February 1, 2023

Horses can respond to vaccines differently, and your horse's response to vaccines may be related to the health of their gut.  

September 5, 2017

A new pain killer is being used in horses for laminitis and founder.

February 25, 2020

Consider acupuncture in horses that have not responded to typical laminitis therapy

April 8, 2022

Equine asthma is the most common non-infectious respiratory disease occurring in adult horses. It seems mold spores are the cause of an allergic reaction leading to symptoms of asthma such as labored breathing and coughing. 

July 29, 2020

November 13, 2020

It's possible that lameness in a leg is due to a problem in the neck, not the leg

December 10, 2019

The overall feeling is that Adequan is moderately effective at treating chronic joint disease while hyaluronic acid is more effective at treating acute joint disease.

April 22, 2022

Horses can develop back or neck pain and these conditions are difficult to diagnose and treat. Treatment of neck and back pain includes anti-inflammatory medications and injecting ligaments between the vertebrae. In some instances, shock wave therapy and acupuncture are used. 

January 15, 2021

All of the muscles in the back should be examined with ultrasound.

October 8, 2019

September 28, 2020

Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, or EIPH, causes a significant decrease in racehorse performance, depending on the amount of bleeding that occurs

November 27, 2017

The disease is caused by two different protozoal parasites, Sarcocystis and Neospora, which affect the nervous system.

February 18, 2014

Botulism can affect all warm blooded animals, but horses are particularly sensitive. Type B botulism is the most common.

March 24, 2014

A common cause of infertility in the mare called infectious endometritis, or infection of the uterine lining.

August 10, 2018

Brucellosis is a very serious disease in animals and people and drinking raw milk should be discouraged as the risks of developing disease are not worth taking the chance.

March 9, 2015

Cancer cells go mad systematically. The cellular delinquents bust past the body's natural immune system, as though a gate was left open, burgeoning into abnormal cells.

August 27, 2020

Canker results from a bacterium that causes the tissue in the frog and heel bulb region of a horse's foot to grow or proliferate abnormally. 

January 25, 2017

These swellings are filled with fluid and occur due to trauma from the heel of the foot hitting the back of the elbow when the horse lies down. The trauma of the heel causes a bursa or fluid-filled sac to develop at the back of the elbow.

July 22, 2022

One of the newest ways to treat equine wounds is carbon dioxide therapy, and carbon dioxide has shown promise in humans with chronic wounds due to diabetes. However, the effectiveness of the treatment in horses is questionable. 

July 29, 2019

Chronic diarrhea is not uncommon in horses and can be a real difficult problem to diagnose and treat.

December 16, 2020

If your horse continually develops hoof abscesses or does not respond to treatment, there must be an underlying problem

March 23, 2015

Clinical signs are progressive swelling, thickening of the skin, and scarring of the legs, which can be debilitating in these horses.

March 6, 2019

January 29, 2020

August 5, 2022

Colic is likely the most common health condition seen in horses. But should you treat your horse at home, or will your veterinarian recommend surgery?  

March 27, 2018

Colic is the most common cause of death in horses over 30 days of age.

July 5, 2018

There is really nothing medically you can do that will make a lot of difference in the outcome, but remaining calm may help your horse stay calmer also.

October 30, 2017

If the horse is older and could have Cushing's, treatment must be aggressive to prevent loss of the eye.

March 16, 2015

Thirty years ago, this virus was founds in foals and other immunocompromised individuals, but over the last 10 years the virus has started causing disease in adult horses

October 11, 2022

The coronary band is the area at the top of the horse’s hoof that separates the hoof wall from the skin. The disease usually occurs in heavier breeds of horses, like warmbloods. Although the condition usually heals with treatment, the treatment is time-consuming and requires your commitment.

December 5, 2017

A study looked at the use of several different corticosteroids injected in multiple joints, either alone or separately.

September 10, 2012

Normal doses of cortisone have been used routinely with no side effects and most horses that have developed laminitis and foundered have been given large doses.

June 3, 2022

When moving at a walk and trot, your horse's tail swings equally from side to side. If you notice your horse's tail is crooked, it may be a sign of hind limb lameness. 

July 22, 2013

Castration complications include swelling, infection, excessive bleeding, and herniation of the intestine through the incision.

November 20, 2018

Cryptorchidism is diagnosed when one or both testicles are not in the scrotum but are still either in the horse’s abdomen or in the inguinal or flank area.

September 25, 2017

There are several recommended tests to diagnose Cushing's disease, but all of them have some questions as far as accuracy, especially in early cases.

