Conditions

Bone spavin, also known as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the hock (tarsus), is an extremely common cause of equine lameness. It is caused by repeated concussion and rotational forces on the hock joint, as well as excessive forces on...

Equine herpesvirus (EHV), or rhinopneumonitis, is a contagious infection that is endemic to horses worldwide. EHV may cause mild to severe symptoms that usually involve the upper respiratory tract. In rare cases, it may cause neurological symptoms, abortion or death....

Botflies (Gasterophilus spp.) are parasitic flies that affect the horse's digestive tract and can cause negative health consequences. Botflies lay eggs on the horse's coat in the summer. Some of these eggs, known as horse bots, are ingested as the...

Equine COPD - or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - is a now-obsolete term for a common condition in horses that causes coughing and poor performance. This condition is now referred to as equine asthma and is one of the most...

Lymphangitis, also known as big leg disease or stovepipe leg, is a condition in horses involving inflammation of the lymph vessels, most often in the lower limb. Lymphangitis presents as extreme swelling with rapid onset, resulting in pain in the...

Equine asthma (EA) is a relatively new collective term for chronic respiratory signs in horses that range in severity from mild to severe. These conditions were previously known as inflammatory airway disease (IAD) or recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), respectively. Equine...

Chronic kidney disease (or chronic renal failure) in horses is a rare but serious disorder that interferes with normal kidney function. Your horse's kidneys perform many important processes in the body including managing blood pressure, excreting waste products, and regulating...

Obesity is a health concern in horses worldwide, with a prevalence estimated between 31 – 45% in some equine populations. Among ponies and easy keeper breeds, the prevalence is even higher with one study reporting that 72% of adult ponies...

Stagnation edema, also known as stocking up, is a common cause of leg swelling in stabled horses. It occurs due to impaired circulation from periods of reduced activity. This short-lasting form of edema typically affects both hind limbs and causes...

Horses can experience a number of different dental issues over their lifetime, impacting their ability to chew and digest their feed. Unaddressed dental issues can affect your horse's health, condition, behaviour and performance. This is why it’s important to have...

Equine influenza virus, or EIV, is an extremely contagious respiratory disease or flu affecting horses, mules, and donkeys. EIV is characterized by fever, apathy, and lack of appetite, and causes respiratory symptoms such as coughing and nasal discharge. However, some...

Nutritional myodegeneration (NMD), more commonly known as white muscle disease, is a disorder that affects various animals, including horses. In equids, the condition primarily occurs in newborn foals, although adult horses can also develop it. The condition results in degeneration...

Equine pneumonia is a common respiratory illness that can be life-threatening. It can affect different parts of the horse’s lungs and may cause varied symptoms. Pneumonia refers to inflammation of the lung tissue. Upper airways and lining of the lungs...

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is an infectious disease that affects horses and other equids, such as donkeys and mules. The disease is caused by an RNA virus transmitted by blood-sucking insects. Many affected horses show no clinical signs and are...

Is your horse showing signs of girthiness? Also known as girth aversion or cinch sensitivity, horses that are girthy express signs of discomfort when they are being saddled. A girthy horse may respond to having a girth tightened by expressing...

Developmental orthopedic diseases (DODs) refer to a range of non-infectious conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system of growing horses. These conditions arise from an interruption in the normal development of cartilage, bone, or soft tissue (joint capsule, tendon, or ligament)....

Neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS) - also referred to as dummy foal syndrome - is a condition that causes neurological symptoms in foals. This condition prevents the foal from performing normal behaviours, such as recognizing and feeding from the mare, standing...

Equine sinusitis is the most common disease affecting the paranasal sinuses in horses. Sinusitis is an inflammatory condition that often involves excessive nasal discharge. Horses with sinus diseases can also experience swelling in the face or reduced appetite. The causes...

Foal heat diarrhea is a condition involving transient diarrhea in young foals, lasting for a few days up to two weeks. Foals with heat diarrhea do not have any systemic illness. While it is not known exactly what causes foal...

Swayback, or equine lordosis, is characterized by a large dip in the spine of a horse, often resulting in a high wither and severe downwards curve to their topline. Swayback is more common in older horses and broodmares who have...

Strangles, also known as equine distemper, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. Young horses are most susceptible to developing strangles disease. This condition most commonly occurs in horses under the age of two. The name...

Dehydration is a serious problem in competing and working horses, especially during hot weather. Horses competing in endurance racing or engaging in sustained or strenuous activities are at the highest risk of dehydration. Dehydration occurs when a horse loses excessive...

Roaring is a condition that causes some horses to make a whistling or roaring sound during exercise. It can affect a horse’s performance during high-intensity exercises, such as racing. This condition is also referred to as recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN)...

Equine Coronavirus (ECoV) is a highly contagious illness transmitted between horses that can cause fever, anorexia, diarrhea, and colic. Most horses recover from equine coronavirus with supportive care. In serious cases, affected horses may require specific treatments such as electrolytes,...

Thumps in horses is a condition that produces irregular contractions of the diaphragm, resulting in a thumping noise similar to a human hiccup. Scientifically referred to as Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter (SDF), thumps causes the diaphragm to spasm in the same...

Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) is a condition that causes bleeding in the airways, commonly seen in high-performance horses such as racing Thoroughbreds. Horses that experience EIPH are known as "bleeders."

Equine wobbler syndrome, also known as cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), is a devastating neurological syndrome resulting from damage to your horse's spinal cord. Horses with CVSM exhibit neurological symptoms such as poor balance and stumbling when walking.

Insulin resistance (IR) in horses describes a condition in which the body fails to properly respond to the hormone insulin. Impaired insulin response is the main feature of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). Horses with EMS do not metabolize sugars properly...

Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL) is a condition that describes impaired lymph flow in the lower legs. Primarily observed in draft horse breeds, CPL causes swelling and skin inflammation on affected legs. Horses with the condition are also at risk of...

Thrush describes an infection that develops in the frog of one or more of the horse's hooves, caused by a fungal or bacterial pathogen. Fusobacterium necrophorum is the bacterium most often associated with thrush infections. Hooves with frogs that have...