Care Instructions

For horses whose teeth only require floating (filing off sharp points), aftercare is minimal. There is no pain associated with the procedure. Aftercare simply consists of keeping the horse from eating until he is awake, generally about one hour. Resume normal exercise. 

Tooth Extraction: They will have had both regional and local anesthesia in addition to sedation, as well as IV pain medication, at the time of the extraction. Continuing care usually consists of antibiotics for a number of days, and several more days of pain medication. 

Day 1-3 Post Injection : Keep the horse quiet in a stall for 3 days. Monitor for any heat, pain, lameness, fever or swelling in the limbs. 

Day 4-6 : Keep the horse quiet in a small paddock. Monitor for any heat, pain, lameness, fever or swelling in the limbs. 

Day 7 : Light work is permitted. Light work can include walk/trot/light canter or lunging. No jumping and no collection permitted. Monitor for any heat, pain, swelling, or lameness in the limbs. 

Day 8 : Return to normal workload is permitted.

When you’re preparing your mare for breeding, or when she’s pregnant, good healthcare is crucial to keep her vibrant, healthy and happy. Download our guide on mare and foal care here. 

The average length of pregnancy in a mare is 338 to 343 days, but normal gestation can range from 320 to 370 days. That means that the mare will need to be closely observed daily, sometimes for several weeks, in order to help ensure the delivery of a healthy foal. 

Listed below are the four most obvious and reliable signs that your mare is preparing to give birth. Please keep in mind that these signs will vary from mare to mare and some signs may not occur at all. 

✓ Filling of the udder which often presents 2 to 4 weeks prior to foaling 

✓ Distension of the teats 1 to 2 weeks prior to foaling 

✓ Waxing of the teats 1 to 4 days prior to foaling 

✓ Dripping of milk within 24 hours prior to foaling o If the mare is streaming significant quantities of milk, please contact us.

Foal Care 

Once the foal is born there are four things to monitor: 

✓ Foal should be trying to stand within 1 hour 

✓ Foal should be trying to nurse within 2 hours. Watch that the foal is latching on and swallowing 

✓ Foal should be actively nursing within 3-4 hours and passing meconium shortly after its first meal 

✓ Foal should have several substantial sized meals within 6 hours

Post Surgery

The surgical incisions are left open to drain and heal. It is important they heal from the inside out.  Slow dripping of blood from the incision site for the first 24 hours is normal. A steady stream is not normal and would warrant a rapid re-evaluation.

Keep the horse restricted to a clean, dry environment for 24 hours post surgery. Do not bed on sawdust (straw is the preferred bedding material).

Cold hose the incisions for 10 minutes after exercise. Do not to spray forcibly into the incision site.

Some swelling of the prepuce and the surgical site is normal. 

• Keep the sutured wound dry and clean. Monitor for heat and swelling. 
• Monitor that the horse is not rubbing out the sutures. 
• Book an appointment 10-14 days later for suture removal.

• Warm epsom salt and soaks for 10-15 minutes - once daily
• Wrap foot with drawing salve like Magna-Paste and cover foot in duct tape to keep area clean. 
• Pain medication as needed. 
• After abscess opens, wrap foot with iodine and cover foot in duct tape to dry it out.