May 6, 2019

Cutaneous lymphangitis in horses is inflammation of lymph vessels of the horse's skin, usually below the hock, that leads to a leg swelling commonly called big leg.

October 3, 2017

One of the problems many horses face during the summer is the inability to sweat, a condition called anhidrosis.

November 16, 2015

Since most horses eat processed feeds that do not encourage proper tooth usage, minor dental disease becomes severe abnormalities.

May 6, 2019

A new condition affects a horse's incisors, and sometimes the canine teeth, called equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis, or EOTRH for short.

April 9, 2018

The newest treatments for arthritis, tendon and ligament injuries is called regenerative medicine, which uses stem cells to aid in healing.

March 26, 2020

A new test is being developed to diagnose equine asthma in horses

September 10, 2020

June 27, 2016

Diarrhea in newborn foals can develop as a result of inflammation in the GI tract, decreased motility, increased secretion of fluid in the tract, and other causes.

July 1, 2022

 The equine heart is a very healthy organ and is rarely a cause of disease. Horses don’t have human-style heart attacks but can have other heart issues. 

April 2, 2018

Probably the most over-diagnosed equine disease is EPM, or equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.

February 20, 2019

September 9, 2019

A tiny capsule with a camera inside allows visualizing a large portion of the GI tract for abnormalities

October 19, 2015

There are multiple causes for excessive tearing. Some are important and require a veterinary exam while other causes may be temporary and can clear up without treatment.

November 9, 2022

June 17, 2022

Horse owners with performance horses need to be familiar with exhausted horse syndrome, which refers to a horse becoming fatigued. Caused by heat, poor conditioning, and other factors, this can be a potentially serious condition. 

May 23, 2016

Horse's eyes are very sensitive and the foal's eyes are even more sensitive, so it is critical to make sure the eyes are normal at birth.

December 4, 2019

What do you do when you believe your horse has colic? First of all, all cases of colic are potentially fatal and should be examined by your vet.

March 5, 2019

Disturbing the manure once a week will prevent fly eggs from hatching.

August 27, 2012

A fairly new intestinal disease of young horses is caused by the bacterium Lawsonia.

September 30, 2013

Some of these wounds may be minor, but because of the important and susceptible structures of the equine foot, any foot injury can be potentially deadly.

August 3, 2021

Disease in the horse’s lower back seems to be much more common than was previously thought

March 29, 2017

With free fecal water syndrome, the stool is normal but small amounts of very thin water with a small amount of feces are passed before, after or during defecation.

August 28, 2017

Exercise and stress play a role in equine gastric ulcers.

February 8, 2023

Pain medications are commonly used in horses, but some medications may be causing more gastrointestinal problems than previously thought. 

May 6, 2022

Anesthesia of horses is a higher risk than most domestic species, and the older the horse, the more the risk. Monitoring anesthesia in the hospital is certainly easier than on the farm. 

July 30, 2023

Horses with arthritis try to shorten their stride to reduce the load on the arthritic joints, and it is believed the pain is associated with the concussion of impact and extreme range of motion. 

January 22, 2020

If the horse you want to buy has a heart murmur, should you buy it?

September 6, 2011

Equine herpes virus causes three different syndromes: respiratory disease, abortion, and neurological disease.

December 10, 2012

Results of a study that consisted of 92 horses with only suspensory ligament disease that were treated with neurectomy and fasciotomy indicated 78% of them returned to the same level of work they were at before the injury for at least one year.

October 2, 2023

The goal of pathologists is to provide a description of what they see happening and why: in other words, a diagnosis

November 24, 2010

Ethyl alcohol is injected after making sure only the lower hock joints would be affected.

April 19, 2021

Treating these abscesses involves opening the area at the white line to allow drainage

May 26, 2014

If you have a horse that has foundered, ask your vet about an EVA shoe.

October 8, 2015

Hoof cracks happen because of hoof instability and this must be treated to prevent further cracks from occurring.

August 31, 2023

Many animals, including horses, are susceptible to the COVID-19 virus but generally do not get sick. Testing of racehorses in California suggests that horses may silently carry the virus and potentially contribute to its spread.

October 27, 2023

Abnormal trimming of a horse’s hind feet could contribute to a cycle of issues that could cause problems all the way up the rear legs to the back, neck, and even the head.

November 20, 2017

So if your horse has ever foundered, the insulin levels should be checked as the cause may be Cushing's disease or equine metabolic syndrome.

January 11, 2016

It is critical that impactions are treated early because many of them are related to dehydration, and an area of the intestine becomes dry and prevents movement of ingesta.

