Hi everyone, my horse Blue gets really nervous everytime the vet comes to the yard. He is generelly very insecure and a macho, thinking he is a stud (even though he is a gelding) but the vet is something we haven't managed to really work out. I managed to teach him to accept the regular worming procedure which he also hated by working with advance and retreat, putting sugarwater in the syringe (obviously without a needle) How can I teach him to accept the vet though, problem is that of course 9 out of 10 times the vet vaccinates him (syringe) or does something he doesn't find pleasant. So I don't know how to make it a postive experience for him. I have had Blue for 3 years and don't know anything about his past, so it's hard for me to find out if has had a traumatic experience before I had him. He is generally very wary of men. Does anyone know how I can work on the vet problem with him? I would be very grateful. Blue and Sophie
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Crianca
I guess I will be the first to offer some insight to dealing with vets. If you are a horse, every time this person (the vet) come to see me he hurts me are scares me so I don't think I want to be around him. That is what you have to deal with. You mention that you are working on making the worming treatment more pleasant for your horse. I am not sure how you worm your horse but I use 4 different worming meds on a rotating basis and they come in a small syringe that I put in the side of their mouth and as far in as possible and then squirt the med. It is over before they know what happened and the flavor of the medication is not unpleasant to them. Is you are not using this type you might give it a try.
you can also worm your horse with a feed through program so you put the medication in his food.
Injections are a big issue with some horses mine included. He would rather kick and rear and see if he can't get a good shot at the vet! Before I moved him to his present location we would do all the injections ourselves and had very little problem. We always gave the shot in the butt and not on the neck and would give the horse a good slap on the butt just before the needle. Snapping a rudder band on their butt also works well. By injecting the butt you prevent the possibility of the injection sight becoming noticeable. Some times the injection site will swell and not go down afterwards Looks like a big fly bite. The other advantage is he is less aware of what is going on when you stand towards his rear.
One other thing that I do I I blindfold my horse. We have special leather eye covers for them or you can use a towel and slip in under the halter to hold it in place. You need to practice this before you use it with the vet
Hope this helps you
Cheers
Hi Crianca,
How I got my mare use to the vet experience was by cross-tying her and grooming her, everyday.
I also handle STAR everywhere, from inside her nose to inside her rectum, always have them prepared for the unknown. Even latex gloves, I bought a box and wear them, now and then, so they get familiar with the smell and feel.
Also, to get them use to a pick, carry a toothpick. Rub the neck and then pick with the tooth pick. Do this several times and soon it becomes an everyday thing.
Ask the vet to do the same thing before an injection, rub then pick. That is what Lisa does and STAR gets two injections and now stands still because she doesn't feel it too much.
For her worm meds, I dip the sringe into molasses a few times and let her lick that and then dip it in the molasses and place it far back into the side of her mouth and squirt.
I do not randomly give her worm meds. Her vet wants her stools checked to make sure she needs de-worming.
I hope this helps, it works for STAR.
Ronda
Thank you so much to both of you. I actually did the same thing with the worming and used molasses in a few syringes before the actual worming AND it worked great. Blue even started drooling when he sees that syringe now. As for the shots by the vet, thanks so much for the advice. I wished I could do the shots, but as the vet would have to come and bring them for me, park his car etc. here we go Blue is already going nuts. I will try the rubbing and picking though, sounds like great idea and also the blindfolding as a regular practice.
Love this forum - this is so great.