Horse Health

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...

Methocarbamol is a centrally acting muscle relaxant commonly used in horses to treat skeletal muscle spasms. These spasms can occur during conditions that cause muscle inflammation or injury and are often associated with disorders such as exertional rhabdomyolysis, commonly known...

Dantrolene is a skeletal muscle relaxant used in horses to manage conditions involving excessive skeletal muscle contraction or muscle damage, most notably exertional rhabdomyolysis (tying-up). Exertional rhabdomyolysis occurs when muscle cells become damaged during or after exercise, leading to pain,...

Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator used in horses for the management of lower airway disease, including equine asthma and other conditions associated with bronchoconstriction. These disorders occur when the small airways narrow due to inflammation, excess mucus, and smooth muscle contraction,...

Standing sedation and general anesthesia are two primary methods veterinarians use to immobilize horses for medical and surgical procedures. From routine dental care to complex colic surgery, selecting the appropriate anesthetic approach is a critical part of equine medicine due...

Nasopharyngeal sampling is a commonly performed diagnostic procedure in equine practice, used to identify infectious agents affecting the upper respiratory tract. It involves inserting a deep nasal swab into the nasopharynx to collect samples for testing for viral or bacterial...

Quinidine is an antiarrhythmic medication used in horses for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia that warrants medical intervention. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat in...

Bacterial infections are a common cause of illness in horses and can affect nearly every body system, from the skin and respiratory tract to the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system, and joints. These infections may develop after wounds or surgical procedures,...

Rhinopneumonitis in horses, commonly called "rhino," is a contagious respiratory disease caused by equine herpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-4). These viruses are widespread in horse populations worldwide, and most horses are exposed at some point in their lives. While many cases...

Twitching is an equine restraint technique that is sometimes used during veterinary and husbandry procedures. Most often applied to the upper lip, a twitch is designed to limit movement and improve safety when a horse reacts to brief discomfort or...

The equine respiratory system plays a critical role in athletic performance and overall health, and even subtle abnormalities can significantly impact a horse’s comfort, stamina, and ability to perform. Because many respiratory problems are located deep within the nasal passages,...

Effective parasite control is a cornerstone of equine health management. While routine deworming once served as the mainstay of parasite prevention, increasing evidence of anthelmintic resistance has shifted the focus toward diagnostic testing and targeted treatment. Diagnostic tests provide valuable...

Nasogastric intubation is one of the most fundamental and frequently performed procedures in equine practice. It serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and is a critical component of evaluating horses with gastrointestinal disease, particularly those presenting with signs of colic....

Catastrophic limb injuries are among the most serious emergencies a horse can face. They involve severe damage to bones, joints, or supporting soft tissues, leaving the horse unable to bear weight safely. Unlike minor strains, sprains, or small fractures, these...

Upper airway obstruction can have an immediate impact on a horse's ability to breathe, perform, and stay comfortable, especially during exercise. Because horses rely entirely on their nasal passages for airflow, even small changes in the structures of the throat...

Abdominal ultrasound is a valuable, non-invasive diagnostic tool that allows veterinarians to visualize the organs and soft tissues within a horse’s abdomen. Using high-frequency sound waves, the technique produces real-time images that can reveal both normal anatomy and subtle abnormalities....

Allergies are a common yet often misunderstood source of skin and respiratory problems in horses. Many owners recognize issues such as colic or lameness, while allergic reactions receive less attention despite causing significant disruption when symptoms become chronic, recurring, or...

Rectal examination remains one of the most valuable and informative diagnostic tools available to equine practitioners when evaluating gastrointestinal conditions. In cases of colic, it is often the single most informative procedure for identifying the underlying cause, determining the severity...