December 19, 2018

Lots of older horses will develop cupped out and shortened teeth, tooth fractures, and periodontal disease because feed becomes packed between the teeth and can lead to infection.

April 17, 2018

If your horse is scratching in winter, there are multiple possible causes, such as allergies to pollen or food.

July 12, 2021

Horses with colic generally show mild or moderate pain but they can have severe pain. Because of this, all horses with colic need to be examined by a veterinarian because without an exam, it is difficult to determine if the problem is merely mild gas colic or more serious.

June 7, 2023

Tendon injuries are fairly common in horses, and there are some initial treatments to use for these injuries. Tendons attach muscle to bone and are prone to injury. 

March 9, 2016

Hypersensitivity to flying insects such as flies and mosquitos is the most common cause of itching in horses.

October 21, 2019

August 10, 2021

Kissing spines (overriding dorsal spinous processes), where the vertebrae are too close together to the point of touching or overlapping, is a cause of back pain in horses. New research shows the condition may be hereditary.

November 21, 2016

One of the common injuries we see in horses is one to the hoof wall, in which the hoof wall is detached from the underneath tissue.

December 5, 2016

An injury in which the hoof wall is detached from the underneath tissue needs to be treated immediately.

October 23, 2017

Why it can take your veterinarian some time to correctly diagnose lameness cases.

December 15, 2022

Laminitis involves inflammation of the structures in the hoof wall that hold the bone in place, and inflammation of the laminae is extremely painful. Laminitis is a severe foot disease in horses and can also affect donkeys.

September 8, 2021

All newborn foals should have their legs examine closely. Foals can have a number of leg issues that should be addressed early in their lives. 

January 10, 2023

Farriers are often asked to treat many conditions that are suspected or have been previously diagnosed that are impossible to treat correctly without X-rays. 

February 19, 2022

July 5, 2018

The most common cause of blindness in horses is a condition called equine recurrent uveitis or ERU.

March 5, 2019

Tying up is more complicated than you might think.

March 14, 2023

You never want to hear your veterinarian say your horse needs colic surgery, but it does, unfortunately, occur from time to time. There are a few myths about this surgery. 

January 13, 2012

If you notice your horse limping, pick up the foot and find a nail, what should you do? Most people would just pull the nail out and not worry about it. Well, both of those answers are wrong.

February 25, 2013

A horse's nasal discharge can be insignificant or very significant depending on the amount and type of discharge.

April 4, 2011

Doctors have had good success diagnosing horses with navicular disease using MRI.

December 1, 2020

August 6, 2019

Neck pain in horses is not commonly diagnosed, but it may be more common than we realize in older performance horses.

October 5, 2009

Although this trauma can occur in an apparently normal foaling, it more commonly occurs in maiden mares and in cases that require manipulation of the fetus by a veterinarian to aid the foal's birth.

April 1, 2007

A condition called neonatal isoerythrolysis can develop in newborn foals that causes the destruction of their red blood cells. It is a lot easier to prevent this syndrome than treat it.

January 27, 2022

Neurological diseases in horses such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis can cause long term symptoms even after they seem to have recovered from the disease. Vaccines are available for both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis and are very effective in most horses. 

June 26, 2017

EPM is the most common neurological disease in horses, but there are others.

November 1, 2010

Horses are not very susceptible to nitrates and their bodies do not readily change nitrate to nitrite, which is more toxic.

September 29, 2014

This bioelectric device could be used as an option, particularly in instances of proud flesh.

July 14, 2014

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism causes the head bones to enlarge.

February 24, 2023

Exertional rhabdomyolysis syndrome affects muscles in the horse. Feeding the correct diet can help prevent it.

May 23, 2018

Horses can get such severe infections that they can go blind in just a few hours.

August 14, 2023

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, or EPM, is a common neurological disease in horses. New research may have found a cost-effective method of preventing the disease.

November 11, 2013

Bute paste can cause oral ulcers.

January 26, 2015

Shoeing changes can help with certain conditions but any change must be considered carefully so as to not damage other structures

June 29, 2015

Navicular disease is a common cause of lameness in performance horses.

July 23, 2012

The problem is that many of the parasites have become resistant to deworming medication and the reason they are resistant is overuse of the drugs over the last 50 years.

December 4, 2006

Inflammation and infection can develop that can be extremely painful. Scabs and crusts form in the area that further increase the pain. These cases may look simple but can be difficult to treat and your veterinarian should be contacted.

July 5, 2018

Equine pastern dermatitis is a condition of irritated skin that occurs on the horse's lower leg between the hoof and fetlock but can sometimes extend above the fetlock.

