HORSES NATURALLY grow hair in response to reducing daylight as the weather cools in the fall and winter. These hairs are various lengths and trap in warm air to keep the horse warm. A healthy, unclipped horse in pasture with appropriate shelter from the elements, free choice forage and water should not require blanketing in […]
To blanket or not to blanket your horse Read More »
TRUST IS ESSENTIAL in a relationship between you and your horse and is something that needs to be developed and encouraged when you are asking your horse to do something that they are unsure or afraid of, such as being caught or vaccinated. Working with a nervous horse takes time and effort, and there will
Preparing your horse for a vet visit — ‘catching’ and needle-shy issues Read More »
SUMMER SORE is a common term for a skin wound (dermatitis) caused by the Habronema worm larvae. The adult Habronema live and lay eggs in the stomach of infected horses. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae are then passed into the manure of the horse, where they are ingested by fly maggots. Once the maggots
Habronemiasis (summer sores) Read More »
WHITE LINE DISEASE (seedy toe, hoof wall disease) is a common disease seen in the equine foot that may or may not result in lameness. This disease occurs with separation of the hoof wall from the underlying tissue and then colonization with bacteria. Separation is caused by environmental conditions, mineral toxicity or mechanical stresses on
Equine white line disease Read More »
EQUINE PROTOZOAL myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disease in horses and is caused by the protozoan Sarcocystis neurona, which affects the brain and spinal cord. The protozoan requires two hosts to complete its life cycle, a definitive and an intermediate host. Opossums are the definitive hosts and cats, raccoons, armadillos, and skunks are intermediate hosts.
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis Read More »
PIGEON FEVER is a common name for an infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. The reason it is called pigeon fever is that the bacteria tends to localize and form abscesses in the pectoral region and ventral abdomen of the horse, giving the horse a “pigeon-breast” appearance. This bacterium lives and multiplies in dry
Pigeon fever: Most common in the West, it can affect Florida horses Read More »
YOUR HORSE is an important member of your family, so it is important to be prepared in case of an emergency. Emergencies are stressful, emotional, and can happen at any time. Being prepared and ready to handle different emergency situations can improve the outcome of the emergency. Make sure to have important phone numbers (i.e.,
Be prepared for equine emergencies Read More »
STRANGLES is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract of horses. The infection is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. The term “strangles” arose from the occasional suffocation of horses with the disease due to lymph nodes of the head and obstruction of the airway.
Strangles: In horses, it can be as bad as it sounds Read More »
RABIES IS A NEUROLOGICAL disease of horses and all mammals. Although it occurs infrequently in horses, it has considerable public health significance. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted to humans. Rabies is always fatal once the animal or human shows clinical signs of the disease, and so the risk should be
Taking rabies precautions for your equine Read More »
Trichimoniasis is a venereal infection of cattle that is caused by the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus. The protozoa colonize the reproductive tract in the cow and skin folds of the bull. Most cows will clear the infection within 95 days, but bulls over 4 years old carry the protozoan to the next breeding season. The only
What is bovine trichimoniasis in cattle? Read More »
