Tag Archives: equine health

Horses, The Pet Professionals

How to recognise digestive problems in horses

Digestion is a vital physiologic process, as it allows the nutrients in food to become available and be absorbed into the bloodstream, thus fuelling a horse’s body.

As large, herbivorous animals, horses have a complex yet delicate digestive system, and any disturbances to their digestion can lead to health complications. 

There are several digestive problems that can affect horses, and in this article we will run through how to recognise them.

 

  • Colic

Colic is a broad term used to refer to abdominal discomfort in horses, which can be caused by a number of conditions, from a simple change in a horse’s routine to more severe problems, such as an intestinal torsion (which often requires surgical management), for example.

With the potential to be a life-threatening condition, colic is one of horse owners’ worst nightmares.

Prompt veterinary treatment in these cases is very important, so if you recognise any sign of abdominal discomfort in your horse, don’t hesitate to contact your vet. 

Signs of abdominal pain include:

  • Rolling 
  • Stretching
  • Pawing with a forelimb
  • Withdrawn behaviour and unwillingness to move
  • Restlessness 
  • Decreased appetite
  • Abnormal stance, shifting of weight or spending more time lying down
  • Looking at the flank
  • Altered faecal consistency or quantity

Some horses are more stoic than others and have a higher tolerance to pain. In these animals, it can be challenging to recognise that they are unwell, and owners should be suspicious if they detect any unusual behaviour or change in their horse’s demeanour.

 

  • Diarrhoea 

Just like colic, diarrhoea is a manifestation of an underlying gastrointestinal problem and, depending on what’s causing it, its severity will vary.

Common causes for diarrhoea include stress, infection, inflammation, parasites and the use of certain medications.

Having loose stools for a couple of days due to a change in their feed, for example, is not likely to have a significant impact on your horses’ health. However, prolonged cases of diarrhoea will lead to dehydration, nutrient malabsorption and disruption of the delicate balance of the gut environment, so don’t take diarrhoea lightly. 

 

Though diarrhoea and colic are the most noticeable signs of digestive problems, there are many other signs that you should be aware of and learn how to recognise. These signs may indicate gastrointestinal or other health issues. Do look out for:

  • Weight loss

Weight loss is usually suggestive of an insidious problem. It can be hard to spot if you’re not used to assessing your horse’s body condition score. Keeping such a record is very important given that it can help you detect subtle weight variations that may be related to health problems and also alert you to obesity and associated complications.

  • Altered appetite

Pain is often the cause of poor appetite in horses, but it doesn’t always stem from a digestive problem. Musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis, for example, can be extremely painful and lead to decreased appetite as well. 

  • Constipation 

Dental issues, parasites, dehydration, and even stress can lead to constipation in horses. Passing faces is very important for the good functioning of the whole digestive tract, so make sure that your horse is defaecating regularly to avoid complications.

  • Poor performance

Any health condition can lead to poor performance, and this is not exclusive to gastrointestinal issues. If you notice that your horse has been ‘off’ lately, do not undervalue this, as your horse may be suffering in silence.

 

As you may have realised, signs of digestive problems don’t usually manifest alone. And as there is no one sign that is specific to one problem, veterinary assessment is critical to try and determine the cause and initiate appropriate treatment.

If you recognise any of these signs, don’t hesitate to contact your vet!

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Horses

Check your horse’s hooves regularly

Preventing injuries and illness is always better than treating them! If we had to point out a situation where this is especially true, it would be when it comes to hoof health in horses.

Hooves are fragile yet fundamental structures in equines, and many problems affecting the hooves are liable to evolve into severely painful and debilitating conditions that can often have fatal outcomes.

Laminitis, the inflammation of the soft tissues that hold the hoof in place, is extremely common and recurrent in horses, donkeys and ponies. It can severely impact animal welfare, to the point where owners might have to make the humane decision to euthanize a horse whose laminitis does not respond to treatment.

