating Pain In Horses
If you suspect your horse may be in pain, discontinue riding and sports until you have a diagnosis from your veterinarian. Until then, you can take note of any swelling, noticeable reactions upon handling, and heat radiating from the affected area. Let your vet know if your horse has any other symptoms including decreased appetite, lethargy, or changes in their heart rate or body temperature.
Once your horse has been diagnosed, you can explore conventional and holistic pain treatment options, including over-the-counter T-Relief Arnica, topical Liniment Gel, injectable Legend Solution, and Banamine oral paste. Ice packs, physical therapy, acupuncture, acupressure therapy, and massage can also help.
Enter the PetMeds® Pain Awareness Month Giveaway for Horses!
To celebrate the start of summer riding season, 1800PetMeds® is giving away some of our favorite products for preventing and treating pain in horses. Each week in September, we’ll pick one lucky winner to receive a Pain Awareness Prize Package containing Cosequin for Horses, Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel, and T-Relief Tablets.
The PetMeds® Pain Awareness Month Giveaway for Horses runs from Wednesday September 1, 2021, through Thursday, September 30, 2021. Everyone who comments from 9/1 to 9/30/21 is eligible to win. To enter, leave a comment below.
How does your horse let you know he’s in pain? And what types of pain prevention precautions do you take with your horse? Let us know below for a chance to win.
Enter the PetMeds® Pain Awareness Month Giveaway for Horses! Let us know below what types of pain prevention precautions you currently take with your horse and you could win a Pain Awareness Prize Package from PetMeds®! A winner will be chosen at random each week in September, so everyone who participates has a chance to win! (Limited to residents of the U.S.) Good luck!
Congrats to our Week 1 Winner Linda in New Mexico, our Week 2 Winner Donna in South Carolina, Week 3 Winner Kathleen Navarre in Washington, and Week 4 Marylyn Wagner in West Virginia. Look out for an email from us! This contest has ended, but check out 5 Reasons to Spend Harvets Season on Horseback!
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For prevention I give my horses plenty of warm up and cool down time when ridden. I do have 2 horses who are on Equioxx.
We have several rescued horses that came from bad situations and have significant arthritis and are not rideable. We use joint supplements, including HA and Equioxx.
My friend rescues mustangs, I think she uses acupuncture
I also use essential oils, moxa, and light therapies to help with pain.
Massage therapy and feed through joint supplements. Joint injections as needed and Equioxx for inflammation
Lots of turnout and walk warmups to protect joints – adding supplements when appropriate for support.
I have 6 rescue horses. 1 has fetlock joint arthritis, he gets glucosamine, msm and has back on track boots. Another has enlaged hocks, I use absorbadine liniment on him. Another is old and stiff, I use absorbadine on her. I keep buteless, and banamine on hand. Also have hock boots, and splint boots.
Chiropractic care, as well as massage and supplements for arthritis are some of our preventive and veterinarian recommended care for our horses.
Joint supplements and massage therapy have worked well for me. I am always on the lookout for new product solutions.
Give them plenty of turn out to prevent stiffness, especially in senior horses
PRESENTLY MY HORSE- WHISPER IS NOT ON ANY PAIN MEDS. WE USE MASSAGE THERPHY AFTER A RUN AND JOINT SUPLLEMNETS FROM OUR VET
I have 2 rescue horses that were malnourished and covered in wounds, today they are healthy but because of their trauma they suffered it’s hard to know when they are in pain. I’m happy to see some horse awareness thank you.
My granddaughter’s horse is a lovely palomino, I’m unsure of her age, although I know that she is over 20 years old. At times she seems to be uninterested in riding. For instance she won’t come when she is called and doesn’t seem to have her usual energy. I think that she may be in pain, but I’m a hospice nurse and my granddaughter says that I think everyone is in pain! Not true! I do have good observation skills.
I have Senior horses age 27, 31 and 36. They get a scoop of Cosequin daily and if I have a flare up with sore feet than Previcox does the trick. I use powdered bute occasionally also.
I am involved with a thoroughbreds and have owned and retired them. We have used joint supplements, along with chiropractic care, banamine , gastrogard and message therapy. I love to see them when they are happy and most importantly healthy! (A few mints does not hurt either.)
Good nutrition, warm ups, rub downs, and then if something seems to be paining them working with wraps and rubs.
I use Sulferzyme and essential oils for my boy when I notice he is sore.
For my old guy, no more riding, just short hand walking, Equioxx, and lots of TLC.
I take riding lessons and constantly read and watch videos about riding. I consider good riding to potentially be a form of physical therapy and pain prevention for any ridden horse. I struggle with my riding skills, but I want to keep pursuing improvement for the good of my horses.
My pony is 20-something years old and has 24/7 turnout with access to a run-in shed because I feel movement is important especially for older horses. I do some sort of stretching exercises everyday with my pony and he also receives massage therapy. Every once and a while I may give him Buteless if he seems more sore or stiff than normal.
I always check my saddle fit to make sure it is fitting well as my mare get more conditioned. I give her supplements to deal with possible ulcers and pms symptoms. She has 24/7 turnout with a run-in shed and a stall if the weather gets bad. I recently pulled her shoes and she has boots to help transition her comfortably to barefoot.
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