Horse Health

Equine rhinitis viruses A and B (ERAV and ERBV) are contagious respiratory viruses that commonly infect horses worldwide. These infections are a frequent cause of mild respiratory illness, particularly in young horses and those housed in group settings such as...

Omeprazole is a cornerstone of managing gastric ulcers in horses, working to reduce stomach acid and promote healing. Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is extremely common, particularly in performance horses exposed to intensive training, travel, and dietary challenges. In equine...

Digestive health plays a central role in your horse's comfort, performance, and overall well being, but choosing the right gut supplement is not always straightforward. With a range of products targeting different areas of the digestive system, it can be...

Fluoxetine, commonly known by the trade name Prozac®, is a medication increasingly discussed in equine practice as an option for managing behavioral challenges in horses. As a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), it works by increasing serotonin levels in the...

Spasmodic colic is one of the most common — and typically milder — forms of colic in horses. It occurs when the muscles of the intestines contract suddenly and irregularly, causing brief episodes of abdominal discomfort. This type of colic...

Caffeine toxicity in horses is an uncommon but important condition that can occur when horses are exposed to coffee by-products, cocoa materials, or contaminated feed. While caffeine is widely recognized as a stimulant in humans, its effects in horses have...

Oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone used in horses to stimulate uterine contractions and milk letdown. In clinical practice, it is commonly used to support reproductive processes such as uterine clearance after breeding, expulsion of retained placenta after foaling, and...

Hydroxyzine, sold under the brand name Vistaril®, is a first-generation antihistamine used in horses to reduce itching and inflammation caused by environmental and insect allergens. Unlike newer antihistamines, it crosses the blood–brain barrier, which means it can also cause drowsiness...

Domperidone, sold under the trade name Equidone® Gel, is a medication used in horses to support hormone balance and digestive function. It works by blocking dopamine, a neurotransmitter that supresses certain hormones, including prolactin. In equine practice, domperidone is most commonly...

Dexamethasone is a widely used corticosteroid in equine medicine, valued for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Dexamethasone works by dampening the body's inflammatory response, providing rapid relief of clinical signs and improving overall comfort and function. Because of its strength...

If your horse finishes their feed in a matter of minutes, they may be bolting (or scoffing) their food, a term used to describe when horses eat too quickly without properly chewing their food. While this may seem like a...

Stock horses are compact, muscular breeds known for their work efficiency. Wherever cattle and sheep were raised on a commercial scale, stockmen needed horses that could cover long distances, maintain focus under pressure, and execute precise maneuvers around unpredictable animals....

Tooth root abscesses, or apical infections, are a painful and relatively common dental condition in horses that often develop gradually before more obvious signs appear. Because equine teeth are long and closely connected to surrounding structures like the sinuses, infection...

Aspiration pneumonia is a potentially serious lung condition that occurs when feed, water, saliva, or medication is inhaled into a horse's airways instead of being swallowed into the esophagus. Rather than developing on its own, it most often arises as...

Congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) is an inherited vision disorder that affects a horse's ability to see in low-light conditions. Horses with this condition typically have normal vision during the day but may struggle to navigate safely at dusk, in...

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine commonly used in horses to manage allergic reactions, including hives, insect bite hypersensitivity, and other inflammatory skin conditions. While it is widely recognized under brand names like Benadryl®, its use in equine care is typically off-label...

Ketamine is a widely used medication in equine veterinary medicine, best known for its role as a fast-acting anesthetic. It is commonly administered during surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, and emergency interventions, where it helps induce and maintain anesthesia while preserving...

Trimethoprim sulfadiazine, brand name Equisul-SDT®, is a combination antibiotic widely used in equine medicine for the treatment of bacterial infections. This medication combines two antimicrobial drugs that work together to stop bacteria from growing and multiplying, making it effective against...

Cetirizine, marketed in human medicine under the trade names Zyrtec® and Reactine®, is an antihistamine commonly used in human and small animal medicine. While there is interest in equine applications of antihistamine use, the effects of cetirizine in horses are...

Butylscopolamine, also Buscopan®, is a medication commonly used in horses to provide rapid relief from abdominal pain associated with spasmodic colic. As an antispasmodic agent, it works by relaxing smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract, helping reduce intestinal contractions that...

Fleas in horses are uncommon, but they can still cause skin irritation, itching, and discomfort when infestations occur. While horses are not a preferred host for fleas, they may become temporary hosts after exposure to infested animals such as dogs,...

Pica in horses is a condition characterized by repeated ingestion of non-food items such as dirt, sand, wood, bedding, or manure. Unlike normal foraging behavior, pica involves actively seeking out and swallowing materials that do not provide nutritional value, which...

Congenital myotonia in horses is a rare, inherited neuromuscular disorder that affects how muscles relax after contraction. Instead of returning quickly to a resting state, affected muscles remain contracted for longer than normal, resulting in temporary stiffness that is often...

The Eriskay Pony is a rare native pony breed from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Shaped by generations of life in a rugged island environment, these ponies are admired for their strength, soundness, and kind disposition. Historically, they were essential working...

Coprophagia in horses, or manure eating, is a behavior most commonly seen in foals but can also occur in adult horses under certain conditions. While it is considered a normal and beneficial behavior in young horses as their digestive system...

Autoimmune disease in horses occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues instead of protecting against infection. Rather than targeting bacteria, viruses, or parasites, the immune response becomes misdirected, leading to inflammation and tissue damage. Although autoimmune...

Rat poisoning in horses occurs when horses accidentally ingest rodenticides, which are pesticides used to kill rats and other rodents. Exposure can happen through contaminated feed, water, pasture, or bedding, especially in barns, tack rooms, and feed storage areas where...

Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is a crucial water-soluble nutrient for horses. It helps convert carbohydrates into energy, supporting muscles, nerves, and other tissues. Since horses store only small amounts, they depend on regular intake to maintain their health...

Cisapride is a prokinetic medication used in horses to stimulate movement in the gastrointestinal tract, helping restore normal gut motility when digestion slows or stops. It is most commonly used in cases of postoperative ileus, severe gastrointestinal hypomotility, or other...

Nightshade poisoning occurs when horses ingest plants from the genus Solanum, a group that includes several species that produce toxic compounds. Plants such as black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), and horse nettle (Solanum carolinense) contain naturally occurring...