Horse Health Care Information
Well cared for, horses remain in good health and your main contact with the vet should be for worming medicines, vaccinations and an annual health check. However, there are a number of common illness and problems that occur even in the best managed establishment.
Lameness
Lameness is the most common complaint that horses suffer from. It can be caused by something simple like a stone in the foot, or by disease. Tendon injuries through strains or knocks are common, whereas problems such as wind galls (swellings on either side of the fetlocks) and degenerative joint disease (arthritis) are caused by wear and tear.
Laminitis occurs in ponies, cobs and horses that are good doers (needing little feed to keep weight on) as its most common cause is over-feeding, although it can be caused by any blood disorder. Laminitis can result in the horse having to be destroyed, and you should call the vet immediately if you suspect your horse has it.
Navicular disease, which affects the navicular bone in the foot and is caused by excessive strain or jarring, can also cause chronic lameness.
Respiratory Problems
Allergies are increasingly common in countries where horses are kept mainly in stables, and are due entirely to bad ventilation in stables. They give rise to a number of complaints, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), formerly called broken wind. This is now known to be result of an allergic reaction to mold spores, mites or dust in feed or bedding, which cause damage to the lungs. The horse will have a harsh, dry cough and will have great difficulty in breathing.
Influenza is a highly infectious disease which can permanently damage the lungs, and which needs a convalescence of several months.
Strangles is a diphtheria-like infection which, again, can cause permanent damage to the lungs and heart and is very contagious.
Roaring, also known as laryngeal paralysis, is caused by wasting of the muscles around the windpipe. The nerves become damages, causing paralysis and affecting the airflow to the lungs, and the horse makes a loud whistling noise when it exhales. Horses can also get sinus infections, coughs and chills.
Digestive Problems
Colic accounts for the majority of digestive problems. The signs of colic are lethargy, loss of appetite, pawing the ground and rolling. There are three types of colic, spasmodic, flatulent and twisted gut. Colic can be caused by poor or irregular feeding, bad management, over-eating, food which ferments very easily, stress, or most common of all, worm damage.
Grass sickness is also a form of colic,in which the bowels become paralyzed.
Azoturia occurs when the horse is worked hard after being rested on a full working diet. The horse becomes stiff and unsteady and may reach the point of collapse.
Horses suffer from worm infestation, which causes loss of condition, and should be wormed regularly. Worms also cause diarrhea, as does too much grass,
Skin Diseases
Many skin diseases are contagious so strict attention should paid to hygiene when treating them.
Lice are common among horses, especially kept horses in the spring. Sweet itch is caused by an allergy and affects the mane and tail. Ringworm is a fungal infection that can also be passed on to other animals and humans. Warbles cause a painful swelling on the back and are caused by the warble fly maggot. Skin allergies can be due to something the horse eats or to its bedding. Other skin diseases included mud fever, cracked heels, and nettle rash.
Health Checks
Every horse whether or not it is working should have an annual veterinary check. For hoses doing general riding and harness work, the vet will normally check the heart beat as well as the number of beats per minute. He or she will also assess the horse’s lungs, looking for signs of congestion, possibly as a result of infection or allergy. Other checks will include looking at the condition of the hooves eyes, and coat, and the way in which the horse moves - any stiffness could indicate arthritis.