Alfalfa is a popular forage choice for horses and an ingredient in many equine feeds. This legume forage can be processed and preserved in many different ways to make it easier to incorporate into the diet. Alfalfa is nutrient-dense and...
Photosensitization, or light-induced dermatitis (photodermatitis), is a noncontagious condition in horses where the skin becomes extremely sensitive to sunlight. This condition often mimics a sunburn, but it is much more serious and painful. Photosensitization is most commonly caused by ingesting...
While acres of lush green fields seem like the idyllic setting for a horse farm, constant access to high-quality pastures isn't always best for your horse's health. Space limitations and environmental conditions can also make grass turnout impossible for some...
Bones, joint cartilage, ligaments, and tendons make up your horse's skeletal system, which provides structural support for your horse's body. Most horse owners pay close attention to the role of joints and soft tissue health in preserving soundness and comfort....
It’s not uncommon for horses to experience eye problems. Several conditions and diseases can affect vision and eye health in horses, including uveitis, cataracts, and conjunctivitis. Horses experiencing eye issues may have symptoms such as swelling, tearing, drainage, discoloration, cloudiness,...
Myosin Heavy Chain Myopathy (MYHM) is a muscle disease that can affect Quarter Horses and related breeds with the associated mutation in the MYH1 gene. MYH1, also called myosin heavy chain 1, is a gene that encodes a type of...
Coughing is a common clinical sign in horses that can be entirely benign or the first clue of a medical condition. Your horse’s cough is a normal reflex that keeps his airway healthy and clean. But some conditions associated with...
For horse owners and barn managers, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a challenging condition to manage. How do you know which hays and feeds are safe and how should pasture turnout be regulated? Horses and ponies diagnosed with EMS cannot...
Routine equine dentistry is an often overlooked aspect of preventative care that can significantly impact your horse's welfare and performance. Horses have specialized teeth adapted to continuous grazing. Unlike human teeth, horse teeth erupt throughout their life and can become...
Weaning foals refers to separating the foal from their mother so they no longer consume milk by nursing. Once weaned, foals must obtain nutrients from forage and other feeds. Domesticated foals are typically weaned four to seven months after birth....
Lasix (furosemide) is a medication routinely used to prevent lung bleeding in horses with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). This bleeding disorder is prevalent in racehorses following bouts of high-intensity exercise. Veterinarians often recommend treating with Lasix on race days to...
Flies are more than just a nuisance to horses and their owners. Without proper fly control, these insects can transmit diseases to your horse and cause skin irritations. Effective fly control for horses starts before fly season begins with environmental...
Retained fetal membranes (RFM), also referred to as retained placenta, is a condition that affects a small percentage of broodmares. RFM can lead to serious medical complications in affected mares and requires prompt treatment. Potential complications of RFM include laminitis,...
By-product ingredients are a fixture in equine diets, either as components of a complete feed or as concentrates added into the diet on their own. Although the term “by-product” may carry a negative connotation, these feeds are often high-quality, cost-effective...
The type and amount of bedding you use for horses affects more than just how long it takes you to clean his stall. Bedding adds cushion to the floor of your horse's living space, absorbs moisture, and helps control odours...
If you own horses long enough, you'll eventually have to deal with the loss of a horse. Saying goodbye to a beloved equine can be traumatic. But death is an inevitable aspect of caring for any animal. Sometimes horse owners...
Shipping fever is a lower respiratory tract infection seen in horses transported over long distances or experiencing unusual or stressful events. Known causes of shipping fever include prolonged periods of head elevation, strenuous exercise, anesthesia or complications from a viral...
Sand colic is a term for abdominal pain in horses caused by the ingestion of sand. Depending on the geographic region, five to thirty percent of all colic cases are caused by sand or sediment accumulation in the gut. Sand...
Carbohydrates are the main energy source in an equine diet. These macronutrients are naturally abundant in forages, grains and grain by-products. Carbohydrates can be categorized based on their function in the plant and how they are digested by the horse.
Of the many skin conditions horses can develop, sarcoids are the most common. The term "sarcoid" was first used in 1936 in South Africa as a way to distinguish this skin lesion from other tumors. Sarcoids are benign (nonmetastatic) skin...
Preparing your broodmare for breeding and pregnancy requires careful planning to ensure she is in optimal condition to carry and deliver a healthy foal. A Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) provides a health assessment of mares being considered for breeding. Some...
Myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) is a newly identified muscle disorder that causes exercise intolerance in horses. MFM is a genetic condition that results from the abnormal build-up of desmin in muscle tissue. Desmin is a protein that is important for muscle...
A variety of supplemental oils including camelina, flax, soy, corn, fish, and canola are commonly used in equine diets. Although every oil provides the same amount of energy, each one has a different fatty acid profile which can influence the...
Slobbers, otherwise known as slaframine poisoning or salivary syndrome, is a condition that causes excessive salivation or drooling in horses. It is relatively rare and usually occurs in outbreaks, with multiple horses affected at once. Slaframine intoxication is caused by...
Glycogen branching enzyme deficiency (GBED) is a fatal disorder caused by a gene mutation found in the Quarter Horse and Paint Horse bloodlines. GBED causes abortion in late-term pregnancies, stillbirth or severe muscle weakness and eventually death in newborn foals....
Black walnut tree poisoning occurs when horses come into contact with toxic compounds in the black walnut (Juglans nigra) tree. The roots, bark, wood, nuts, pollen and leaves of the tree contain a chemical that is poisonous to horses upon...
Rice bran oil (RBO) is an increasingly popular fat supplement fed to horses for weight management, cool energy, and coat quality. The oil is derived from the germ and bran of brown rice grains and contains essential fatty acids and...
Horses are prone to a number of different skin conditions and diseases. Some are minor and resolve on their own, while others can be much more serious. Skin conditions may affect localized areas on the horse, such as the legs...
Water is the most vital component of the equine diet, but it is often overlooked when considering your horse's nutritional needs. Hydration influences several aspects of horse health, including exercise tolerance, digestion, and temperature regulation. Not only do you need...
Equine grass sickness (EGS), or equine dysautonomia, is a rare and fatal disease in horses. It almost exclusively affects grazing horses kept on pasture. EGS is characterized by the development of severe lesions on the neurons of the peripheral and...