January 27, 2016

Although owners do not like the horse's feathers clipped, this is critical in most cases to kill the mites by using lime sulfur dip or frontline spray topically on the legs.

April 7, 2008

Lacerations of the pastern area are difficult to heal because every time the horse takes a step, the laceration on the back of the pastern opens and closes.

November 14, 2016

Treatment usually consists of rest and a change in diet.

January 30, 2019

Pigeon fever is not a disease of pigeons, but one that affects horses. It is called pigeon fever because the disease commonly swells the horse's breast to look like a puffed out pigeon breast.

August 24, 2015

The equine pinworm fortunately does not transmit to other animals or humans.

January 31, 2011

Piroplasmosis is a blood-borne parasitic disease that affects all equines and usually causes fever, anemia, yellowing of the membranes of the eyes and mouth, and urine that is tinged dark brown to red.

November 23, 2009

Piroplasmosis is a rare disease in horses, also called babesiosis.

January 11, 2010

Most cases of placentitis are caused by bacteria that have ascended from the mare's vulvar area up to and through the cervix.

July 15, 2022

Liver disease is not common in horses, but when it occurs it is usually due to toxins the horse has eaten. 

February 13, 2007

Potomac horse fever causes acute onset of depression, decreased appetite, and fever in horses as well as diarrhea, decreased intestinal signs, and mild colic.

April 20, 2015

Mange basically means a disease caused by mites, but there are many different types of mites.

April 9, 2007

Strangles is a serious upper respiratory tract disease that is caused by the bacteria strep equi and is highly contagious. Influenza is another contagious disease but is a virus.

November 6, 2017

An unusual type of colic in horses is due to a large stone called an enterolith that forms in the intestine and can partially or completely block it.

August 14, 2017

Diagnosis of EPM is difficult and can be confusing due to lack of a definitive test.

May 15, 2017

All areas of this ligament can be damaged in both the front and hind limbs, but the top portion of the ligament just below the hock in the hind leg is particularly problematic.

November 22, 2010

Pythiosis occurs in dogs and horses more often than in cats.

September 28, 2009

If your horse has a rapidly growing skin lesion that is not responding to normal wound treatment, contact your vet as soon as possible because early cases of pythiosis have a much better prognosis than ongoing cases.

March 7, 2023

Descriptions of rabies go back thousands of years as rabies has classically been one of the most feared infections of all time. Rabies is a serious disease, but fortunately it can also be easily prevented in dogs and cats by proper vaccination.

December 27, 2016

If a horse develops rabies and has been to a play day or rodeo, hundreds of people could be exposed.

March 26, 2012

Ringworm is a fungus, and rain scald is caused by a bacterium that is normally present on horse's skin but it does not cause a problem unless the skin is damaged.

November 10, 2014

Urticaria, or raised skin lesions, is not a disease in itself, but it is a clinical sign.

July 27, 2017

Rattlesnake bites cause two major problems in horses: swelling in the nasal area and dehydration.

November 3, 2015

The reason some horses experience recurrent colic may be unknown.

April 27, 2020

Rein lameness is a difficult diagnosis because the veterinarian has to determine if the horse is in physical pain, if it is a mental issue for the horse, or is it due to the rider

May 3, 2023

Allergies are not uncommon in horses, especially this time of year, but there are options to help these horses.

June 21, 2021

50-90% of horses suffer from gastric ulcers, and performance and racehorses are the most susceptible

September 13, 2022

One of the most serious infectious diseases we see in horses is the neurological form of the herpes virus. 

January 12, 2009

Rhodococcus equi causes a severe pneumonia with abscesses in a foal's lungs.

March 25, 2013

Pneumonia is not a common disease in horses but there are several predisposing factors that can cause pneumonia to develop.

October 9, 2017

Bute's most common side effect is a condition called right dorsal colitis, which is a potentially deadly inflammation of the right dorsal colon.

September 28, 2007

Probably the most common skin disease seen in horses in Texas other than fly allergies is ringworm. Ringworm is not a worm at all but actually a fungus.

April 4, 2016

There are several gaits that suggest sacroiliac joint disease.

August 10, 2015

While a sarcoid does not spread to other organs, it can invade surrounding tissue.

March 22, 2016

This serious disease is caused by ingesting box elder seeds.

February 9, 2009

Probably the most common condition that affects mares after foaling is septic metritis, which is an infection in the uterus.

March 26, 2020

April 26, 2018

A skin infection called cellulitis can cause your horse's legs to swell to two to three times the normal size, plus causing pain and lameness.

