Metabolic Syndrome
Obesity in horses used to be virtually non-existent. The majority of horses were kept as beasts of burden, only the rich possessing them as companion animals. Working horses couldn’t …
Equine Articles
Leg Bone Fractures
In the past, a horse with a broken leg was a dead horse. Even though fracture repair surgery has long been possible and is internally very similar to the …
Lameness – Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
OCD is short for Osteochondritis Dissecans, a developmental disorder of the bones and joints that is somewhat common and may affect any breed of horse. The condition may also …
Lameness – Founder (Laminitis)
Founder is a severe form of lameness caused by laminitis of the horse’s foot. Laminae are the flexible interwoven layers of transitional keratinous material that form the shock-absorbent attachment …
Intestinal Parasites of Horses – Deworming
Various parasites infect the gastrointestinal tracts of horses. Despite the widespread availability and use of anthelmintic drugs, “worms” continue to compromise the health of many horses in all parts …
Humane Equine Euthanasia
Humane euthanasia is a preferred alternative to unnecessary suffering when a horse has a fatal injury or an unmanageable disease. It is the greatest and most difficult responsibility of …
Strangles: Treatment and Prevention
“Strangles” in horses is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. It is spread by inhalation or oral intake of the organism during direct contact with …
Sarcoids
A sarcoid is a slow growing tumor that occurs in the skin of a horse most often on the legs, in the flanks, on the abdomen, or anywhere on …
Ringworm (dermatophytosis)
Ringworm is very common in horses and may be confused with many other skin diseases due to its variable appearance. Veterinarians refer to ringworm as dermatophytosis, meaning an overgrowth …
Potomac Horse Fever
Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) is a sporadic cause of acute diarrhea in many parts of the country. The disease is caused by bacteria called Neoriketssia ristici, which is carried …