Considering the signs of dehydration with your horse

How much do you think about your horse's water intake?

Did you know that water is the single largest ingredient in the horse's makeup and is vital for survival? Two thirds of a horse's bodyweight is water. Survival without food but water would be possible for a short time. But no water would fatal quite soon. So it is vital to avoid dehydration. This occurs when the horse has lost too much water, and hasn't had it replaced.

Mild dehydration can affect performance, although this might be subtle. Which means if you are riding and notice your horse isn't 100%, you may put it down to something else. But it could be his hydration levels.

Also severe dehydration can damage the organs, including the kidneys. Ailments such as colic can occur too.

Water within the horse's body is either (1) intra-cellular (within the cells). Or (2) extra-cellular (around the cells).

You may think of dehydration only happening in hot weather conditions. And definitely a lot of water is lost through sweating. But it can occur any time of the year. A lot will depend on how your horse (or pony or donkey) lives. For instance, if they are out grazing 24/7 then they may get a lot of water intake through the grass. But this is not guaranteed. If it actually hasn't rained much, such as long dry cold spells. Then there will be little water for them from the grass.
If your horse is stabled, then their food source may offer them little water intake. Clean fresh water is vital at all times.

But other situations may lead to your horse's dehydration. Having physical ailments will make a difference to water intake. Teeth or jaw problems for example will do that. Likewise another situation will be if your horse travels in a lorry. Some horses do not want to drink when in a trailer or box.

What are the signs of dehydration in your horse?
There are many signs such as:

• Loss of pliability of the skin
• Weight loss
• Small, dry faeces
• Listlisness
• Weak pulse
• Increased heart rate
• Loss of colour from the membranes of the eyes and gums
• Depression
• Fatigue

There are many others too, so if in doubt speak to your veterinarian!

So what can you do?

Make sure your horse has clean water at all times. Know what they usually drink. Keep an eye out for any signs of them not being well. Or not being quite right. Consider that if they are unwell, such as have diarrhoea then dehydration may occur.

Dehydration can be a symptom of another health condition. If you have any concerns do speak to your veterinary surgeon for advice.

Are there any complementary therapies that can help your animal if they're dehydrated?

Some herbal preparations and homeopathy can be help as part of a holistic approach. So for example if your horse has a kidney issue then yes there are complementary therapies. But this will vary according to your horse and his or her ailment.

Many veterinarians do recommend the use of herbs as part of their treatment. But there are specialist veterinary surgeons who have also completed specialist training.

Speak to your vet if you think your horse is unwell without delay. Delaying treatment especially in such conditions as dehydration. Can lead to significant or even fatal situations.

How to Support Anxious Cats When You Go on Holiday

Cats love their routines. Same snoozing spot, same food bowl, same old chair ripped to shreds next to the untouched scratch post.
So when their humans decide to pack a suitcase and disappear for a week, it can feel like their whole world’s been turned upside down. For some cats (especially the timid or anxious ones), that’s genuinely stressful.
But with a bit of planning and the right kind of care, you can make life much easier for them, and stop yourself from feeling wracked with guilt while you’re sipping sangria in Spain. 🍷

😿

Spotting Anxiety in Cats

Not all cats show stress in the same way.

• Some vanish under the bed and refuse to come out.
  
  
• Some over-groom until they look like they’ve got bald chicken legs.
  
  
• Others go off their food, or suddenly “forget” how to use their litter tray.
  
  

Knowing what’s “normal sulking” versus genuine anxiety is key. If your usually confident cat suddenly starts acting out of character, it might not be attitude — it might be holiday nerves.

🏠

Why Staying at Home Helps

Cats are very territorial animals. Their home is their kingdom, their safe zone, their comfort blanket.
And while catteries work for some, many cats come home unsettled, stressed, or just plain furious at you for daring to leave them there.
That’s why in-home cat care can be a game-changer, especially for anxious cats. Keeping them in familiar surroundings removes a massive chunk of the stress.
It’s also exactly why we launched our Cats Deserve More campaign. Because cats aren’t second-class pets. They deserve proper species-specific care and services designed just for them.
(If you’d like to join the movement, come and say hello in our Cats Deserve More Facebook group 🐾).

🐈

Before You Leave

A few simple steps can make the whole trip smoother:
✔️ Stick to routines - keep feeding and play times the same. ✔️ Set the scene - leave familiar bedding, toys, scratching posts, hiding places. ✔️ Soothe the senses - Feliway diffusers, cat-safe sprays, calming aids. ✔️ Background noise - a low radio, classical music, or “cat calming” playlists.
Basically, keep life as “normal” as possible, even when you’re not there.

