Conditions

A healthy equine gastrointestinal microbiome contains a diverse range of beneficial microbes that support digestion, immune function and nutrient synthesis. Because horses are hindgut fermenters, a healthy microbiome is essential for overall wellness. Dysbiosis is defined as a microbial population...

Arthritis is defined as inflammation in one or more joints, which leads to pain and stiffness. The condition is degenerative, meaning it cannot be reversed in most cases and tends to worsen over time. However, there are steps that horse...

What is the best way to support a horse affected by a ligament injury? Unfortunately, due to the nature of many equine disciplines, a horse’s ligaments are prone to injury. In fact, ligament sprains (along with tendon injuries) are the...

Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD) is a chronic condition in horses that affects connective tissue, including the suspensory ligament and other ligaments and tendons. This painful condition commonly leads to debilitating lameness. In horses with DSLD, the suspensory ligament progressively...

Painful hoof abscesses in horses develop when bacterial and fungal organisms enter the hoof structure through a wound or opening and cause infection in the inner tissues. The invading microorganisms and the ensuing immune response generate purulent exudate (pus) which...

Founder is a common cause of lameness in horses. It involves damage to the laminar connection between the hoof wall and the coffin bone. This often leads to rotation and/or sinking of the coffin bone which causes severe pain and...

Leaky gut is a digestive issue is horses that occurs as a component of a broader gut health issue such as dysbiosis, inflammatory bowel disease, or gastric ulcers. It is said that 70% of the horse’s immune system resides in...

Podotrochlear Syndrome (also referred to as navicular syndrome or navicular disease) affects the podo­trochlear apparatus (PTA) of the equine foot and typically occurs in the forelimbs. The condition can cause a variable degree of lameness. There is no single cause...

While line disease is a hoof condition that can lead to pain and lameness. This condition affects the equine hoof wall in one or more hooves at a time. White line disease originates as a separation between adjacent layers in...

Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) is a genetic condition in horses that affects how their muscles function and respond to signals from the nervous system. These horses have high levels of potassium in the blood and should be fed low potassium...

Equine Heaves is a condition that is characterized by inflamed airways in the lungs. This can lead to a number of associated symptoms such as chronic coughing, excess mucous, poor performance and weight loss. This condition also goes by several...

Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) is a bacterial disease that can result in severe colic, diarrhea, inflammation, depression and laminitis. In serious cases, it can be fatal to the horse. PHF is caused by infection with Neorickettsia risticii and typically affects...

Equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM or EPSM) is a genetic condition in horses that affects how muscle cells partition, generate, and store energy. This can lead to exercise intolerance, stiffness, and an abnormal gait in your horse. After diagnosis, owners...

Tying-up in horses is a colloquial term for Exertional Rhabdomyolysis, a condition involving exercise-related muscle cramping and damage. Some horses experience a single episode of tying up whereas others experience recurrent tying-up. During an episode, the affected horse becomes stiff...

Equine Lyme disease is a growing concern for horses in North America, especially during the summer months when tick bites are more common. Lyme disease is primarily caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria that is carried by ixodid,...

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is a progressive and painful dental condition that occurs in some horses. Primarily affecting senior horses, it typically involves the gradual degeneration of the incisors and canine teeth. Over time, the roots of...

Diarrhea can affect horses of all ages, breeds and sizes, resulting in dehydration, weight loss, poor nutrient absorption or electrolyte imbalance. Diarrhea is described as the increased excretion of liquid or semi-solid feces. Cases of equine diarrhea can range in...

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic substances which are produced by mould and fungus in your horse’s hay. Mycotoxins can cause negative effects in horses including colic, gastrointestinal upset, weight loss, feed withdrawal, immune suppression, impaired performance or poor growth.

Internal parasites, also known colloquially as worms, are a common concern for many horse owners. Parasites are organisms that live on the horse’s skin or infiltrate the intestinal tract to gain nutrients. They can cause inflammation, immune problems, ulcers, and,...

Horses exhibiting heel pain are often diagnosed with navicular syndrome. It is a common – and frustrating – issue to deal with, but it no longer spells immediate retirement for the horse. With early diagnosis and proper treatment, a horse...

Right dorsal colitis (RDC) is a specific type of ulcerative disease in horses localized to the right, upper region of the large intestine. RDC is sometimes referred to as hindgut ulcers. Horses with RDC can show signs of weight loss,...

What can you do to prevent ulcers from developing in your horse? Equine ulcers are all too common, with studies showing that up to 90% of horses will be affected by ulcers in their lifetime. Stomach ulcers, also known as...

Hindgut acidosis is a condition in which the hindgut of the horse becomes excessively acidic. It is usually caused by too much starch in the horse’s diet, resulting in increased production of lactic acid in the lower intestinal tract. When...

Equine laminitis is a painful condition affecting the horse's hooves. Cases of laminitis range in severity from mild foot tenderness to chronic founder, potentially impeding the horse's ability to walk. Laminitis is the bane of any horse owner's existence. Horses...

Free fecal water syndrome is a condition in which horses experience both solid and liquid phases during defecation. The liquid phase can occur before, during, or after defecation of the solid phase or sometimes occur completely separate from the solid...

Equine gastric ulcers are extremely common, especially in performance horses. But ulcers can also occur in the horse's hindgut and have negative consequences for digestive health. Hindgut ulcers are also known as colonic ulcers. Veterinarians often refer to the condition...

Have you noticed changes in your horse such as weight loss, a dull coat, disinterest in feeding or crib chewing that have resulted in poor performance? Your horse might be experiencing stomach pain, most likely due to gastric ulcers. Equine...

Do you know the dangers of high iron levels in your horse's hay or water? Iron overload is a growing concern among horse owners as more is learned about the harmful effects of having too much of this mineral in...

Let's save the boring stats that every article discussing equine gastric ulcers quotes. If you keep your horse in a stall and/or do any level of training and you are still reading this article, there is an extremely [...]

Cushing’s Disease occurs when there is a tumor on the pituitary gland, an organ at the base of the brain. This tumor causes the pituitary gland to over-produce ACTH, a hormone that affects cortisol levels in the body. [...]