Experts recommend that you inspect your horse’s hooves regularly, including them in your daily care routine. The extra minutes you spend giving your horse a careful visual inspection can absolutely make a world of difference, as it might mean that you catch subtle lameness or structural changes in the hoof early on.

Because of the poor outcome of hoof diseases, the earlier you spot issues, the better your veterinarian and your farrier can help you solve them.

Read the tips below to help you in your daily inspection;

Symmetry

Take a good, long look away from your horse so that you can inspect all four hooves at once and observe any movements or posture that might be unusual. Take notice of any apparent changes between them, such as differences in size, shape or colour.

After an overall look, compare hooves on the same limbs, so you’re comparing front hooves between themselves and then the back hooves as a pair.

While some minor variations can happen between limbs, any noticeable changes should be noted and reported to your vet as soon as possible.

The overall shape of each hoof

As you start to do a closer inspection, pay attention to the shape of the hoof. Here you must have a solid knowledge of what a normal hoof should look like and how your animal’s feet usually look.

Many changes like uneven or bulging growth rings, contracted heels or warping of any part of the hoof should not go ignored.

Cracks, bruises or foul smells

While it may seem time-consuming, getting close and taking a long look at your horse’s feet allows you to spot issues that could need immediate attention.

Cracks and bruises might have developed or become apparent overnight, so a close, daily inspection is paramount. If you know or suspect that your horse might have stepped on something hard or had a traumatic incident recently, pay extra attention.

Foul smells usually indicate an infection and may be accompanied by local discharge of pus or other fluids. Thrush, in particular, has a very recognizable odour.

As owners, we are our horses’ greatest advocates as we know them the best and interact with them daily. If you notice any changes or have any concerns, do not hesitate to call your vet!

Would you like to know more about horses? Check our Equine Courses:

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Wounds in horses

Like any other animal, including ourselves, horses can suffer from a multitude of injuries that may result in open wounds.

Today, we’re covering three important aspects to consider when facing wounds in horses that can help you be prepared for an unexpected situation.

 

#1 – Vet contact information

This had to be top on our list! Always have your vet’s contact information near you in case of an emergency so that you can seek professional advice quickly.

Wounds in horses can look very dramatic with torn, dangling skin, showing muscles and tissues underneath, but often wounds that are small in size and not as gory in appearance may be the ones that will need attention and treatment more promptly.

 

#2 – Blood everywhere

If your horse is wounded, it probably means that there’s blood, and sometimes even a lot of blood! Don’t panic – horses are large animals, which means they also have a large volume of circulating blood. Putting it in perspective, a haemorrhage that would be fatal for a person is not likely to cause noticeable problems for a horse!

That said, instead of focussing on the amount of blood you are seeing, focus on locating the source of the bleeding and how the bleeding looks. If you see blood dripping, it is likely to be coming from a vein, which is easier to manage. However, if the blood is shooting, it’s probably coming from an artery, which comes straight from the heart with high pressure, and this situation needs immediate attention.

In either case, grab something you have at hand (if you have a first aid kit, grab a sterile dressing, if you’re out hacking in the woods, a piece of clean clothing will do) and apply firm pressure to the wound for a while to stop the bleeding.

 

#3 – Wound location and type

Wounds affecting the lower limbs should always be assessed by a vet. As the limbs consist mostly of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels, there is not much support from muscles or other tissues in case of trauma.

This also means that a wound on a limb is more likely to affect a joint or tendon sheath, which can quickly compromise the horse’s overall health.

Head wounds and wounds affecting the eyes should also receive prompt veterinary attention, as there are many superficial and delicate vessels and nerves on the face.

As for the type of wound, appearance can be deceiving, and the smallest wounds can actually be the worst.

Puncture wounds are extremely dangerous as it’s not possible to assess their depth just by observing them. Puncture wounds on the limbs can easily affect joint structures, and when located on the body, they can cause internal organ damage and infections.