👩🏻‍🦰

Choosing the Right Care

Here’s where things get interesting.
Not all sitters are created equal. A dog walker who tops up a cat’s food bowl and gives them a pat on the head is not the same as a cat-specific sitter who gets it.
A good cat sitter will: 🐾 Respect your cat’s space (no forced cuddles). 🐾 Stick to your cat’s routine. 🐾 Recognise the subtle signs of feline stress.
This is where feline-first care really makes a difference.

🌿

Stress-Busters

Alongside the basics, a few add-ons can help too:

• Enrichment: puzzle feeders, window perches, or “cat TV” videos.
  
  
• Gentle touch: if your cat likes brushing or massage, this can be a lovely bonding activity between cat and sitter.
  
  
• Scent comfort: leave a t-shirt that smells like you.
  
  

🚪

Keep Goodbyes Calm

We’re all tempted to scoop our cats up for dramatic farewell cuddles when we go on holiday.
It might make you feel better, but it can crank up your cat’s stress. A calm, low-key departure is much kinder.
And if your cat’s super-anxious, practice with a short weekend away first. Like building their resilience in little steps.

🐾

Final Thoughts

Cats don’t have to suffer when their humans go on holiday.
By combining routine, gentle support, and the right sitter, you can keep them safe, calm and happy and actually enjoy your break without the guilt.
That’s exactly what we do at My Three Cats, and why we’re so passionate about our Cats Deserve More campaign.
And now in 2025, we’re taking it even further by giving other cat lovers the chance to Be Their Own Cat Boss with our new franchise opportunity. 🐾
Because when your cat’s relaxed, you’re relaxed too. 😺

About the Author

Wendy Thomson Melling is owner of My Three Cats Ltd. Visit Wendy's website at https://www.mythreecats.co.uk

How To Help Your Horse, Pony or Donkey With A Wound

Finding any kind of wound on your equine can be a real worry. Some maybe more obvious than others, and it is always good practice to check over your equine at least daily to make sure they are ok. As with any animal (or human!), accidents or injuries can happen at any time for a variety of reasons.

It can be easy to panic, in this post, find out about some of the different type of wounds and what you can do to help, including what holistic approaches maybe helpful.

Please remember that if you are unsure about the severity of the wound or what type it is, then always speak to your Veterinary Surgeon as soon as possible for advice. As with all injuries, the quicker the right help is provided, then the more chance of a quick recovery.

1. Puncture Wounds

These can be caused by a pointed object piercing the skin or hoof. Common culprits include thorns, nails or barbed wire. These types of wound can be serious especially because the hole can be really small and easily missed. They are also difficult to keep clean because they are often deep, but if they are not treated properly an infection can easily build up.

How to treat a puncture wound.

No puncture wound should be ignored. If a thorn is involved, run your fingers carefully upwards against the lie of the hair. When you find the spot, trim the surrounding hair away so you can see what you are doing, then remove the thorn with a pair of tweezers. If a nail has punctured the sole, then call the vet. It maybe that the foot needs to be tubbed and a poultice applied. Your veterinary surgeon or farrier can help.

Some essential oils can be fantastic in treating wounds. Given the variety of oils, then do speak to a qualified veterinarian or zoopharmcognosist for advice first. Read more about zoopharmacognosy here.

2. Incised wound

There isn't usually a lot of bleeding involved. They are often clean cut. Provided they are well cleaned and heal properly they should create few problems.

How to treat an incised wound,

Hose the injury with cold water, then apply an antispectic wound dressing (e.g. cream). There are many herbal skincare options you can use, such as aloe vera and calendula.

3. Abrasion (graze)

These often have little bleeding, sometimes only a few bubbles of blood can be seen. They can be caused by a fall, or scraping when jumping. Although it may not look serious, grit or splinters could have got into the area.

How to treat an abrasion

Don't work any dirt further into the wound by bathing it with cotton wool and water. Instead use a trickle hose or if it's in a difficult place, squeeze a piece of wet cotton wool over it. Afterwards put on a poultice to draw out all the dirt. You may need to replace this frequently until the dirt is out.

4. Contusion (bruise)

The skin will not normally be broken, but because tissues and blood vessels have been damaged, you will notice a soft, swollen, hot area which is tender when touched. This is usually caused by a blow, such as a kick from another equine..

