Preventative Health care for Horses: Preventicare is a program developed by Pfizer Animal Health. This program, along with the Colic Assistance Plan, is an important program in which all horse owners should be involved. More horses die each year from colic than any other equine disease or syndrome. Many of these horses could be saved with surgery. However, due to the cost of surgery, many owners are unable to afford this option. For all horses that are signed up on the Preventicare program that require colic surgery (colics requiring medical treatment only are not covered), Pfizer Animal Health will pay the operating surgeon up to $5000 for surgical costs and 3 day aftercare. This amount will usually completely cover the surgical procedure in our area, unless there are major complications. This allows many owners to take their horse to surgery that would otherwise die or be euthanized. It is very easy to enroll your horse on the program and the only requirements are the following: A. annual physical exam B. annual dental exam and treatment C. appropriate immunizations D. daily use of Strongid C2X E. twice yearly avermectin treatments F. nutritional counseling Except for the Strongid C2X, all of the above items are needed by all horses for general wellness. The Strongid C2X is a very effective product at preventing worm infestations by its daily use. Historically, parasite control in horses has been referred to as "purge" deworming as the dewormers used only kill the adult worm in the horse's body. At normal recommended dosages, these dewormers have no effect on the larval stages of the parasites migrating through your horse's system. These larval stages may cause as much or more damage than the adult worms. As Strongid C2X is given daily, these larval stages are killed before they can migrate. Therefore the horse is much healthier with a lower worm burden. Also, if the horse is on Strongid C2X, regular deworming is required only twice yearly whereas horses not on this program should be dewormed every 2 months.

Because we feel this program is a great opportunity to save horses' lives, we have decreased our cost for vaccination of horses on the Preventicare Program to make it more attractive to horse owners. This decreased pricing will cover the signup physical exam fee and the only increased cost to the horse owner is the cost of the Strongid C2X. Look at it as surgical colic insurance for your horse. It could save your horse's life. Contact our office for further information! All foals should be examined 10-12 hours after birth to check for congenital abnormalities. Also, their serum IgG concentration must be checked to determine if they received passive transfer of antibodies from the mare. Failure of passive tranfer(FPT) is a factor related to many neonatal diseases in the foal. If present, FPT must be treated early to avoid future problems. Foals are also given an enema, a tetanus antitoxin injection unless the mare is vaccinated, and a chlorhexidine solution is dispensed to be applied to the umbilical stump twice daily for 10 days. We routinely treat most foals with prophylactic antibiotics once daily for 3 days to prevent infection that can be acquired while nursing during the first 24 hours of life. The placenta is also examined for tears or other abnormalities. Foals should be dewormed with fenbendazole at 8 and 12 weeks of age. Foals should receive a complete physical exam including a dental exam at 16 weeks(4 months) of age and initial vaccinations given depending on their risk of exposure. The foal should be dewormed with ivermectin and times for future vaccinations and deworming will be discussed as well as the Preventicare Program. Adult horses should receive a semi-annual(every 6 months) physical examination including a dental exam followed by recommended vaccinations. It is recommended all horses over 4 months of age be on the Preventicare Program. For horses not on the Preventicare Program, a purge deworming program will be recommended that requires deworming usually every 60 days, depending on the horse's exposure. Horses on the Preventicare Program require deworming with ivermectin every 6 months only.