Horse Health

In addition to its well-known cardiovascular and muscle building benefits, regular exercise promotes digestive function and healthy weight management in horses. Fitness training also helps reduce the risk of injury and improves bone mass in working horses. Exercise also influences...

When a horse lies down for extended periods, especially with long-heeled horseshoes or on shallow bedding, prolonged pressure and "squishing" from the hoof on the elbow can occur, leading to a condition known as shoe boil. Shoe boils, otherwise known...

Colic, pain in the abdomen, is one of the most common equine emergencies. [ref n="1"] Some types of colic are life-threatening, requiring immediate veterinary intervention. Currently, colic is one of the leading causes of death in horses. Some studies suggest...

The horse's digestive system is both large and sensitive. It has evolved over millennia to absorb nutrients from grazing pastures and meet the unique energy needs of a free-roaming, incredibly athletic animal. As the horse evolved on the Steppes of...

As with other parasites that feed on blood, mosquitoes can transmit diseases between hosts. In horses, Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (EEE, WEE, and VEE, respectively) and West Nile Virus are mosquito-borne illnesses. Equine encephalitis and West Nile viruses...

Lice are an external parasite found on the hair or fur of mammalian hosts, including horses. A lice infestation is also referred to as pediculosis. There are different species of these small, wingless insects, and horses are usually infested with...

Cataracts are cloudy areas within the horse's lens, the structure within the eye that directs light to the retina. [ref n="1"] The lens must be clear to allow light to pass through correctly, meaning that cataracts can cause blindness in...

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 drainage at the front of the eye, leading to...

Equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a potentially fatal consequence of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection in horses. EHV-1 spreads through contact with an infected horse or surfaces contaminated with the virus. Affected horses develop incoordination, weakness, and paralysis 6-10 days after...

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 may not pay too much...

Degenerative joint disease (also called arthritis) refers to degeneration and loss of the articular cartilage, cartilage within a joint space that protects the bones on either side of a joint. As the articular cartilage degenerates, the bones contact each other,...

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 to a combination of vitamin E deficiency in the...

Neurectomy refers to the surgical cutting and removal of a nerve to prevent pain sensation. In horses, neurectomy is considered a salvage procedure, meaning it is a last resort only performed if no other treatments were effective. Veterinarians may recommend...

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 alfalfa plants, which makes them a common contaminant in alfalfa hay....

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, neither the precise mechanism of action nor the specific toxin from Alsike...

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, death. In North America, venomous snakes belong to either the Elapid...

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 accumulation of air. Most diseases of the guttural pouches are not life-threatening. However,...

Progressive ethmoidal hematomas (PEHs) in horses are non-cancerous masses that develop from the ethmoidal labyrinth. This is a structure with a high concentration of blood vessels within the horse’s nasal […]

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 classified under Myosin Heavy Chain Myopathy (MYHM) in horses....

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. Veterinarians most commonly use flexion tests during lameness examinations or pre-purchase...

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 may be partially digested by microbes. Psyllium...

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 in water is increasing in popularity as...

Oxalates are naturally occurring compounds that bind calcium in the equine diet, preventing absorption of this mineral from the horse’s gut. When horses consume plants with high levels of these […]

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 trainers. One strategy to treat respiratory inflammation is delivering medication directly into...

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 frame overo subtype stands out for its distinctive markings....

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. Wolf teeth have traditionally...

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 containing no cells, is mixed with highly concentrated platelets and...

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 treat conditions associated with increased bone turnover (removal of old bone). By...

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 PEMF can improve bone healing rates, regenerate and protect cartilage...

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, corticosteroids produce an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces pain associated with arthritis...