Latest Articles

glaucoma-in-horses
Glaucoma in Horses: Causes, Treatment & Prognosis | April 15, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health

Glaucoma refers to increased intraocular pressure, the fluid pressure within the eyeball that gives the eye its shape. [ref n="1"] Glaucoma in horses develops when there is an imbalance in fluid drain...

equine-herpesvirus-myeloencephalopathy
Equine Herpesvirus-1 Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in Horses: The Importance of Biosecurity in Equestrian Sport | April 15, 2024 | Conditions, Equestrian Sport, Horse Health

Equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a potentially fatal consequence of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection in horses. EVH-1 spreads through contact with an infected horse or surfaces ...

horse-manure-and-equine-health
What Does Your Horse’s Manure Say About Their Health? Casie Bazay, BS, NBCAAM | April 11, 2024 | Care & Management, Horse Health

When you have horses, dealing with manure is simply a fact of life. After all, an average-sized horse poops anywhere from 4 to 13 times each day. Other than cleaning stalls and paddocks, horse owners...

Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy
Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (EDM): Causes, Diagnosis & Prevention Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | April 12, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health

Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM) is a degenerative neurologic disease affecting the brain and spinal cord in horses. [ref n="1"] The precise cause of EDM is unknown, but it may be related...

neurectomy-in-horses
Neurectomy in Horses: Uses, Procedures & Complications Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | April 9, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health

Neurectomy refers to the surgical cutting and removal of a nerve to prevent pain sensation. [ref n="1"] In horses, neurectomy is considered a salvage procedure, meaning it is a last resort only perfor...

blister beetle poisoning in horses
Blister Beetle Poisoning (Cantharidin Toxicity) in Horses: Causes, Treatment & Prevention Lucia K Ryan, MA. | April 12, 2024 | Horse Health, Toxicity

Blister beetles, also known as oil beetles, secrete a blistering agent called cantharidin as a natural defense against predators. Beetles in this family feed on flower blossoms, particularly in alfalf...

show-jumping-equestrian-discipline-guide
Equestrian Show Jumping: History, Competition & Rules – [Discipline Guide] Caroline Cochran, BSc. | April 3, 2024 | Equestrian Sport, Horse Health

Show jumping is one of the most popular and recognizable equestrian sports in the world. Jumping appears alongside eventing and dressage in the equestrian events at the Olympic Games. While well-known...

alsike-clover-poisoning-in-horses
Alsike Clover Poisoning in Horses: Big Liver Disease & Dew Poisoning Lucia K Ryan, MA. | April 3, 2024 | Horse Health, Toxicity

Alsike clover toxicosis is a potentially life-threatening condition in horses caused by ingesting large quantities of the Trifolium hybridum plant, commonly referred to as Alsike clover. To date, neit...

snake-envenomation-in-horses
Poisonous Snake Bites (Snake Envenomation) in Horses: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Lucia K Ryan, MA. | April 8, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health, Toxicity

Poisonous snake bites (snake envenomation) in horses, while not common, are a medical emergency. Without prompt veterinary attention, snake envenomation can result in severe injury and, in some cases,...

Guttural pouch disease in horses
Guttural Pouch Disease in Horses: Causes, Treatment, & Prognosis Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | April 3, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health

The guttural pouches are large, air-filled structures within the horse's skull, in the throatlatch region. These pouches can develop bacterial infections, fungal infections, or tympany, the excessive ...

Progressive Ethmoidal Hematomas in Horses
Progressive Ethmoidal Hematomas (PEHs) in Horses: Causes, Treatments, & Surgical Complications Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | March 28, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health

PEHs in Horses Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis Summary Progressive ethmoidal hematomas (PEHs) in horses are non-cancerous masses that develop from the ethmoidal labyrinth. This a structu...

Immune Mediated Myositis (IMM) and Nonexertional Rhabdomyolysis
Immune Mediated Myositis (IMM) in Horses: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | April 8, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health

Immune-mediated myositis (IMM) is a muscle disorder in horses where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own muscle fibers, resulting in severe muscle atrophy. IMM is one of the two disorders clas...

Flexion test in horses
Flexion Tests in Horses for Lameness & Pre-Purchase Evaluations: Uses & Limitations Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | March 28, 2024 | Horse Health, Joint Health

Flexion tests are a component of the diagnostic work-up for lameness in horses. These tests exacerbate pre-existing soreness or irritation in the limbs to make subtle lameness more obvious. Veterinari...

Feeding Psyllium to Horses
Psyllium for Horses: Benefits, Risks & Feeding Guide Dr. Christine Latham, Ph.D. | March 28, 2024 | Gut Health, Horse Health, Nutrition

Psyllium is a rich source of soluble fiber that can be incorporated into equine diets. Soluble fiber remains undigested by enzymes in the stomach (gastric juices), but passes into the hindgut where it...

Equine Underwater Treadmill
Equine Underwater Treadmills: Low-Impact Exercise for Performance & Rehabilitation Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | March 28, 2024 | Horse Health, Performance, Training

A water treadmill is a piece of exercise equipment used in equine training and rehabilitation. This type of treadmill is submerged in water so the horse is chest-deep while they are moving. Exercising...

