Equine Health
Few things will help protect your horse from the ravages of some infectious diseases as easily and effectively as immunizations. The vaccines administered by your veterinarian to your horse place a protective barrier between the horse and several diseases: tetanus, encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness), equine influenza, rhinopneumonitis, rabies, strangles, and Potomac Horse Fever, to name the most common. Read more about Immunizations at Bayer Equine Connection
Respiration rate of the horse. The average resting rate of respiration usually falls between 8-12 breaths per minute. Heat and humidity can raise the respiration rate considerably, especially if the horse has a dark coat and is in the sun. The respiration will often change if the horse becomes excited or distressed, and can therefore be useful in determining the health of the animal.
At the gallop, the horse breathes in rhythm with every stride: as the abdominal muscles pull the hind legs forward in the "suspension phase" of the gallop, the organs within the abdominal cavity are pushed backward from the diaphragm, thereby bringing air into the lungs and causing the horse to inhale. As the neck is lowered during the extended phase of the gallop, the hind legs move backward and the gut contents shift forwards, pushing into the diaphragm and forcing air out of the lungs.
At the gallop, the horse breathes in rhythm with every stride: as the abdominal muscles pull the hind legs forward in the "suspension phase" of the gallop, the organs within the abdominal cavity are pushed backward from the diaphragm, thereby bringing air into the lungs and causing the horse to inhale. As the neck is lowered during the extended phase of the gallop, the hind legs move backward and the gut contents shift forwards, pushing into the diaphragm and forcing air out of the lungs.
Internal parasites, or worms, are silent thieves and killers. They can cause extensive internal damage without you even realizing that your horses are heavily infected. The effects of internal parasites range from a dull haircoat and unthriftiness to colic and death. Internal parasites lower the horse’s resistance to infection, rob the horse of valuable nutrients and in some cases, cause permanent damage to the internal organs. Read more about Parasite Control at BayerEquineConnection
Tying Up - Tying up is usually exercise-related. Symptoms below are most likely to appear within the first 1/2 hour of work. Some horses may not exhibit all symptoms.
Strangles - Strangles is very contagious, especially with foals, spreading easily from horse to horse and often leading to large outbreaks with many horses affected. It is spread in the discharges (pus) from the nose and burst abscesses
Heat Stress - When summer temperatures soar, caution and common sense must be used if or when exercising your horse to avoid heat stress.
Cushing’s Disease - Equine Cushing’s Disease, or to give its proper title, Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is probably the most common hormonal disorder affecting horses, especially older animals.
Common Equine Skin Diseases - Here’s what you need to know about those skin lumps, bumps and bald patches on your horse that you can probably handle on your own.
Field Guide to Equine Allergies - Learn the 5 most common triggers of allergic reactions in horses so you'll be better able to counter or prevent them.
Rain Rot / Rain Scald - Rain rot is one of the most common skin infections seen in horses. It is also referred to as "rain scald" or "streptothricosis". The organism that causes rain rot appears and multiplies in warm, damp conditions where high temperature and high humidity are present.
The Colic Fact Sheet - The term "colic" means only "pain in the abdomen" or "pain in the belly". There are many causes for such pain, ranging from the mild and inconsequential to the life-threatening or fatal. One of the problems with equine colic is that it can be very difficult in the early stages to distinguish the mild from the potentially fatal
Equine Eyesight - Once you have read this article, you will realize how important it is to be educated about equine eyesight. This lesson will change the way you approach and work around your horse, creating a safer and more trusting environment with your horse
Inside Arthritis & Joint Health - You’ve recently noticed that your horse seems stiff, and you think it might be arthritis. You decide to do some research to see if your theory holds water. Some sources say it might be Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), others suggest Osteoarthritis (OA), but all the symptoms sound the same.
Equine 911: When to call the vet and when to treat it yourself - One of the first signs that a horse might be sick or injured is when he stands apart from the rest of the herd. Other signs that should alert you to a problem that may require veterinary attention include other changes in behavior; nasal discharge, cough or fever; changes in eating, drinking, urinating and defecating; bumps or swellings; or lameness.