Treating a bruise , alternate hot and cold poultices. Herbal remedies like Aloe Vera gelly, Arnica are just a couple o that can be really helpful to soothe bruising.

5. Laceration

These are injuries where the skin and tissues beneath have been torn, rupturing blood vessels. They are the result of a horse, pony or donkey getting caught up in something sharp such as wire, or even be a result of broken bones.

Treating a laceration

It's essential to call your veterinarian as soon as possible. Stitching maybe required, and getting this completed sooner rather than later can be vital for a full and speedy recovery.

6. Overreach

This happens when one of the equine's back feet strikes into the heel of a front foot. Sometimes it may not be noticed for a while, whilst some overreaches will make your equine appear very lame, other times it can be less obvious.

This is something you should look out for when you pick your equine's feet out each day, just taking a look at their pasterns and heels. Also notice change in their behaviour, if they are normally happy having their feet picked out and are suddenly not so keen, is it because they have a cut or sore as a result of an overreach?

Treating an overreach

It will depend on the severity of the overreach, as to whether you can clean it yourself and apply an antiseptic or herbal skincare like aloe vera. Or if you need to call the vet. If your equine is lame, then do call the vet as soon as possible.

Holistic ways to help equine wound care

Together with herbal remedies, some of which are listed above, veterinary homeopathy can also be useful in treating wounds. For instance did you know as well as a topical application, arnica is used in homeopathy? There are a number of veterinarians in the UK and around the world who have completed specialist veterinary homeopathy training, and can help you if needed. Get more information on veterinary homeopathy here in the Taranet directory.

Find more information on herbal skincare for animals here in this Natural Pet Care Blog post.

Other therapies such as Low Level Laser Therapy can be really helpful in treating wounds. Learn more here at this advice page.

In conclusion

There are many types of equine wounds, and they can require a different treatment response. Early identification and the correct treatment can make all the difference to ensure your horse, pony or donkey feels more comfortable quickly and heals well.



Do you know someone who'd find this information on summer horse care tips helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse


Exciting News About This Natural Pet HealthCare Blog
It's been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 10 UK Animal Blogs on the web. Check out this here


More Exciting News This Time About My Animals Naturally Podcast!

It has been recognized as one of the Top 70 Horse Care Podcasts on the web by Million Podcasts.

This list is the most comprehensive ranking of Horse Care Podcasts online. Additionally the Animals Naturally Podcast is included in the Top 50 Herbal Medicine Podcasts and Top 50 Herbal Podcasts list.

MillionPodcasts is a comprehensive, intelligently curated database designed to help you discover and connect with podcast hosts and producers in your niche—ideal for PR pitches and collaboration opportunities.

How to help your horse have a happy summer naturally

Hopefully summer brings drier weather and lighter and longer days, which as a horse owner is a huge bonus, after what can sometimes feel long winters.

But as much as summer brings many benefits, it can provide some challenges, to help your horse or pony really enjoy it. So what can you do? Here are 5 top tips to help your horse or pony love their summer!

1 Fly Protection

Your horse, pony or donkey can wear a fly mask or fly fringe to help protect against flies irritating his/her face.  Also fly rugs can be bought to help reduce the bother of flies.

There are a number of herbal remedies that can be used to help repel flies. Garlic is one of these, and can be added to your horses feed on a daily basis (usually in powder, granules or as a liquid). There are others too, including some like tea tree oil which can be used topically onto the skin. Read more on herbal remedies for your animal here.

Do look out for skin irritations caused by flies and other flying insects. Sweet itch is a distressing condition that affects some horses, ponies and donkeys, read more about how a holistic approach can help here at this advice page.

2 Transport

If you travel your horse to shows, then plan your horse’s journey carefully.  If it’s possible, don’t transport your horse in the middle of the day (12-3pm) when it’s likely to be hotter.  Make sure any horse box or trailer is well ventilated and as comfortable as possible (taking care to avoid draughts). If you usually travel your horse wearing a rug, consider if a rug is needed at all, or if a different sheet designed for summer is better. Are any travel boots likely to minimise overheating? There are many different types on the market, so look to see what will help your horse or pony the best.

Don’t leave your horse in a parked vehicle when the weather is warm, the vehicle will get even hotter than the outside temperature, and could prove fatal.
Obviously if you’re travelling any distance you never know what traffic hold-ups may occur. So check the travel news, and have a plan. Do you know what you will do if you end up having to have your horse in the horse box longer than planned?

If your horse or pony finds warm weather causes greater anxiety when travelling, then veterinary homeopathy such as Cocculus can help with travel sickness. Read more about Veterinary Homeopathy and how it can help your horse or pony here.

