LamenessWhat it is: An abnormality of movement due to an injury or infection in one or more legs.Symptoms: Variable, depending on the problem and the horse’s tolerance for pain. The lameness may be easily detected or obscure, especially if...
Hives (urticaria)
What it is: A skin manifestation of an allergic reaction to various triggers, including insect stings/bites, chemicals, medications or, less commonly, ingested or inhaled substances. In some horses, hives develop or worsen with pressure, heat, sunlight or stress....
Heaves, formerly known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and now most often called recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)What it is: A chronic allergic respiratory disease triggered by exposure to straw and/or hay, resulting in airway inflammation, mucus production and...
Eye injuries
What it is: Various types of trauma involving the eye and surrounding structures.
Symptoms: Variable, depending on the type of injury, its location and severity. Excessive tearing; squinting; head-shyness; visual deficit; bluish, cloudy or red color to the eye;...
Cushing’s syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism)
What it is: Cushing's, now called Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), is a disease caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, which controls the entire endocrine system. It usually occurs in older horses but occasionally...
Colic
What it is:
Abdominal pain due to intestinal gas, impaction, torsion (twisting) or other causes.
Symptoms:
Variable, depending on the type of colic, the amount of pain (and the horse’s pain tolerance) and duration. Can include restlessness, sweating, looking at the belly,...
Choke
What it is: An obstruction of the esophagus, usually caused by eating too fast, but may be caused by narrowing of the esophagus due to a previous choke episode or in rare cases, pressure from a tumor.
Symptoms: Discomfort, repeated...
Abscess (hoof abscess, sole abscess)What it is: A pocket of infection in the foot.Symptoms: Lameness, which can be severe; heat in the foot (hoof feels warm); swelling and redness in the bulbs of the heel; a dark area on...
In the 1920s, author Hugh Lofting wrote a series of charming children’s books about Doctor Doolittle, whose pet parrot, Polynesia, taught him how to speak with animals in their own language. As a horse owner, you may sometimes wish...
