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Best Electrolyte Supplements for Horses: A How-To Guide
Electrolytes are minerals that play a key role in cellular function and regulate fluid balance in the body. Electrolytes carry an electric charge when dissolved in fluids such as blood or fluid in and around cells. These are critical for nerve transmission and muscle contractions.
Hind Fetlock Lameness in Horses: Signs, Diagnosis & Treatment
The hind fetlock is a high-motion joint that undergoes significant compression and force absorption when the horse is moving. This joint is highly susceptible to soft-tissue injuries and bone disorders. Horses with hind fetlock lameness often show signs of heat and swelling in this joint. In severe cases, horses may be unable to weight-bare on the limb. Performance horses such as racehorses and dressage horses are prone to hind fetlock injuries. Eventers are more prone to fore-fetlock injuries, likely due to the landing forces after large jumps.
Knee Lameness and Pain in Horses: Causes, Treatment & Prevention
The horse's knee is a complex joint, susceptible to trauma and progressive arthritis - especially in performance horses. Knee (or carpal) lameness is characterized by a shuffling gait, shortened foreleg strides, tripping in front due to not being able to lift the hoof fully off the ground, and swelling or heat on the knee. The causes of knee lameness are varied. It is most often seen in horses that take excessive weight or concussion onto their front legs, such as jumpers, barrel racers, reiners, and cutters.
Best Magnesium Supplements for Your Horse [Bioavailability Comparison]
Magnesium supplements for horses come in many forms and are used to support muscle function and calming. This important macromineral is required in the equine diet to facilitate muscle contraction, maintain ion balance in the blood, and activate enzymes throughout the body.
An Update on Mad Barn’s Equine Nutrition Modelling Research Program
Mad Barn’s equine nutrition modelling project at the University of Guelph is underway after being awarded several research grants to match our initial investment. Currently, there are large gaps in the research available on the nutritional needs of horses. The goal of our research program is to better understand nutrient dynamics in horses and to use advanced modelling techniques to formulate optimal feeding practices.
Equine Coronavirus (ECoV): Symptoms, Transmission, Treatment & Diagnosis
Coronavirus Prevalence Transmission Effects Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Equine Coronavirus (ECoV) is a highly contagious illness transmitted between horses that can cause fever, anorexia, diarrhea, and colic. [...]
How to Feed an Emaciated Horse to Avoid Refeeding Syndrome
Emaciated horses have a very low body condition score with extensive loss of muscle and fat. These severely underweight horses need to be carefully managed with veterinary care and precise nutrition strategies during their recovery. Reintroducing feed must be done slowly to allow your horse’s body to adjust.
Thumps in Horses: Signs, Causes and Treatment of Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter
Thumps in horses is a condition that produces irregular contractions of the diaphragm, resulting in a thumping noise similar to a human hiccup. Scientifically referred to as Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter (SDF), thumps causes the diaphragm to spasm in the same rhythm as the heartbeat.
Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in Horses – [Lung Bleeding]
Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) is a condition that causes bleeding in the airways, commonly seen in high-performance horses such as racing Thoroughbreds. Horses that experience EIPH are known as "bleeders."
Best Exercises to Improve Your Horse’s Topline – [Training Guide]
A strong topline is one of the most important indicators of a well-conditioned horse. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing and supporting performance, a good topline can protect your working horse from strain and injury.
Hock Lameness in Horses: Causes, Signs & Treatments of Hock Problems
Lameness in the horse's hock joint is one of the most common causes of altered hind end gait. Hock lameness is characterized by shortened gait, weight shifting, stiffness when your horse picks their hind legs up, and reduced springiness off the ground when the horse picks up a canter or jumps.
Equine Wobbler Syndrome: Causes, Signs, Diagnosis & Treatment
Equine wobbler syndrome, also known as cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), is a devastating neurological syndrome resulting from damage to your horse's spinal cord. Horses with CVSM exhibit neurological symptoms such as poor balance and stumbling when walking.
Coat Color in Horses: How to Prevent Fading & Support Coat Quality
Your horse’s coat quality and color reflect his or her inner health. Coat color is primarily determined by genetics, although diet and care can also significantly impact coloration.
Top 8 Signs and Symptoms of Insulin Resistance (IR) in Horses – [List]
Insulin resistance (IR) in horses describes a condition in which the body fails to properly respond to the hormone insulin. Impaired insulin response is the main feature of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). Horses with EMS do not metabolize sugars properly and have difficulty losing weight.
Grazing Muzzles for Horses and Ponies – [How & When to Use]
Grazing muzzles are a staple in the tack room of many pony and horse owners. These muzzles fit over the mouth and nose of a horse and restrict grass intake while allowing access to pasture. Grazing muzzles have been shown to reduce dry matter intake by between 30 - 80%.
Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL) in Horses – [Symptoms & Treatment]
Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL) is a condition that describes impaired lymph flow in the lower legs. Primarily observed in draft horse breeds, CPL causes swelling and skin inflammation on affected legs. Horses with the condition are also at risk of lesions and secondary bacterial and parasitic infections developing on their legs because of poor lymph flow.
Thrush in Horses: Causes, Signs & Treatment of this Hoof Infection
Thrush describes an infection that develops in the frog of one or more of the horse's hooves, caused by a fungal or bacterial pathogen. Fusobacterium necrophorum is the bacterium most often associated with thrush infections. Hooves with frogs that have deep sulci are prone to becoming infected with pathogens that cause thrush.
Uveitis in Horses – Causes, Signs, Diagnosis & Treatment
Uveitis in horses is a condition in which the uvea layer of the eye becomes inflamed. It is the most common cause of blindness in horses. It is estimated that as many as 25% of horses worldwide are affected by some form of uveitis.
Misoprostol for Horses with Ulcers: Effects, Uses and Risks
Misoprostol is a drug used in horses to prevent ulcers from developing in the hindgut and stomach. It is commonly prescribed to horses that require regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which can cause ulcers to form.
How to Feed the Lactating Mare [8-Point Nutrition Guide]
Producing high-quality milk for the foal requires a lot from your mare. Lactation puts higher energy demands on a mare’s body than any other stage of her life. To keep up with the milk requirements of a growing foal while maintaining her body weight, your mare requires a calorie- and protein-rich diet.
Equine Motor Neuron Disease: Causes, Treatment & Vitamin E Supplementation
Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND) is a disease that causes progressive damage to nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord of adult horses. The disease damages cells that are involved with muscle movement, rendering them dysfunctional and leading to muscle wasting.
Rotavirus in Foals: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Equine rotavirus is a potentially deadly virus that causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms in foals. Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in foals less than 6 months of age.
Colic Surgery in Horses: Indications, Procedure & Recovery Time
Surgical intervention is, unfortunately, necessary for many horses that experience colic, with 4 - 10% of colic cases requiring surgery. The term colic refers to abdominal pain of any cause.
Pre-Purchase Examinations for Horses [Checklist & Tests]
To ensure you are making an educated decision, you should contact a veterinarian and book a pre-purchase examination (PPE). Pre-purchase exams shed light on current or potential health and soundness issues.
