Skip to Main Content

Equine Wellness Exams

Semi-annual vet checkups for horses at Sturgis Veterinary Hospital & Equine Center allow your equine vet to identify and treat minor problems before they become major issues.

Book An Appointment 

Routine Checkups for Horses

Equine wellness exams are critical to helping your horse maintain good long-term physical health. 

Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention, and proper nutrition, these routine examinations can help identify minor problems early in the course of a disease.

Weight issues and nutritional concerns, as well as general health care questions, can be addressed during the face-to-face consultation with the veterinarian. 

Equine Routine Wellness Exams, Sturgis Vets

What To Expect At Your Horses Routine Checkup

It is important for equestrian owners to know what to expect from your horse wellness exam. This will help the process go much smoother for you, your horse, and your vet.

At each routine assessment, our Sturgis vets will check each of the following:

Basic Assessment

This test is carried out at distance and is used to determine if your horse is quiet, shy and nervous, or bright and responsive. This is important as it reveals basic personality and behavior traits that can be used for comparison for future exams.

Body Condition Score

Also referred to as a BCS, this assessment focuses on the overall condition of your horse on a scale of 1-9. To calculate this, your equine vet will look at your horse’s weight, size, muscle tone, and the prominence of their hips and ribs.

Weight Tape

This is what is used to calculate the approximate weight of your horse since getting them to stand on scales is impossible. The tape is passed around the girth of your horse and the result is recorded.

Temperature

Raised temperature could indicate that your horse has an underlying infection. Your vet may use this to evaluate if further diagnostic testing of illness is required.

Heart/Lungs

Your vet will check your horse's heart rate, sounds, and rhythm to ensure that there are no abnormalities. Your vet will also check how your animal’s lungs sound and that their breathing isn’t too fast or slow.

Coat Condition

The condition of your horse’s coat can tell your equine vet about the overall health of your animal. A dull, dry coat and skin problems can be indicative of poor nutrition or other health issues.

Teeth

Horse’s teeth grow for the duration of their lifetime and must be ground down regularly to prevent overgrowth. In some cases, you may need to book a procedure known as ‘floating’ where a professional manually files the horse's teeth.

Legs/Feet/Gait

Leg and foot health is particularly vital for horses. Your veterinarian will check for any abnormalities. If there is any concern about your animal’s gait, it will also be evaluated.

« Go Back

New Patients Welcome

Sturgis Veterinary Hospital & Equine Center is accepting new patients. Our experienced vets are passionate about the health of Sturgis animals. Get in touch today to book an appointment.

Contact Us

Contact Call (605) 347-4436