Ask the Vet - Depression in horses, swayback, identifying pain & more! - April 2019

You asked, we answered! In this episode of our monthly series, Ask the Vet, Dr. Lydia Gray and SmartPaker Dan answer 5 new questions on topics like equine depression, swayback, feeding a new horse, how to tell if your horse is in pain, how to supplement your horse and so much more! Dan even tells Lydia that one of the research studies she explains is "one of the most interesting things" he's ever heard.
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Additional reading/watching material mentioned in the video:
Ask the Vet individual topics playlist: • Ask the Vet individual...
Ask the Vet blogs: blog.smartpakequine.com/catego...
Horse Health Library Videos: pak.horse/HHLvids
Ask the Vet form: pak.horse/2gkBThy
French research study on equine depression: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...
Department of the Interior - Quantifying Equid Behavior-
A Research Ethogram for Free-Roaming
Feral Horses: pubs.usgs.gov/tm/02a09/pdf/TM...
Colorado State University Facial Ethogram: csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Docume...
Development of an ethogram for a pain scoring system in ridden horses and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain (Dr. Sue Dyson): www.researchgate.net/publicat...
Questions answered in this episode:
1. When you get a new horse and are unable to continue feeding them the same diet (both grain and hay) either because you don’t have access to it or just don’t know what they were being fed at all, how can you minimize the risk of digestive upset when you start feeding them at home?
2. Are horses similarly prone to depression like humans? If so, what are some symptoms & ways to treat it?
3. How can I keep my horse healthy without being heavy on supplements?
4. How do you know if a horse is in pain or any discomfort?
5. What causes sway back and how do you prevent it?

[@ivrysixkiller2756]

My mustang was depressed when I first got her. It took her 4 months for her to actually start to feel better. She wasn't intrested in hanging out with the horses, she would stay still and not do much, she didn't eat very well. We moved her to a bigger new pasture with horses that she got along with. I worked with her a lot and focused on bonding with her. Shes in a pasture 24/7 with other horses and I wouldn't imagine isolating her to a stall. She would have gotten worse. Just because a horse can see another horse doesn't mean they will be socially fulfilled. Just because you see a person across the room doesn't you are social. It takes interaction to fulfill that need. I personally don't like stalling horses unless they get hurt and need to be on stall rest. (Vet recommended of course). Giving your horse stimulation and a good friend (horsey friend) will help prevent a depression mentality.

[@JaneDoe-ub1gi]

I love the fact that there isn’t like ten people saying first

[@Pathologymadesimple]

Awesome video doc👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾
Equine medicine is very different

[@Jack0Lantern0531]

Im watching a video about horse depression, even though I do not own a horse, or will probably ever own one.

[@stacyhoover828]

My horse lost his sheep friend. I think he is depressed but can’t afford a second horse. How can I help him? Is it ok for a horse to live alone. Please help….

[@jimhiske7492]

Can u get a goat or another sheep? My mare went thru the same thing before I got her and she has terrible anxiety issues that I am still trying to get thru . I hope you figure smt out

[@bellas_breyers6529]

First! I love it so much!!

[@luupine]

6th comment!! :D

[@rubyequestrianofficial1219]

third:)

[@sarahnystrom8517]

Fifth!

[@cayliewood1285]

Second comment