April 8, 2013

Many times the horses will hyper-flex the hindlimb when walking backwards and start trembling and then rapidly place the foot on the ground; the term shivers originated with the trembling of the hind limbs.

January 10, 2012

Most nasal discharges are from a respiratory system infection, but sometimes it's an issue within the sinus cavities.

March 29, 2021

Something must irritate the area to start the process

May 6, 2019

Many equine skin diseases appear similar to the eye. There are multiple causes of lumps and bumps on the skin, and many of them require different treatments.

April 25, 2011

The skin is the most common site for tumors in horses.

July 27, 2009

Sleep disorders can cause some serious problems for horses and the most common sleep disorder is sleep deprivation.

October 21, 2013

A common cause of excessive salivation is a condition appropriately called slobbers.

December 18, 2006

Small airway inflammatory disease, or SAID, is not a contagious disease but a disease that in the first stages causes exercise intolerance.

November 3, 2008

Symptoms of splint inflammation, commonly called popping a splint, are pain and swelling around the bones.

December 6, 2010

Sometimes hard training can cause the bones to develop inflammation at the sites of attachment to the large bones between the knee and fetlock. This is the condition called splints.

May 25, 2015

This tumor is most common on horses with white skin around their eyes.

December 2, 2007

One of the most common causes of itchy skin is a bacterial infection of the skin.

June 30, 2020

Like horses, donkeys can get stomach ulcers but for unknown reasons

September 12, 2018

October 22, 2007

Strangles is a common upper respiratory tract infection in young horses. Most of the time strangles is a mild disease. However, complications can develop after strangles infection.

June 1, 2021

Although it seems you could just stick a needle in the horse’s skin to remove the air, you can't

June 22, 2008

Soaking the foot for more than 2 to 3 days can actually worsen the problem by softening the sole and decreasing the its protection.

July 17, 2017

Summer sores, technically called habronemiasis, are lesions on the skin or around the eyes.

February 28, 2017

Stomach ulcers are common in performance horses.

June 20, 2011

Some new techniques are being used to treat suspensory ligament injuries.

June 24, 2020

Tendon and ligament injuries are common in performance horses and treatment of these injuries is very difficult. However, there are some new treatments for these injuries.

July 27, 2011

Further studies are needed.

June 30, 2020

December 21, 2022

Although horses do not routinely develop hypothyroidism, many horses are given thyroid supplements.

October 18, 2017

Some heart disease in horses can be caused by toxins.

May 2, 2018

Clubfoot is a condition in horses in which the bone in the hoof called the coffin bone is pulled backward because the structures on the back of the legs are too tight. This condition can occur from birth or can be acquired at an older age.

December 9, 2021

 A large number of performance horses suffer from gastric or stomach ulcers. A recent study reveals a method to make treatment more successful and potentially less expensive. 

February 17, 2023

Scratches, a condition that affects the horse’s lower legs, can be difficult to treat and prevent. 

January 9, 2017

There are really three types of tying up. The first can be due to overexertion in horses that are not in good enough physical shape to undergo the exercise they are asked to perform.

September 6, 2016

One of the most common conditions of the horse's stifle is upward fixation of the patella.

July 7, 2021

If you have a horse diagnosed with navicular disease, ask your vet about osphos

November 24, 2020

Platelet rich fibrin may be helpful for healing equine lower leg wounds

December 7, 2015

The major concern with this disease is not the damage it causes, but that it resembles foot and mouth disease, a serious foreign animal disease.

August 21, 2017

Equine viral arteritis, or EVA, is a contagious disease. Stallions shed it in their semen.

June 2, 2014

Viral respiratory diseases are fairly common in horses in early summer as they move from show to show.

June 24, 2023

Some horses can develop a lack of skin pigmentation, usually around their eyes, called vitiligo.

June 22, 2009

Any treatment requires the separated hoof wall to be x-rayed and removed.

April 13, 2023

Coughing in horses is not uncommon. There are many different causes why your horse may be coughing, and the cause determines the treatment.

February 2, 2021

Wounds bigger than a small cut are almost always worse than they look

March 10, 2016

The area between a horse's foreleg and chest, where the front leg is attached to the chest, is a common area in which horses get injured and lacerated.

August 5, 2019

February 1, 2023

Horses can respond to vaccines differently, and your horse's response to vaccines may be related to the health of their gut.  

November 21, 2018

August 15, 2016

To provide energy by feeding something other than carbohydrates, giving fat is a good option and there are several sources of fat for horses.

August 26, 2009

Horse owners are always looking for cheaper medications that will do the same job as Adequan and Legend.

February 2, 2009

Raising an orphan foal is not an easy task.

