horse disease

Cushing's Disease in Horses

Equine Cushing's Disease results from the increased production of cortisol and other hormones. This is caused by a pituitary gland abnormality and is mainly seen in older horses and ponies. The disease is assessed through a series of blood tests.

Does My Horse Have Colic?

Colic is a common affliction in horses, and it's also the top cause of natural death in equines. You should know how to recognize the symptoms so you can tell right away if your horse is suffering from colic.

What Is Impaction Colic in Horses?

Horses often develop colic, which is the name for a condition that means abdomen pain. There are a lot of varied possible causes for horses developing colic. Some types of colic can be fatal; others are much milder.

What Causes a Horse's Hair to Fall Out?

Horses and ponies are known for their long, flowing manes and tails and coats of glossy hair. However, anything that can grow hair can also go bald. But any time a horse's or a pony's hair starts to fall out is not normal.

Horse Conditions & Diseases

Horses, like humans, can be susceptible to a number of diseases or conditions. Many can be prevented through good housekeeping, a proper diet and immunizations. But some conditions and diseases still manage to find a way into a horse.

Horse & Human Crossover Diseases

Diseases that are transmitted from horses to humans are called zoonotic diseases. Sometimes the transmission is directly from the horse, and other times it is indirectly transmitted from the pathogen causing the disease in the horse.

Horse Colic Symptoms

Colic is a potentially fatal condition of a horse's digestive system. There are three main causes--trapped gas, eating too much or a blockage in the intestines. Since a horse can't throw up, once something is in the digestive system, it is there to stay.

EPM Horse Disease

EPM stands for Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis and is a very serious disease that can occur in horses. Up to fifty percent of horses residing in the United States have had exposure to the organism that is responsible for EPM.

What Does a Ringworm on a Horse Look Like?

Ringworm is a highly visible, high contagious skin disease that can infect horses. Ringworm has a very distinct shape and recognizable characteristics. Knowing what it looks like will help you detect it early if your horse catches it so you can stop the spread to other horses and begin treatment.

Horse Disease Strangles

In the John Steinbeck classic, "The Red Pony," the title horse dies a graphic death from strangles. Although this disease is nasty and very contagious, it is not usually fatal. If you know the facts about strangles, you will understand that it doesn't have to be feared because it is treatable and preventable.

Horse Skin Diseases

While grooming your horse, you may have noticed strange patches on its skin. Could this be something normal, or is it developing a skin disease? If so, which one and how should it be treated? By knowing the symptoms of the most common skin diseases, you'll be able to begin treatment immediately.

Horse Diseases & Conditions

When a horse begins acting abnormally, it is important to ascertain the exact cause of the eccentricity. Odd horse behavior is frequently an indication of illness. Some horse diseases and conditions can turn lethal in a matter of days.

Equine Skin Problems

Horses are large, sturdy animals, but they are surprisingly susceptible to various illnesses, including skin conditions. Their living conditions make them prone to skin problems, and being around other horses can also contribute to the risk.

Horse Skin Problems

Horse skin problems can be very troubling for horses and owners alike. Some skin problems render a horse useless, some are potentially deadly, and others are barely distinguishable from the norm. Identifying the type of skin problem in a horse can allow for complete recovery and prevention of transmission as well as an overall increase in the horse's quality of life.

Horse Mouth Diseases

Many horse owners and vets claim that a horse has "a digestive system designed by a committee." It takes very little to upset a horse's digestive system, including problems in the mouth. If a horse can't grind his teeth properly because of pain, they can't extract all of the nutrients of their food.

Horse Spinal Diseases

A bad back can be a death sentence to a horse. All horses get sore backs every now and then, but a spinal disease can not only make them unable to be ridden, but can also make their lives miserable. Spinal diseases can occur in horses of all ages, depending on how heavily they are used.

Horse Flies & the Diseases They Transmit to Humans

Horse flies are very large flies known for their painful bites. They hover around horses in the fields, and they are known to bite wildlife, horses and other livestock, as well as humans. Horse flies rarely transmit diseases to humans, but it is possible to become infected from their bite.

Horse Hoof Diseases

A horse's hooves are of vital importance because they are the structures on which the horse stands, walks and runs. When they are healthy, the horse can move smoothly and comfortably. If they become diseased, the horse can become lame and be unable to walk or even stand.

Horse Foot Diseases

Horses don't have feet like many other animals. Rather than ending in a paw, their leg ends in a hard, solid hoof. Hooves look sturdy, but they are actually prone to a variety of diseases that can cause anything from temporary lameness to permanent disability and even death.

Horse Hoof Diseases & Problems

All horses have hooves, and those four hard structures capping off the animal's legs are vitally important to its well-being. They support the horse when it stands or moves around at a walk, trot or lope.

Horse Diseases From Possums

It is especially important to protect your horses from infectious diseases. One such disease, Equine Protosoal Myeloencephalitis, or EPM, originates from opossums and some birds, and the horse fields can become contaminated by opossum waste.

Fatal Horse Diseases

Horses are like any other animal: they can be exposed and vulnerable to diseases. Many ailments that a horse can face are treatable and, in most cases, preventable. But there are a few that, without immediate intervention, can end the life of a horse.

Common Horse Diseases

The horse has long been part of man's history. From the first wild horses tamed by Native Americans to the different varieties of domestic horses available today, they have played a valuable part in our lives.

Best Horse Colic Home Remedies

If your horse has swelling in the stomach and diarrhea, lies down and rolls, doesn't want to eat, paws at the ground, bites or kicks at the stomach, paws at the ground, stands awkwardly, sweats or has shallow breathing, chances are that your horse has colic.

How to Prevent Colic in Horses

Colic is the number one killer of horses, so preventing it is critical to safeguarding a horse's health and life. While some types of colic cannot be avoided because they are caused by a physical problem in the intestines, other types can be prevented through some simple steps.

How to Recognize and Treat Colic in Horses

Colic is the medical term used to describe abdominal problems in horses. This can be a case of worms or a serious twisting of an intestine. The first step in helping your horse is to recognize that it has colic.

How to Get Rid of Colic in Horses

One of the biggest killers of horses is colic. Because horses cannot vomit, what they swallow stays in the gut until it either is excreted out or surgically removed. Colic refers to any kind of abdominal pain.

How Do Horses Get Colic?

Colic is a general term and refers to any number of causes of pain in the horses' abdomen. There are several different types of colic as defined by their causes. Impaction colic occurs when the large intestine is blocked, usually due to a hard mass of food.

Horse Diseases That Make Them Lose Weight

If you can count all of the ribs on your horse, his hipbones and shoulder bones are sticking out and there are dark, concave areas above his eyes, then he is way too thin. Since horses have such an insatiable appetite, any loss of appetite or weight loss should be viewed as a danger sign that your horse is sick.