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Barn Pros

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Enjoying Veterinary Visits

By: Sue M. McDonnell, Ph.D, Courtesy of AAEP


In our referral equine behavior practice, we frequently rehabilitate horses perceived to be uncooperative with one or more veterinary procedures such as injections, nasogastric tubing, genital examination, etc. We have found that straightforward behavior modification techniques--adapted to the horse--are highly effective in regaining and maintaining cooperation, even in once dangerously resistant animals. In fact, clients and veterinarians describe the animals as now "enjoying" veterinary visits and appearing to solicit procedures. The methods we use rely mostly on positive reinforcement, avoid excessive restraint, and include no punishment.

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