October 31, 2016

Tails are altered for cosmetic reasons, for the show ring, or for competitive purposes, neither of which is done for the good of the horse and in fact, sometimes it is done to the horse's detriment.

September 1, 2015

There are many rehab centers that are using water therapy for horses but the science involving the use is mostly coming from studies in humans and dogs.

October 24, 2016

After the farrier works on your horse, check that it is done correctly.

August 20, 2012

When natural breeding was compared to AI, there was no difference in pregnancy rates when breeding fertile mares, so breeding mares by AI is very effective.

January 7, 2013

The AVMA and AAEP statement indicates they support a ban on the use of action devices and performance packages in the training and showing of Tennessee Walking Horses.

September 9, 2019

February 5, 2018

It is difficult to treat low crushed heels and long toes with a shoe as a shoe may be part of the cause.

October 27, 2008

Choose flooring materials that keep the floor dry, durable, provides good traction and is easy to clean. Roughened concrete fits these criteria better than most other materials.

October 19, 2009

Even the cleanest of barns have large amounts of organic dust, including endotoxins and molds, that can lead to inflammatory airway disease and poor performance.

March 25, 2022

Cribbing, weaving, and other vice-like behaviors in horses are related to environmental changes and do not occur in free-ranging feral horses. Rather than try to change their behaviors by using restraints or cribbing straps, changing the environment will help your horse. 

August 29, 2016

The amount of fructan in the grass varies with the type of grass, time of day, season, and the part of the plant ingested.

March 1, 2022

Exposing your horses to other horses increases the risk of certain diseases like equine herpes virus, equine influenza and strangles. If you are hauling your horses from your property, biosecurity is important to prevent infectious disease.  It is important to make sure your horse is currently vaccinated 

January 22, 2018

If the weather gets warm and there is no one around to remove the blanket, it can be a problem.

February 22, 2021

A blanket is not needed unless the temperature is freezing or lower or there is freezing rain

November 18, 2023

October 20, 2014

Supplements are reported to increase a horse's red blood cell production and hemoglobin to boost aerobic capacity but there is little evidence of their efficacy and safety.

September 12, 2011

Stay as calm as possible, and do not give any medication, especially sedatives.

December 28, 2015

Although blood transfusions in horse's are rarely needed, it can be needed

February 28, 2018

A blue light mask has been developed to allow mares to be turned out to pasture and still get added light.

December 15, 2015

If you have a performance mare that you would like to breed but do not want to miss a performance season, these are two viable options.

April 20, 2007

Many owners feel breeding older maiden mares should not be a problem but it can be.

March 29, 2010

A uterine infection is a common condition that causes infertility. Veterinarians and breeding farm personnel may be involved either directly or indirectly as the cause of this problem.

August 9, 2010

There are some dietary supplements commercially available for horses.

January 30, 2018

The researchers studied the effects of mowing the grass and the effect that would have on insulin and glucose levels.

September 3, 2015

There is no need to change the diet if the horse is doing well as variety is generally not needed in horse diets. But if you do change the diet, do so slowly.

April 17, 2017

Young immature plants contain more nutrients than older plants with more stems.

January 25, 2017

The most important factor in disinfecting in all situations is cleaning the area prior to disinfecting.

March 20, 2017

There is no known benefit to giving intravenous cobalt to horses in this manner and the increased blood pressure could lead to organ damage in the horse and even human injury.

January 20, 2014

Laminitis is a condition in horses that causes severe lameness and sometimes death. Cold therapy can help prevent it.

January 28, 2021

The first complication that can occur is bleeding

May 11, 2016

Some mares are so severely affected by being in heat that they cannot even be ridden and many of them do not perform up to their potential.

January 18, 2016

Compounded medications are very useful in certain situations because without them, we would not be able to treat certain conditions in animals.

May 6, 2019

Horses training on water treadmills had a 17% increase in average speed over horses trained on a treadmill without water.

July 22, 2020

If you feed pellets to your horse, it is possible the pellets are being consumed faster than is optimal for your horse’s health

December 19, 2011

Prevent contagious diseases from infecting your horses both at your stable and when hauling your horse to other facilities.

January 6, 2022

Contracted heels in horses can lead to lameness and many people believe this is caused by metal shoes. Heel contraction in horses involves narrowing of the caudal (toward the tail) part of the hoof including the frog, buttress and heel bulbs. Some believe that horseshoes restrict the movement of the heels and lead to contraction, but this does not appear to be the case.

October 27, 2020

November 29, 2010

CPR is indicated in any case in which the foal stops breathing or does not have a heartbeat.