Oxalate Toxicity in Horses
Oxalate Toxicity in Horses: Causes, Signs, Prevention & Treatment Linaya Pot, MSc | March 28, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health, Nutrition

What Are Oxalates? Effects Calcium Deficiencies Diagnosis and Treatment Feeding Guidelines Oxalates are naturally occurring compounds that bind calcium in the equine diet, preventing absorption of thi...

equine nebulizer
Equine Nebulizer Guide: Types, Uses, & Related Medications | April 15, 2024 | Horse Health, Medications

Respiratory (lung) function is critical to ensure equine performance and overall health. Equine asthma, pneumonia, and lung capacity during exercise are all common health concerns for riders and train...

Overo Lethal White Syndrome in Horses
Overo Lethal White Syndrome (OLWS) in Horses: Causes, Signs & Genetic Testing Camryn McNeill, B.B.R.M. | March 15, 2024 | Breeding, Breeds, Conditions, Foals, Horse Health

The overo pattern is one of three coat patterns in American Paint Horses (APHs) recognized by the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), along with Tobiano and Tovero. Among Overo variations, the fr...

wolf teeth in horses
Do Wolf Teeth in Horses Need to be Removed? Sara Rice, MSc. | March 19, 2024 | Horse Health

Wolf teeth in horses are short teeth sometimes found in the space between the front and cheek teeth on both sides of the upper jaw. Wolf teeth are normal, but have no particular function for horses. W...

Platelet-Rich Plasma for Horses
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Horses: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | March 27, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health, Joint Health, Medications

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a regenerative therapy used to treat horses with tendon and ligament injuries. PRP is a blood preparation where plasma, the water and protein component of blood containin...

Bisphosphonates in Horses
Bisphosphonates in Horses: Benefits, Uses and Side Effects Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | March 14, 2024 | Horse Health, Medications

Bisphosphonates are drugs used to treat bone conditions in horses. The two main bisphosphonates used in horses are clodronate (OsPhos®) and tiludronate (Tildren®). These medications are used to trea...

pemf in horses
PEMF (Pulsed Electro Magnetic Therapy) in Horses: Benefits, Uses & Research Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | March 14, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health, Performance

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is a treatment modality for horses where a machine produces pulses of electromagnetic fields directed at a specific part of the body. Research suggests that...

steroid joint injection in horses
Corticosteroid Joint Injections in Horses: Uses, Side Effects, & Evidence Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | March 28, 2024 | Horse Health, Joint Health, Medications

Corticosteroids are a class of medication used to treat inflammation and pain. Corticosteroid joint injections are a common treatment for arthritis in horses. When injected directly into a joint, cort...

stretching in horses1
Stretching in Horses: Benefits, Uses & Techniques Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | April 10, 2024 | Horse Health, Performance, Training

Wondering about the best stretching exercises for your horse? Stretching is the process of extending a muscle to its maximum extension to release muscle tightness, improve flexibility and reduce pain....

Summer Sores in Horses
Summer Sores in Horses: Causes, Treatment & Prevention Casie Bazay, BS, NBCAAM | April 10, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health

Habronematidosis or habronemosis, more commonly known as summer sores, is a parasitic skin infection that can occur in horses. As the name implies, summer sores usually occur during the summer months....

Chiropractic Care for Horses
Chiropractic Care in Horses: Benefits of Joint Mobilization & Manipulation Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | April 10, 2024 | Care & Management, Conditions, Horse Health

Chiropractic care for horses is a form of manual therapy commonly used in veterinary treatment protocols for lameness. Chiropractic treatment focuses on joint mobilization and manipulation to reduce p...

Massage Therapy for Horses
Massage Therapy in Horses: Benefits, Techniques & Trigger Points Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | February 21, 2024 | Care & Management, Horse Health

Equine massage therapy is a bodywork modality that involves the systematic manual manipulation of a horse’s muscles and soft tissues to alleviate muscle tension and promote overall well-being. It’...

Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in Horses
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in Horses: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Camryn McNeill, B.B.R.M. | February 9, 2024 | Care & Management, Conditions, Performance

Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (ER), commonly known as tying-up or azoturia, is an exercise-induced condition in horses characterized by the excessive breakdown of muscle tissue. This results in muscle spa...

Leptospirosis in Horses
Leptospirosis in Horses: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Dr. Jenna Thebeau, DVM, MSc | February 5, 2024 | Conditions

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that is commonly spread to horses through direct contact with contaminated food and water sources. While there are many different species of the Leptospira bacte...

Sesamoiditis in Horses
Sesamoiditis in Horses: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Dr. Madison Ricard, DVM | February 6, 2024 | Conditions, Horse Health, Performance

Sesamoiditis in horses refers to pain and injury around the sesamoid bones, pairs of small triangular bones found at the back of the fetlock. Inflammation in this area can cause pain and changes to th...