Scratches in horses - Found on the lower limbs of horses kept in moist environments, scratches is also known as mud fever or greasy heel. It is likely that the excessive moisture causes the skin to be compromised, as with other conditions such as rain rot.
Ulcers in horses - Do you know the warning signs that ulcers may be present? Unfortunately, no two horses are alike and their symptoms may be very different. Additionally, some horses may show little to no signs that they are suffering from ulcers.
Splints in Horses - Causes, Signs and Treatment
Essential Horse Supplies for First Aid Kit
Infectious diseases are those diseases that horses can get from each other, or via a vector, such as a mosquito, which may transmit the disease from horse to horse. Common Infectious Diseases in Horses
Ask anyone who suffers from arthritis what it’s like, and you’ll hear just one word repeated and repeated – pain. And you won’t have to look very far to find people to ask. In some cases, you don’t even need to ask – you can tell just by watching them move; they don’t like to because it hurts.
We’re not alone in coping with this painful monster – our horses, like humans, are quite prone to arthritis, and they hurt just as much as we do.
We hope medical science will soon be able to control it, even cure it, both horse and human, but until then, because it’s a chronic degenerative disease, the prognosis isn’t good. Once it’s in our joints, it’s there for keeps, and if left untreated, it just gets worse. So we compensate: we medicate to mitigate the symptoms. We avoid activities that we know will hurt.
Read more at Equine Arthritis: Dealing With The Pain
No owner wants to see their horse suffer. An appropriate equine vaccination program is one way to help ensure your horse's longevity and quality of life. When you vaccinate your horse against any number of diseases, you are protecting him from experiencing the devastating symptoms caused by any of the following: Read more:What Are You Vaccinating Against?
Do you ride all winter, no matter how deep the snow gets, or do you hang up your saddle at the first cool breeze in autumn?
Do you pull your horse’s shoes, blanket him, or keep him in the barn during the cold months?
Do you cut his grain ration when he’s not working or feed more hay to keep him warm? If the winter season has caused any modifications in your horse’s exercise level or feeding plan, you will need to consider the following points as you bring the horse back into work in the spring. Read more: 12 Spring Horse Care Tips
Do you ride all winter, no matter how deep the snow gets, or do you hang up your saddle at the first cool breeze in autumn?
Do you pull your horse’s shoes, blanket him, or keep him in the barn during the cold months?
Do you cut his grain ration when he’s not working or feed more hay to keep him warm? If the winter season has caused any modifications in your horse’s exercise level or feeding plan, you will need to consider the following points as you bring the horse back into work in the spring. Read more: 12 Spring Horse Care Tips
Is your horse hard to deworm? Train him to accept the process with top trainer/clinician Clinton Anderson’s proven technique. - See more at: Deworm your horse with Clinton Anderson
If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. There are several behavioral traits that make horses especially accident-prone: one is their instinctive flight-or-fight response; another is their dominance hierarchy — the need to establish the pecking order within a herd; and a third is their natural curiosity. Such behaviors account for many of the cuts, bruises and abrasions that horses suffer. In fact, lacerations are probably the most common emergency with which horse owners must contend. There are other types of emergencies as well, such as colic, foaling difficulties, acute lameness, seizures and illness. As a horse owner, you must know how to recognize serious problems, respond promptly and take appropriate action while awaiting the arrival of your veterinarian
Read more about Emergency Care at Bayer Equine Connection
Due to improvements in nutrition, management and health care, horses are living longer, more useful lives. It's not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20's and even 30's. While genetics play a determining role in longevity, you too, can have an impact. By providing proper care and nutrition, you can help make your horse's golden years happier and more productive. Read More about Special Care and Nutrition for the Older Horse
Read more about Emergency Care at Bayer Equine Connection
Due to improvements in nutrition, management and health care, horses are living longer, more useful lives. It's not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20's and even 30's. While genetics play a determining role in longevity, you too, can have an impact. By providing proper care and nutrition, you can help make your horse's golden years happier and more productive. Read More about Special Care and Nutrition for the Older Horse