February 7, 2012

A large percentage of foals that die shortly after birth do so because of a lack of oxygen; more foals die from respiratory problems than heart problems.

November 28, 2023

Cribbing, also called crib-biting, or wind-sucking, is a stereotypy. This means that the horse does it over and over, pretty much the same way every time, and that it doesn’t have any obvious purpose. 

May 6, 2019

Breeding your mare involves numerous decisions, including your goal for a foal and expenses.

February 25, 2020

November 7, 2016

When cold weather arrives, one horse problem we are more concerned about than normal is colic.

November 9, 2015

After a ride you may notice your horse sweating, because that is the number one method horses use to keep cool. The longer the ride and the hotter the weather, the more sweat is lost. Sweat is made up of water and electrolytes.

November 14, 2018

We used to think that horses did not need dental care until they were 8 to 10 years old, but now we know that horses of all ages need dental exams and possible treatment.

March 2, 2023

Horses have many different facial behaviors, and it wasn’t so long ago that those expressions were a mystery to us humans. Now, we can interpret some of these facial behaviors.

January 28, 2021

Horses should have a good body condition and a shiny haircoat

March 20, 2018

Some parasites have become resistant to many dewormers.

August 1, 2016

Try to haul your horse in the early morning or late evening to avoid dehydration by sweating while in the trailer.

August 9, 2016

Thick and foamy sweat contains a protein called latherin. Latherin is a detergent-like protein that helps move sweat away from the skin to the surface of the coat, and once the coat gets damp, there is a greater opportunity for evaporative cooling.

April 27, 2016

After 2 months of age, the foal's hindgut begins a period of maturation that lasts until about 6 months of age.

March 12, 2012

Horses can eat grass or hay, but they were designed to eat native grass by grazing on thousands of acres.

June 4, 2012

The reason we see so many colic and founder cases is because horses are being fed in a manner that their body was not designed to support.

February 9, 2023

If a natural disaster affects your home, it is terrible and can be much more difficult if you have livestock. 

July 9, 2012

One concern about horse shows is exposing your horse to the diseases of other horses.

September 4, 2012

The FDA is concerned about disposal of sharp objects due to other possible transmission of disease to humans and they have developed a new website to guide folks on disposing of sharp medical objects.

May 30, 2018

Donkeys come in all sizes from minis to mammoths.

January 17, 2011

A new product has recently been introduced to the horse market that I feel is potentially dangerous for horses and their owners.

January 27, 2014

The cause of the syndrome is believed to be related to difficult birth or premature separation of the placenta at foaling, but some foals may have an unexplained decrease in oxygen even before foaling.

July 30, 2012

Dust can cause lot of problems for the rider and the horse, including increasing allergies and causing inflammation in the eyes and respiratory tract.

September 19, 2016

Unfortunately, a lot of electrolyte products do not contain enough electrolytes to be effective.

February 15, 2010

In embryo transfer, the mare is bred and in about 7 to 8 days, the resultant embryo is flushed from the mare's uterus and placed into another mare to carry the pregnancy.

September 3, 2007

If you have horses, at some point you will be faced with an emergency. The first thing to do, of course, is to call your vet. But until your vet arrives, there are some things you can do to help your horse.

September 14, 2020

Nutrition is an important reason to have your veterinarian give your horses a wellness exam twice a year when the horses are being vaccinated

August 23, 2010

When working with horses, the less they are frightened they are, the less innate behavioral response will occur.

December 22, 2014

When people ask their veterinarians to give their horses the dog medicine Previcox instead of the horse medicine called Equioxx, they are asking those veterinarians to break the law and put their license in jeopardy.

June 3, 2013

Mare owners have used multiple options to suppress estrous to prevent the unwanted behavior.

October 22, 2012

Learn what to look for when checking a horse's feet that may give you an idea that there is a problem with a hoof.

April 7, 2014

Exercising horses produce a tremendous amount of heat and sweat, especially in the Texas heat and humidity. This sweat is important as it allows the horse's body to dissipate the heat produced by evaporation. Dr. Ken Marcella indicates 65% of the heat produced by a horse is dissipated by evaporation of sweat, and the horse has a lot of wasted heat to get rid of as only about 25% of the fuel taken in by the horse is used for work.

February 16, 2015

Results indicated exercising pregnant mares from day 16 to day 80 of pregnancy did not appear to be harmful to the growing fetus.

June 13, 2016

The law allows vets to use approved drugs in animals even if the intended use or species is not listed on the label.

May 4, 2017

It is too difficult for horses to get the amount of salt they need from a block and I prefer granular salt in the feed.

August 10, 2020

What are the differences, and which is better for your horse?

