Strangles is a respiratory infection that can affect horses, ponies and donkeys of all ages. This infectious disease is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi and it’s highly contagious. It spreads between horses by direct contact, contaminated humans, food, water, tack and other items normally present in a horse’s environment.

Clinical signs of this disease vary greatly. Some horses are just symptomless carriers, some may only show a few minor signs and others may become very ill. Affected horses will typically present sudden onset of fever (up to 41°C), depression, lack of appetite, difficulties swallowing due to enlarged lymph nodes, cough and there is usually a thin watery nasal discharge, which soon becomes thick and yellow.

The bacteria involved in this condition affects the lymph nodes causing the formation of abscesses. These tend to rupture either to the outside or into the back of the horse’s throat, discharging thick yellow pus. Occasionally the bacteria will spread systemically throughout the horse’ s body and abscesses form in the lymph nodes of the lungs, intestines and even in the brain. The rupture of these abscesses can be fatal.

Some horses are more susceptible to this disease than others. Younger horses (1-5 years old), older or debilitated horses due to poor condition, parasitic infestation or stress are more at risk. If they frequently come in contact with horses from other groups, they are also more likely to contract strangles.

The key to prevent this disease is good management! New horses should be quarantined and monitored for 2 to 3 weeks. Please remember that isolated horses must have their own grooming kit, tack and no equipment used for the affected horse should be allowed near other horses.

If you think your horse has strangles, it should be immediately isolated and you should call your vet. If the disease is detected and treated at an early stage the recovery rate is usually quite good.

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Sarcoids are the most common skin tumours seen in equid species (horses, ponies, donkeys and zebras). Some breeds seem to be more susceptible to this disease than others.

The term sarcoid is used to describe its ‘tumourous’ (sarcomatous) appearance. Although they’re a type of cancer, sarcoids are non-malignant, which means they do not spread to internal organs. They will however, grow larger and it is quite common for them to spread and multiply locally.

These tumours can cause irritation, interfere with tack and they can often ulcerate and bleed. Sarcoids can be extremely unpredictable in all aspects of their development, varying greatly in nature, size, appearance, way of spreading and response to treatment. They are also very likely to recur. For all these reasons, this skin tumour is a challenge for both owners and veterinarians.

Sarcoids can occur just about anywhere on the body but they are most commonly found on the skin of the head (especially around the eyes and mouth), neck, chest, between the front legs (in the axilla) and in the groin area. These areas are often pre-disposed to trauma, which is likely to aggravate the problem. If the sarcoids are knocked or rubbed, their surface will bleed and there is a higher risk for a secondary infection.

There are several different types of sarcoid which vary in appearance and growth patterns: they may look like irregular patches of slightly raised, crusty skin, they can be found individually or in groups, they can look like firm, round nodules covered by a layer of normal skin or they can even appear as fleshy masses that grow quickly and bleed easily.

Although there is controversy over the cause of these tumours it’s generally accepted that a cattle wart virus has some part in the development of this condition. The distribution of sarcoid tumours on the horse also suggests that flies are in some way involved in the transmission of this disease.

There are several treatment options available, but unfortunately there isn’t one single method that will be effective in each and every case! Each sarcoid is different and quite unpredictable. If you think your horse may have one or more of these tumours, ask your veterinary surgeon for advice. An early diagnosis and adequate treatment will increase the chances of achieving better results.

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Ringworm is a highly contagious skin infection that can affect an entire group of horses in case of an outbreak. This condition is caused by fungi of the genus Microsporum and Trichophyton (dermatophytes) that can remain on the horse’s skin for up to three weeks, before any signs of infection become visible. Unfortunately, this means that by the time the infection is detected in one horse, others may already be infected too!

Clinical signs of ringworm are skin lesions commonly seen on the tack areas: small, hairless, raised spots that develop into thick, dry, typical ring-shaped lesions. Grooming can help spread the fungus and there is always the risk of secondary bacterial infections settling in.

These dermatophytes are quite resistant and can remain on objects and structures of the surrounding environment for years. Ringworm can be transmitted by direct contact between horses and indirect contact through contaminated objects. It is very common for the infection to be transmitted by shared tack, grooming equipment, clothing, contaminated bedding, fencing, stables or trailers.

Young animals, as well as very old or debilitated ones are more susceptible to ringworm. Some horses do not show any clinical signs until their immunity becomes compromised as a result of illness, poor nutrition, overcrowding or stress.

Although this infection is a self-limiting disease that produces long lasting immunity, it can take up to three months to disappear on its own. Treatment is always the best course of action since it will relieve the horse’s discomfort, reduce the shedding of spores in the stable environment and reduce the risk of spreading the disease to other horses.

