Conditions

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard during the heartbeat, caused by blood flowing in an unusual pattern or location within the heart. It’s not uncommon for newborn foals to have heart murmurs ...

The ability to properly chew and grind food is essential for nutrient digestion and absorption. Dysmastication is a condition involving impaired chewing- also known as mastication. Horses that are una...

Pigeon fever is a bacterial infection in horses caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Symptoms vary from lumps on the skin with redness and oozing to systemic signs, such as leth...

Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome (WFFS) is an inherited disease primarily affecting Warmblood horses and their related breeds. This condition is also referred to as Fragile Foal Syndrome Type 1 (FFS). ...

Gait abnormalities in horses can lead to compromised performance, increased risk of injury, and in some cases, may necessitate early retirement from work. These disorders often present similarly to la...

Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a bacterial infection in horses caused by Taylorella equigenitalis. CEM is highly contagious and primarily spreads through venereal transmission and contact with co...

Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis. EPE mainly affects young horses during the fall and winter months. EPE is characterize...

Rattles, clinically known as Rhodococcus equi pneumonia, is a serious respiratory condition that affects growing foals. This disease is a leading cause of severe illness in young foals, and is charact...

Colic, defined as abdominal pain in horses, is a condition that ranges from mild discomfort to severe, life-threatening situations. In foals, colic presents unique challenges and concerns, due to thei...

Enlarged ovaries are frequently observed in mares, especially those used for breeding. This enlargement often stems from an ovarian cyst. In most instances, these cysts are benign and resolve spontane...

Urolithiasis is a rare condition in horses that involves the formation of bladder stones within the horse’s urinary tract. These urinary stones or uroliths are hard collections of crystals or minera...

Infectious diarrhea in foals is a significant health concern that can lead to dehydration, weight loss, and systemic illness. Without timely intervention, it can lead to severe complications and even ...

Lymphoma, also known as lymphosarcoma, is the most common malignant cancer in horses. Lymphoma is a cancer that forms when lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells, become malignant and grow uncontrol...

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can affect horses and is present in wildlife mammals all over the world. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted from animal to humans, and...

Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is a serious infectious disease that affects all equine species. EVA is particularly significant within breeding herds, as the disease causes abortion in up to 60% of affe...

Neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) is a potentially fatal, but preventable, condition affecting newborn foals. Foals develop NI when they consume colostrum containing antibodies against their blood type, r...

Melanomas are a type of skin tumor most commonly observed in aging grey horses. Up to 80% of gray horses aged 15 or older develop melanomas during their lifetime. Melanomas in gray horses often appear...

Primary immunodeficiencies are disorders where some component of the immune system does not develop properly, leaving the horse at risk of infection. Examples primary immunodeficiencies in horses incl...

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS), or coat colour dilution lethal (CCDL), is a rare and lethal disorder in Arabian horses and crossbreeds. Foals with LFS are born with neurological problems and a lightened...

Vitiligo in horses is a disorder that causes patches of skin and hair to lose their normal colour or pigmentation. This condition is not contagious, painful, or life-threatening, but it can be disconc...

Fescue toxicosis in horses results from ingestion of fescue grass contaminated with the fungus Neotyphodium coenophialum. The fungus produces ergot alkaloid toxins which cause changes in hormone conce...

Epistaxis is a common condition in horses that refers to bleeding from the nostrils. Nosebleeds can range in severity and may result from trauma, underlying health conditions or exercise. The majority...

Equine piroplasmosis (EP), or babesiosis, is an infectious tick-borne disease that affects all equid species, including horses*, mules, donkeys and zebras. It is caused by protozoan parasites that are...

Type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1) is a hereditary muscular disorder in horses that results in abnormal accumulation of glycogen (a stored form of sugar) and an abnormal polysaccharide in ...

Ringbone is a degenerative condition that affects the bones and joints in the horse’s lower limbs. It is characterized by the inflammation of surrounding connective tissue, triggering the formation ...

Strongyles are considered the most significant internal parasite that affects horses. It is estimated that these parasites affect between 80 – 99% of equids worldwide. There are two main types of st...

Congenital hypothyroidism and dysmaturity (CHD) syndrome is a common manifestation of hypothyroidism in foals, resulting in dysmature foals that are born weak with contracted tendons, poor ossificatio...

Bone bruising is a common condition often seen in young racehorses, such as Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds. It typically arises from repetitive stress, trauma, or microfractures affecting the subchond...

Supraspinous bursitis, more often known as fistulous withers, is not a common problem in horses — at least in North America. However, it is a serious condition that more often affects horses and don...

Equine abortion and stillbirth refer to delivery of a non-viable fetus or foal. Most causes of abortion and stillbirth do not affect the mare’s future fertility; however, the loss of the foal can ca...