Major Leg Breakdowns in the Horse
We've all been
engrossed with the episode of Barbaro and his fate. (The 2006 Kentucky Derby
winner broke down during the second leg of the Triple Crown at the Preakness
Stakes.) Historically, when a horse has fractured a leg he was euthanized. We've
now been made aware that there are... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Horse Journal
Get Ringbone Pain Under Control
Each
case of ringbone will be described as either high (pastern joint area) or low
(coffin joint area), and by whether it involves the joint (articular) or not
(periarticular). Traumatic ringbone may occur anywhere along the pastern. It's
important to make the distinction between the... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Rodeo
Foot Infections and Abscesses in Horses
Of all the causes for lameness in the horse, I believe the most common is
infection in the foot. We sometimes don't categorize foot infections in horses with other
lameness such as navicular disease or ringbone, because of its transient nature
and usually complete recovery, but it is still... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Anhidrosis in Horses
Many horse
owners have wished that their horses would sweat less. It would certainly help
keep our mounts and tack cleaner. However, sweat plays a vital role in our
horses' lives, and a lack of sweating in your horse may signal a potentially
deadly disorder: anhidrosis.
Anhidrosis,
or... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Five Steps to Snakebite Safety for You and Your Horse
Snakes! J
ust the word is enough to strike fear in the heart of many a seasoned horseman.
The truth is, horses seldom die from snakebites. However, they are more
sensitive than any other animal to viper venom and can suffer nasty reactions.
Having a plan to deal with a bite may mean the... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Rodeo
Stifle Injuries in the Equine Athlete
It's been my
observation over the last 20 years or so that a lot of horse owners request to
have their horses' hocks injected whenever a hind leg problem is suspected to be
impacting performance. With some horses this procedure is very productive, but I
think a more open mind relating to... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Horse Journal
Quarter Horses Have Particular Muscular Worries
Post-exertion
muscle soreness/strain can happen to any horse, but the high demands placed on
the muscles of a Quarter Horse can easily lead to some soreness. Add to that the
fact that they're also prone to some breed-related muscle problems, and you know
you need to pay attention to their... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Horse Journal
An MRI May Get Right To The Cause
It
wasn't that long ago that X-rays were the only diagnostic tool available to
veterinarians for determining the cause of lameness. But X-rays have drawbacks,
including the inability to show problems with tissues other than bone and the
fact that abnormalities and changes seen on X-rays... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Rodeo
Entropion: An Occasional Eye Problem in Foals
Entropion is a
problem sometimes seen in newborn foals where the lower eyelid is rolled inward
toward the globe of the eye. The entropion itself is often temporary and not
difficult to correct in horses. But if left uncorrected, the entropion can cause serious secondary
problems to the... | read »
Health: Emergency
from the pages of Horse Journal
Pregnant Mare Red-Flag Signs
Whether
it's your first foal or you've been in the business over 50 years, as the clock
winds down toward foaling day, the anticipation rises. You wouldn't be normal if
you didn't find yourself worrying about the mare and how awful it would be if
something went wrong at the 11th hour. ... | read »
QUESTION:
We
travel all over with our horses. For years, we’ve heard about equine distemper,
also known as strangles. Please tell us more about the strangles, how to prevent
it, and what to do about it should one of... | read