3 Rugs and shelter

Some fly rugs for horses are marketed as saying they can help reflect heat and help your horse stay cooler. But getting the right rug can be a bit of a trial and error, so do have a good look at the options. Would one with a neck cover be useful? Is the material and design going to help your horse feel not too hot and also keep the flies away?

Ensuring your horse or pony has shelter to keep away from flies and the sun is important. Ideally this will be from good hedgerows and trees, which make fabulous field boundaries. If not possible, then a field shelter is invaluable. I’ve often found my own horses and donkeys in the field shelter at certain times of warmer days, not because it’s raining but to help stay away from the flies. Living the life they choose when they want to do things is giving them freedom, a central point of a healthy lifestyle.

If your horse or pony's mood changes in the summer, as they find the warmer weather a bit stressful. Or even any change of routine causes them to feel a bit over-excited or a bit down, then Bach Flower Remedies are a great natural solution. There are 38 different remedies to choose from! Read more about Bach Flower Remedies here at the Taranet directory.

4 Water and hydration

It goes without saying that a constant fresh source of water is essential for any animal.  Keep in mind that in the summer, your horse’s water is more likely to attract flies and insects, so it may need replacing more often, so your horse or pony still finds it palatable to drink.

Also the warm weather can mean water buckets need cleaning out more often, to help keep them and the water fresh.

5 Exercising

Summer provides great opportunities for longer rides. With lighter evenings and drier weather (hopefully!) it means it can be easier to fit in different rides and even explore new places.

First of all though, do keep wearing fluorescent and reflective clothing whilst riding out. It really helps other road users to see you, especially if it is really sunny, and drivers can find the sun dazzling. Safety awareness is important any time of year.

If you are going somewhere new, do check out the ground. If it's down bridleways and tracks, they may have been wet and muddy and although dried out, are now a bit uneven and could even be still a bit boggy if near a water source.

Don't forget different therapies like equine massage or physiotherapy can be used anytime of year for any type of horse, even for leisure horses - not just competition horses. And if you're going out on longer rides or riding more often, build your horse's fitness up gradually and support them to feel great with a therapeutic massage. You can even go on a course to learn massage techniques yourself that you can use on your own horse or pony. Read more on equine massage here.

In conclusion

These are just 5 tips to help your horse have a happy summer. There are of course many more! Read more on summer animal care tips at this advice page, and also browse this Taranet website to learn more about a large range complementary therapies and holistic approaches to help your horse (or other animal) be happy and healthy naturally.


Do you know someone who'd find this information on summer horse care tips helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse


Exciting News About This Natural Pet HealthCare Blog
It's been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 10 UK Animal Blogs on the web. Check out this here

What are the benefits of Elderberry for your animal's health?

What is elderberry?

Elderberry is usually found as a small tree or shrub. Its berries are small purple/black on red/pink stalks. There are around 30 different types of elder plants, with the ‘Sambucas nigra) european version being usually known for its health and healing properties. It’s believed to have been used for thousands of years, with elderberry being a common part of herbal medicine.

The natural properties of elderberry include various antioxidants and vitamins, including iodine and iron.

Why use elderberry for your animal’s health?

If you’ve ever noticed your pet’s nose starting to turn pink, then it can mean that some herbal support maybe helpful to promote wellness. Immune health is vital for the good wellbeing of your animal - read this advice page to learn why.

Elderberry is often promoted by animal herbalists for helping with immune support, respiratory issues as well as skin pigment loss.

How to use elderberry?

Some parts of the elder plant can be toxic and not to be used. Therefore together with of course getting veterinary advice before trying any herbal (or other) product for your animal’s health, use a product that has been specifically formulated for your animal. You can find many natural herbal pet healthcare companies supplying elderberry.

Additionally your veterinary surgeon maybe able to recommend or even supply you with an elderberry product for your animal.

Veterinary research on benefits of elderberry

• Alternative medicine for ferrets
• Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Sambucus nigra on superficial digital flexor tendon repair in rabbit by ultrasonography and histopathology

In conclusion

Elderberry is a long-used herbal remedy for both people and animals. But as with any herb, even though it is natural it doesn't mean it cannot do harm. So get professional veterinary advice and do choose a reputable natural pet health supplement company.


Do you know someone who'd find this information on elderberry for animal health helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse


Exciting News About This Natural Pet HealthCare Blog
It's been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 10 UK Animal Blogs on the web. Check out this here