Horse Health Articles

These articles provide information on a range of topics relating to horse health. You can search for a particular topic using the search facility or scroll down through the articles.

Atypical Myopathy (Sycamore poisoning)

Atypical myopathy, also known as sycamore poisoning, is a severe and potentially fatal muscle disorder of horses caused by eating sycamore \'helicopter\' seeds and, to a lesser extent sycamore leaves, that fall onto pasture in the autumn and winter o…

Caring for Veteran Horses Teeth

Dental disease in older horses is well documented. The chance of your horse developing disease within his or her mouth increases as they pass the age of 15 years old. One study found that gum disease is found in 80% of horses over the age of 20 years…

Horse Health Articles

Choke

The most common sign of choke is sudden coughing, wretching and discomfort immediately after eating. This is often followed by saliva and food pouring from the horses nostrils. It can look extremely dramatic, but will often pass quickly.

Horse Health Articles

Colic

Colic is a relatively common disorder of the equine digestive system. The term colic is used to describe a symptom of abdominal pain, which in horses is usually caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

Horse Health Articles

EHV (Equine Herpes Virus)

Although there are in fact 5 different equine herpesviruses, the one we see most commonly associated with disease in horses is EHV1, which can cause respiratory disease, abortions and neurologic disease.

Horse Health Articles

Equine Dentistry

Horses, ponies and donkeys are herbivores that have evolved to graze for long periods and one of their key adaptations is a set of hardwearing and specialised teeth that enable them to process forage efficiently throughout their lives.

Horse Health Articles

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)

Equine Metabolic syndrome (EMS) is veterinary term to describe horses and ponies who suffer from obesity, insulin resistance and are at an increased risk of laminitis.

Horse Health Articles

First Aid for Wounds

Many wounds only require simple first aid in order to treat them, though more serious ones will require veterinary attention. Arming yourself with some basic first aid knowledge and a suitable first aid kit will enable you to treat minor wounds effec…

Horse Health Articles

Gastric Ulcers

Bleeding from equine gastric ulcers is not a common or consistent finding, so faecal blood albumin testing is not recommended. The test is also unable to distinguish between squamous and glandular disease, and so targeted treatment is not possible. A…

Horse Health Articles