Horse Diseases

Thrush is a painful smelly condition that affects the frog of a horse’s hoof. The frog is located on the underside of the hoof and touches the ground when a horse is standing on soft footing It is shaped like a triangle and extends midway from heel to toes and covers about 25% of the […]

Fortunately cancer is relatively rare in horses. Early detection of some cancers can be found during routine blood work because of certain secretions. These secretions are generally due to an internal cancer. Swiss researchers continue to study this means of early detection. Here is a list of some of the cancers that though rare, can […]

URIs (Upper Respiratory Infections) are common in horses. But it’s important to treat them because complications can arise with serious results. Symptoms are the same as for humans – runny nose, clear to yellowish discharge, runny or inflamed eyes, a dry or moist cough, fever, lethargy. A horse normally takes 6-8 breaths per minute. Watch […]

The Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)is very common and affects horses worldwide. There are four different types: EHV-1 can cause neurological disease and respiratory disease. It can also affect a fetus causing abortion; EHV-2 can cause respiratory disease in foals; EHV-3 is responsible for venereal disease in horses; EHV-4 – respiratory diseases. Transmission of the disease is […]

A horse suffering with colic can have a pretty painful bellyache. First of all, don’t panic. There are things you can do to determine how serious the ailment is. If your horse is lying down, get him on his feet. Move him to an area of green grass if possible and see if he’s interested […]

Allergic Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin caused by an irritant. It can be treated and/or controlled, especially once the cause is known. Hives (Urticaria) are usually caused by insect bites, sometimes by reactions to drugs. Horses appear to develop hives more often than other species. While hives can be seasonal, horses living in […]

Vaccinations against certain illnesses will help keep your horse healthy. Your vet will determine which vaccines are necessary and how often to inoculate. Horse illnesses often mirror similar symptoms so regular veterinary checkups will help as a preventive to illness. If you see any behavioral changes or signs of illness in your horse, always consult […]

According to research published in 2005, 63 percent of horses involved in competition sports, ranging from dressage to racing, suffered from colonic ulceration. The research was conducted by Frank Pellegrini, DVM. The study found that 54 percent of performance horses suffered from both gastric and colonic ulcers and that 97 percent of performance horses had […]