The affected horse should be kept separated from other animals and have its own grooming kit and tack. Stables and equipment should also be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected during and after treatment. Although it is uncommon, ringworm can infect people. For this reason handlers should use gloves when dealing with affected horses.

Ringworm is one of the reasons why, whenever possible, new arrivals should be isolated and monitored for signs of contagious diseases for 21 days before coming into contact with the other horses.

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Bruxism (also known as teeth grinding) is the medical term used to describe the side to side rhythmic movement of the jaw, while clenching and rubbing the teeth together. This movement results in a grinding, scraping, crunching sound.

Bruxism is a commonly observed problem in horses and it is almost always associated with stress, discomfort or pain.

This behaviour is often an indicator of a painful or stressful condition in both foals and adult horses. In foals bruxism is often seen associated with the occurrence of gastric ulcers. These are usually caused by the stress of early or sudden weaning followed by the introduction of concentrates in their diet.

In adult horses, bruxism has also been associated with gastric ulcers, with gastrointestinal pain (belly ache), dental pain and even neurological issues. Teeth grinding can also be the result of anxiety associated with being ridden. This type of anxiety could be related to the training methods, to the equipment or to the rider’s behaviour.

One of the main problems related to repetitive teeth grinding is that it will result in wearing of the molars and it may cause other oral problems which could lead to discomfort, pain and difficulties eating.

When this behaviour is detected and because it is not a specific sign for a particular problem, it is recommended to consult your vet in order to investigate what is causing it. Usually once the cause of the painful condition is dealt with, the horse will stop grinding his or hers teeth.

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Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a complex hormonal disorder that has been recently identified and is still under study. This syndrome involves:

• insulin resistance,
• laminitis and
• obesity.

Insulin regulates how the cells of the body use the sugar that is obtained through diet. This sugar (glucose) will be absorbed and go into the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone that will basically tell the many cells and tissues of the body when and how to use that sugar. Cells can immediately use glucose for energy or they can store it as fat to be used later. This means that insulin regulates the body’s blood sugar levels.

The primary cause of EMS is insulin resistance and the harmful effects caused by the excess of insulin in the bloodstream. When a horse has EMS his cells do not respond to insulin as they should, glucose cannot be processed or stored and will remain in the bloodstream. The body will respond to this increased value of glucose by increasing the production of insulin. This condition is very similar to type II diabetes in humans.

Unfortunately high levels of insulin in the bloodstream have been associated with blood vessel narrowing, blood vessel damage and activation of inflammatory processes which are likely the reason why EMS causes laminitis in horses.

This lack of response to insulin can be due to a genetic predisposition or an acquired condition due to obesity. Obesity is a major predisposing factor for EMS. We now know that fat is not just an inactive lump of cells ready to be used as energy. These cells produce hormones and some of these hormones will down-regulate the sensitivity of tissues to insulin. Large fat deposits will have a down-regulatory action that will be too much for the tissues and these may develop insulin resistance.

Although EMS has been observed in all breeds and types of horses, native pony breeds seem to be more susceptible.

Clinical signs shown by horses with EMS are laminitis, abnormal regional fat deposits (above the eyes, in the neck and crest, around the shoulders and at the base of the tail), lethargy, excessive drinking and urination. Horses with EMS seem to gain weight on very low food intake and have great difficulty losing weight.

If you think your horse or pony has any of the clinical signs described in the previous paragraph, please call your vet as soon as possible. It will really make a difference to your horse or pony’s life!

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Although equine dentistry is often neglected, good dental care is essential for a horse´s wellbeing.

During their lifetime horses have two sets of teeth, just like us. They have baby teeth (deciduous teeth) that start to grow as soon as they are born and these are eventually replaced by their permanent teeth. By carefully examining their teeth’s appearance, conformation and signs of tooth eruption it is possible to estimate a horse´s age.

Domestication brought significant changes to a horse’s diet. In the wild these animals spend most of their day grazing and therefore chewing grasses. Their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives (at a rate of 2 to 3mm per year) and the wear caused by their diet is balanced by this constant teeth eruption.

Changing their diet from grass to hay and concentrates causes them not to wear their teeth evenly as they would in the wild. Under these conditions it is a lot more likely for a horse to develop dental abnormalities such as over-crowding, teeth alignment problems and focal overgrowths (hooks, ramps or sharp enamel points). These abnormal growths can cause ulceration, pain and even restrict the free movement of the jaw causing difficulties eating and eventually weight loss. These sharp edges must be corrected as soon as possible to avoid pain, discomfort and to prevent any dental problems from progressing and getting worse.

Horses can show several signs that could indicate a dental problem: bad breath, dropping food from their mouth, difficultly when being ridden, presenting head tilt or head shaking, facial swellings, nasal discharges, excessive drooling, putting hay in their water bucket to soak it (making it easier to chew), loss of appetite and weight loss.

