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Horse Health
Abscess in Horses
Abscess An abscess is a lump or growth that you may find anywhere on your horse. It occurs as a result of an infection your horse’s body is combating. This lump is usually rather painful and as time passes it is likely to rupture, releasing nasty pus.
Anemia in Horses
Anemia Anemia in horses is defined as the shortage of hemoglobin – a protein that transports oxygen from the lungs through the blood – in their blood.
Anemia-causing Blood Condition in Horses
Hemolytic Disease Hemolytic disease is a blood condition usually found in newborn foals. It manifests itself within the first few days of birth and is the result of a discrepancy between the mare’s red blood cell type and that of the foal. Although the it starts out as a severe type of anemia, hemolytic disease can quickly lead to complications and become the source of much worry, and in severe cases even death. It always helps to have a good understanding of the complications likely encountered with newly born foals, and hemolytic disease is one of those complications.
Aneurysm in Horses
Aneurysm An aneurysm is caused by an abnormal ballooning of a weakened arterial wall in the body. If the ballooning becomes big enough, it will burst, leading to massive hemorrhaging and death. An aneurysm has few warning signs, so most horses die of the condition before it is diagnosed. Symptoms and TypesCollapse Mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, eyes, rectum, and genitalia become very pale Causes Presence of parasites Red worm larvae (strongylus vulgaris) DiagnosisDiagnosis is usually made post mortem (after death).
Anthrax in Horses
Bacillus Anthracis Most people have heard of anthrax; it has been used as a biological weapon and a scare tactic in terrorism attacks during the early 2000s. Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is an extremely infectious disease, and can prove fatal for horses (or humans, for that matter). There are legal ramifications surrounding anthrax, and when diagnosed, one is obligated by law to report it to the appropriate government agency.
Autoimmune Disease in Foals
Adenovirus in Foals Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is an autosomal (not linked to the chromosomes for sex) recessive genetic disease affecting Arabian foals. These foals cannot produce B and T lymphocyte cells and thus cannot mount an antigen-specific immune response. These foals seem normal at birth, but in the first few months of life, as the passive transfer (immune protection from the mare’s milk) wears off, they suffer from a variety of infections.
Back Injuries and Pain in Horses
Even though the strongest part of a horse’s body is its back, it can still suffer from back injuries and ailments. And because the back is also the horse's most important body part, a back injury can be potentially devastating for the animal. Symptoms and Types There are two common types of back injuries: acute and chronic. During acute cases, symptoms such as pain or immobility may occur suddenly and may only remain temporarily. Chronic forms of back injuries, on the other hand, may be due to another condition or disease and are longer in duration.
Blood Disorder in Horses
Hyperlipemia Hyperlipemia is a blood disorder that occurs in overweight horses, as well as some donkeys. Horses with this condition have an abnormally high amount of fat in their blood. And although it only affects a small percentage of the world's equine population, Hyperlipemia is a very serious disorder that has a high rate of mortality among those affected. For this reason, it is important to know the symptoms of this condition, so that you may seek immediate veterinary care for your horse if it is suspected of having Hyperlipemia.
Born With No Anus or Rectum in Foals
Atresia Ani Atresia Ani is a rare condition that causes foals to be born without an anus. It also may cause part or all the rectum to be missing. Surgery is the only option for foals born with this devastating condition. Symptoms and Types Foals with this condition display signs such as:
- Colic-like symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain)
- Straining to pass a bowel movement
- Swelling of space where anus should be (if rectum intact)
Brain and Spinal Cord Infection in Horses
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, or EPM for short, is a disease which affects a horse's nervous system, commonly displayed as paralysis or lameness. Horses exported from or located in North and South America, as well European regions such as the United Kingdom and France, have been detected with EPM. Moreover, younger horses and mares that are near foaling (or about to give birth) are more susceptible to this protozoal infection.
Broken Bones in Horses
Fractures Treating fractures in horses used to be quite difficult, and for that reason most afflicted horses were euthanized. Fortunately, as time has progressed so has technology, making it easier to treat these types of cases.
Bruising in Horses
It may not seem like it, but horses have the ability to become bruised just as people do. A bruise is the body’s natural response to a trauma, meaning that if a particular area is traumatized in any way, the chances of a bruise coming up are rather high. Bruising is not normally a serious issue, although frequent and easy bruising may indicate a bigger problem with your horse’s health. In most cases, there is no need to even see a veterinarian when your horse has a bruise.
Buttress Foot in Horses
Pyramidal Disease Buttress foot is a condition that occurs in some horses, leaving them lame for a period. Also called pyramidal disease, buttress foot causes pain and swelling in the front of the coronary band -- the part of the leg where the hoof growth begins..
Cracked Heels in Horses
Horses that spend a great deal of time in wet, clammy conditions may develop cracked heels. It is characterized by soreness and inflammation of the horse's heel, followed by the development of a sticky substance on its heel and the surrounding skin. After time, this sticky serum dries into a painful scab, which then cracks. It is excruciatingly painful for the horse and occurs on its pastern and fetlock.
Diarrhea in Horses
Sometimes called scouring, diarrhea happens to all living creatures and it is never pretty. Diarrhea is not in itself a disease but instead a symptom of many diseases, recognized when a horse's waste becomes less solid, and is more runny or even liquid in appearance.
Diarrhea-causing Bacterial Disease in Horses
Intestinal Clostridiosis
Intestinal clostridiosis is a disease which causes severe diarrhea in horses. It was not made official or researched much until the 1970s, when Swedish and American workers came across the disease and gave it its name. Intestinal clostridiosis is mainly associated with horses under a great deal of stress due to antibiotic treatments or a recent surgery.
Equine Arthritis in Horses
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) Arthritis, often called degenerative joint disease (DJD), is a condition that afflicts many horses. Arthritis is not only painful, but makes it difficult for a hors to move about. The condition is characterized by acute pain and swelling of the joints, many times resulting from an infection. Left untreated, arthritis can cause your horse to lead a painful and miserable life, so proper diagnosis and treatment by a veterinarian is vital.
Equine Herpes Virus in Horses
The herpes virus, much like in humans, affects horses. There are five known subtypes in horses, but Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) and EHV-4 are the two severest forms of the virus. EHV-3 is another type of major herpes virus, although it is normally associated with coital exanthema, a venereal disease that can be transmitted to horses. The different classifications of equine herpes virus affect different systems; one affects the reproductive and neurological systems, whereas another causes respiratory issues. The virus type will also determine the symptoms the horse displays.
Equine Infectious Anemia in Horses
Sometimes referred to as horse malaria or swamp fever, Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a virus that does what its name suggests -- causes anemia in horses. EIA has become an endemic in certain parts of the world, but is concentrated in North and South America, the Middle East, Russia, South Africa, and certain parts of Europe.
Eyelid Folding Inwards in Horses
Entropion Entropion is a condition of the eye that is known to affect newly born foals, causing their eyelids to fold inward and press against their cornea. Entropion may be found in one or both of the horse's eyes, leading to extreme irritation and “runny,” watery eyes, similar to conjunctivitis. If it is not treated quickly, it may also lead to acute conjunctivitis. Symptoms A horse with entropion will have irritated or red eye(s) and the horse's cornea -- the transparent front of the eye -- may change to a grayish color.
