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Changing seasons can bring about potential problems for horses and their owners. Pasture quality changes with every season, but the changes from summer to fall are especially significant. During the fall, there are often warm sunny days and cool nights. Grasses manufacture sugars (through photosynthesis) during these warm sunny days, but will not use the sugars to fuel growth during the night if the temperature is too cold. This leads to increased concentration of stored sugars in the plants, and may increase the risk of digestive upset or laminitis in some horses. Horses at most risk are those that are...

One of the challenges you face as a bird owner is the threat of a common, and potentially devastating, disease called coccidiosis. But once you understand what causes it and how it spreads, you can feel more confident about your ability to limit its impact on your flock.Good HealthCoccidiosis is caused by a microscopic parasite called coccidia that is transmitted via the droppings from infected birds. In other words, anywhere there’s a microscopic trace of bird poop—in a waterer, a feeder, or in bedding—there's almost certainly coccidia present.Symptoms of coccidiosis include weight loss, paleness, ruffled feathers, depression, huddling, unwillingness to...

There are several different reasons dogs lose water from their body. A few ways this can happen is through panting, urinating, and evaporation through the feet and other body surfaces. Obviously, dogs replenish their fluids by drinking water or other liquids, and also by eating moist foods. Even a relatively small drop in their water content such as four to five percent, could result in signs of dehydration. Maintaining a constant fluid content is as important in dogs as it is for humans.Symptoms:Your dog’s skin will lose elasticity as it loses it’s moisture. Younger, fatter dogs will have more elasticity...

If you detect the symptoms of heat stroke in your horse, you should call your veterinarian immediately. Here are some things to look out for and what to do while you wait for your vet:SymptomsIf it’s an extremely hot and humid day, it’s not hard for your horse to get overworked in a short amount of time. Just a few signs to look for to tell you that your horse is over-heated are if he has an elevated breathing and pulse rate, a lot of sweating and salivation, an irregular and hard heartbeat and a high body temperature.Ways to battle...

Heat stress can greatly change your poultry’s health. Here are some tips on how to prevent heat stress during the summer. Digestion generates body heat, so feed poultry during the coolest times of the day.Severe heat stress can affect egg quality, egg size and hatchability. It can also increase the rate of mortality.Heat-stressed birds consume less feed, so meat-type chickens (i.e., broilers) will grow more slowly and hens will produce fewer eggs—even more reasons to add adequate shade and ventilation.Birds don’t have sweat glands, so they cool themselves by panting. Panting can be a sign of heat stress, and the...