July 5, 2016

If you are planning on breeding your mare, transporting her for it seems to be okay but exercising her in the heat can decrease the pregnancy rate.

November 8, 2011

Some horses that will not stand for the farrier and are difficult may be in pain.

April 22, 2013

There are a large number of myths when it comes to feeding horses.

October 3, 2016

When you purchase a new horse, try to keep him on the same feed, at least initially, until you can wean him over to a different feed if you want to. This includes hay.

May 22, 2023

Feeding alfalfa has been shown to decrease the formation of stomach or gastric ulcers. If you feed your horse before riding, what should you feed?

June 25, 2018

Alfalfa may have 30 percent higher crude protein than grass hays, but it's not always the best option.

July 3, 2017

The two forms of beet pulp on the market are shredded with or without molasses and pelleted with molasses. Horses with insulin resistance or HYPP should not be fed molasses.

January 23, 2012

Feeding wheat bran daily could cause a significant detrimental effect on your horse's health because it is not a balanced diet and is not effective at preventing colic.

January 19, 2015

Bread is low in calcium because of the wheat, but wheat is not low in phosphorus.

January 25, 2017

The more often you can feed and the less amounts you feed, the less likely your horse will have problems.

April 3, 2017

Never feed corn directly out of the field without having it tested for fumonisin.

August 27, 2018

Feeding donkeys and mules as you feed horses will cause them to become overweight quickly.

November 2, 2022

Fat is commonly used as an energy source for horses as it supplies two and one quarter times more calories per gram than carbohydrates.  

August 22, 2016

I recommend clients offer small handfuls of hay every 2 hours for 2 days after a colic and no grain for 2 days.

May 19, 2015

Horses develop problems when we put them in box stalls and feed them twice a day, because instead of eating 15 hours per day, they eat for two.

November 5, 2012

More horses develop laminitis and founder on pasture grass due to the high concentration of carbohydrates in the grass than those eating grain.

November 30, 2022

The first thing to consider when feeding any fruits or vegetables to your horses is whether the item is toxic. Just because a human can eat it does not mean a horse can.

April 23, 2012

Determining the amount to feed miniature horses can be difficult because tapes and formulas used for weight estimation are for larger horses and may not be accurate in miniatures.

May 7, 2021

Just because your horse is older does not automatically indicate they need to be on a senior or special feed.

April 24, 2017

While withholding feed could decrease milk production, this should not be done with thin mares, but you should not have to increase calories either as once the foal is weaned, all calories can be used for weight gain instead of feeding the foal.

December 4, 2019

What do you do when you believe your horse has colic? First of all, all cases of colic are potentially fatal and should be examined by your vet.

February 9, 2015

September 27, 2022

High-starch meals can lead to inflammation, and feeds high in starch are not recommended for some horses, especially for those horses that are older or overweight. 

May 20, 2022

A horse’s temperature usually ranges from 99.5 to 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Your horse’s temperature can increase by having a high body temperature or a true fever. With monitoring, you can determine what's normal for your horse. 

July 13, 2015

During trail rides and other equine activities, you need to be prepared for emergencies.

May 10, 2023

If you have a horse that will not drink, adding a small amount of commercial sweet feed just to flavor the water may be helpful.   

September 3, 2013

A major concern with endurance horses is dehydration and electrolyte balance.

September 17, 2012

The side effects of this drug can be extremely dangerous for the horses and people around them.

February 8, 2023

Pain medications are commonly used in horses, but some medications may be causing more gastrointestinal problems than previously thought. 

March 12, 2021

The American Quarter Horse Association has taken the lead in genetic testing

August 5, 2020

The advantage of a grazing muzzle is that the horse can be turned out on regular pasture to get exercise and be with the other horses and yet not eat too much pasture grass.

February 25, 2020

The guttural pouch is an air-filled structure in the horse's throat that has an unknown function but can be involved in several different disease conditions. The guttural pouches are sometimes involved in strangles infections 

May 24, 2017

Frequent harrowing and using a sand surface greater than 5 inches or more is recommended to prevent injury.

September 21, 2020

Feeding hay off the ground may be a better option than feeding from a hay net, especially if the horse is fed in a stall

July 5, 2018

Hay that has been cut and rained on can lose quality in four ways.

March 19, 2012

You cannot determine what is a complete feed and what is not by looking at fiber amounts on the bag.

April 2, 2015

Nutrients can be lost if hay is not stored properly and can occur if moisture exceeds 20%.

November 16, 2015

Hay waste was much greater when hay was fed on the stall floor rather than in a feeder, in thi