Horse Health

Ataxia refers to a loss of normal coordination and is one of the most common signs of neurological disease in horses.  Because normal movement depends on the coordinated function of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and balance systems, many...

The equine gut microbiome plays a key role in a horse's digestive health, immune function, and overall performance. A healthy gut helps horses digest feed efficiently, absorb nutrients, and maintain normal immune defenses. The foregut, which includes the stomach and...

Elbow lameness in horses refers to pain or dysfunction arising from the elbow joint or nearby soft tissues. Although the elbow is not a common source of forelimb lameness in horses, problems in this region can have a major impact...

The horse shoulder, also called the equine shoulder joint, connects the shoulder blade to the front limb and plays an important role in weight-bearing, balance, and forward movement. Unlike the human shoulder, which is built for a wide range of...

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease in horses caused by Leishmania protozoa and transmitted primarily through the bites of infected sandflies. Although the disease is more common in humans and dogs, horses can also become infected in regions where these parasites...

Limb fractures in horses are serious bone injuries that require prompt veterinary assessment and careful stabilization. A fracture is any break in the bone, ranging from a small crack to a complete break with multiple fragments or involvement of a...

Drooling in horses can be a normal response to eating, but excessive salivation may also signal irritation, dental disease, swallowing difficulty, toxic plant exposure, or another underlying health concern. Because saliva supports chewing, swallowing, and digestion, changes in how much...

Insect control is an important part of horse management. While insects are unavoidable in the environment, some species can irritate horses, disrupt normal behavior, damage skin and eyes, or transmit disease. A good control plan helps protect the horse while...

Respiratory noises in horses can signal a problem with airflow through their nose, throat, or lungs. While some breathing sounds are subtle, persistent or unusual noises may suggest irritation, inflammation, mucus buildup, airway narrowing, or another respiratory concern that needs...

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in horses is a paired joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull and helps coordinate the movements needed for chewing. Working together with the teeth, tongue, cheeks, and chewing muscles, the TMJ allows the...

SGLT2 inhibitors are emerging as a novel therapeutic option in equine medicine, particularly for horses and ponies affected by severe insulin resistance and endocrinopathic laminitis. Interest in these medications has increased rapidly in recent years as veterinarians look for additional...

Tularemia is a bacterial disease that affects a wide range of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Also known as rabbit fever, the disease is caused by Francisella tularensis, a bacterium that is commonly found in rabbits, rodents, and other wildlife. Infection...

Halitosis, or bad breath, in horses is an unpleasant odor coming from a horse’s mouth or nostrils. While occasional odor associated with horse feed is normal, persistent foul-smelling breath in your horse is often a sign of an underlying health...

The horse's jaw is a complex structure that plays a central role in eating, chewing, digestion, and overall wellbeing. Every jaw movement relies on the coordinated action of bones, teeth, muscles, joints, nerves, and soft tissues working together to process...

Laminitis is one of the most common and serious hoof conditions affecting horses. This painful disease damages the laminae, the specialized tissues that help suspend and support the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. In severe cases, laminitis can result...

Prednisone and prednisolone are corticosteroid medications used in veterinary medicine to reduce inflammation and suppress abnormal immune responses. Prednisolone is generally preferred in horses because it is the active form of the medication and is absorbed more reliably than prednisone....

Digoxin is a prescription cardiac medication used for horses in selected cases of congestive heart failure and certain abnormal heart rhythms, especially atrial fibrillation. Because it affects both the strength of heart contractions and the way electrical signals move through...

Helping a horse gain weight is not always as simple as feeding more grain or adding extra supplements. Weight gain depends on the horse consuming more calories than it needs, but factors such as forage quality, digestion, protein intake, workload,...

Periodontal disease in horses is a common dental condition involving inflammation and infection of the tissues that support the teeth, including the gums, ligament, and surrounding bone. It often develops gradually and may go unnoticed in the early stages, allowing...

Bismuth subsalicylate is a gastrointestinal medication that may be prescribed for horses as a supportive therapy for diarrhea and intestinal irritation. Although widely available over-the-counter for human use, its use in horses is off-label and should only be administered under...

Gastrobim® is a prescription omeprazole oral paste used in horses for the treatment of gastric ulcers and prevention of ulcer recurrence. Omeprazole reduces stomach acid, helping create conditions that support healing of ulcerated tissue in the stomach lining. Equine Gastric...

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...