Horses should be feed an adequate diet and have their teeth checked at least once a year by a vet to detect any upcoming problems as early as possible. Please remember that these check-ups should happen regardless of any symptoms being shown as many horses may suffer in silence. Regular dental check-ups are essential to keep your horse free of pain, healthy and on top of his or hers performance.

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Of all domestic animals the horse is the most sensitive to tetanus. This is a life-threatening condition caused by the toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which can be found in the soil. It can enter tissues through small puncture wounds or minor cuts such as a nail or a thorn prick. These may go unnoticed and provide an ideal site for infection. Vaccination is the most effective way to provide long term protection against this disease.

Equine Influenza (Flu)

Equine influenza is a virus of the respiratory tract that spreads very easily from horse to horse.  This is a debilitating virus that has a great impact in their health and performance. Affected horses are more susceptible to secondary infections such as bronchitis or bacterial pneumonia.

Vaccination against equine influenza is considered very effective. It is recommended to vaccinate all horses that regularly come in contact with unfamiliar horses. Unfortunately equine influenza outbreaks are still common in the UK.  Keeping vaccination schedules up to date is believed to be the main reason why the numbers of large epidemics have been reduced, as well as the incidence of this disease during an outbreak.

Influenza vaccination is currently mandatory for all horses using racecourse premises and it is required for horses competing or racing at their events.

Vaccination is a quick, practical and proven method of protection against these diseases. Consult your veterinary surgeon regarding vaccination schedules. Your vet will gladly advise you on the most suited vaccination plan for your horse based on your animal’s lifestyle and the manufacturer’s recommendations for the vaccines.

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 Colic is still one of the most common causes of death in horses despite all advances in Veterinary Medicine. The term colic is not referred to a specific disease, it is used to describe a very generic symptom: abdominal pain (pain in the belly).

There are many different types of intestinal problems that can cause abdominal pain: overload of internal parasites; abnormal spasms of the intestinal wall that cause discomfort; impactions, when the intestine is blocked by a firm mass of food; bowl displacements, when a section of the bowel moves to an abnormal location within the abdomen; bowl strangulations, when a portion of the intestine becomes entrapped somewhere in the abdomen; torsions, when the bowl twists on itself and even when the gut wall is stretched by gas or feed material. Sometimes it is not possible to determine what is causing the symptom.

Clinical signs of colic can vary from mild to severe. In mild cases signs include: restlessness, pawing the ground repeatedly with a front foot, turning the head towards the flank, arching of the neck and curling the upper lip.

In moderate and severe cases horses will typically display kicking or biting at the abdomen, loss of appetite, depression, decreased bowel movements, lying down more than usual, getting up and lying down repeatedly, stretching out as if to urinate, straining to defecate, sitting down like a dog, sweating and rolling from side to side.

Intestinal problems can range from mild to life-threatening or fatal. For this reason it is very important to take these symptoms seriously and seek veterinary assistance. Early diagnose and early treatment is essential for a positive outcome. If you think your horse is showing signs of colic please contact your veterinary surgeon.

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Laminitis is an inflammation of the laminae (the inner layer of the hoof wall) and it is one the most common causes of lameness in horses in the UK. Horses of any size, age and breed can suffer from this painful condition, although people usually associate it with overweight ponies.

There are several factors that contribute to this debilitating disease. Heavy breeds and obese horses tend to be more susceptible as well as horses that are fed diets containing high carbohydrate content (like grain). Since obesity is a growing problem, laminitis is becoming more and more common.

Laminitis can also occur following sudden changes in their diet like consuming excessive amounts of fresh grass (pasture induced laminitis), intense exercise on hard surfaces or following other diseases like metritis, colic, Cushing’s disease, Equine Metabolic Syndrome and severe infections. Horses that are supporting most of their weight on one leg due to injury to the other leg may develop this condition as well.

There are two forms of laminitis: acute laminitis and chronic laminitis. In the acute form of laminitis the animal is uncomfortable and shows the firsts signs of this disease. In the chronic form of laminitis (founder) there are already structural changes in the internal anatomy of the hoof: the pedal bone sinks and rotates.

Clinical signs include lameness, warm hoof walls, increased digital pulse, pain in their feet, abnormal gait (heel before toe), an altered stance (with their weight shifted to the hind limbs with the forelimbs stretched out in front (to ease the weight off their feet), reluctance to move and in severe cases, panting, sweating and trying to lie down (which can be confused with colic).

If you notice any of these signs please call your vet as soon as possible. Early treatment is critical to reduce the chances of chronic laminitis (founder) and it is very important to treat any other underlying disease that may contributing to the onset of this condition!

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