 

Remember, the way a wound heals is often influenced by the initial first aid applied, so don’t hesitate to contact your vet to help you! Also, always approach your horse with caution and be attentive to subtle signs, as pain can lead to aggression.

And if you’re interested in knowing what you can do in an emergency situation before professional advice and treatment can be obtained, have a look at our equine first aid course on The Pet Professionals’ site.

 

Would you like to know more about horses? Check our Equine Courses:

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Equine respiratory disease

Fun fact about horses’ anatomy and respiratory system:

Did you know that whilst most other mammals, such as cats and dogs, have 13 pairs of ribs, horses usually have 18?

This means that their chest is longer, allowing it to accommodate a large set of lungs that have a capacity of around 55 litres, which is nine times superior to ours. This is one of the reasons why horses are capable of such strenuous exercise and work.

Lungs are an important part of horses’ respiratory system. It’s in the lungs’ alveoli that gaseous exchange occurs, allowing oxygen to enter the horse’s bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be eliminated from the body.

 

That said, today, we’re raising awareness of important conditions that can affect a horse’s respiratory tract, what you can do to keep your horse healthy and how you can spot respiratory issues at an early stage.

 

Common horse respiratory diseases

There are many diseases that can affect a horse’s respiratory system, which we can divide into two large groups:

Infectious diseases:

  • Viral infections, such as equine influenza and equine viral arteritis
  • Bacterial infections, such as strangles, and secondary infections

Non-infectious diseases:

  • Inflammatory airway disease
  • Recurrent airway obstruction

 

What can you do to promote your horse’s respiratory health?

Staying informed is key, so don’t hesitate to seek professional advice when needed and discuss any concerns that you may have with your vet.

Knowing how to spot indicators of respiratory issues is very important as well so that you can tackle these at an early stage.

Regarding infectious diseases, some can be prevented through vaccination. Vaccination protocols are recommended based on a number of factors, including age, lifestyle and environment, so you should discuss this with your vet to find out what would be best for your horse.

As for non-infectious diseases, the ones that we mention above have an allergic nature, which means that part of their management involves environmental changes to remove or minimise potential allergens in the air.

 

Spotting respiratory signs

There are obvious signs of respiratory disease that everyone can easily identify, such as nasal discharge, coughing, and reluctance to exercise (although this last sign can be caused by many non-respiratory problems as well).

But it’s also important to be aware of more subtle signs, such as an increased respiratory rate and other non-specific signs like altered behaviour, loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.

If you recognise any of these, contact your vet so that they can examine your horse as soon as possible and if necessary, start treatment straight away!

Would you like to know more about horses? Check our Equine Courses:

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Horses, The Pet Professionals

Equine grass sickness

Equine grass sickness (EGS) has caused significant losses in the horse, pony and donkey population, especially in the UK, which is the country with the highest incidence of this terrible disease. As it has a 95% mortality rate and no known cause, this condition is of great concern to owners in affected areas. 

Horses aged between two and four years are the most affected, however, it can occur in animals of any age from four months onwards. It happens almost always in animals with access to grass pasture, yet researchers have identified a few grass sickness cases in horses that had no access to grass. Because the cause is still under investigation, it’s hard to say why even some horses with no access to pasture had these issues, but it is thought that hay might have brought in the yet mysterious causal agent. 

What we do know is that EGS destroys the part of the nervous system responsible for gut motility and the type of damage it causes has researchers searching for a toxic cause, such as bacteria like Clostridium botulinum in the soil. 

 

Signs 

Grass sickness has three primary forms: acute, subacute and chronic. They share a lot of the same signs, but the prognosis and treatment options are very different. 

In general, you can find: 

  • Drooping eyelids; 
  • Depression; 
  • Muscle tremors; 
  • Difficulty swallowing; 
  • Distended abdomen; 
  • Weight loss; 
  • Colic; 
  • Sweating in patches. 

 

Unfortunately, animals that display either the acute or subacute form are not likely to survive more than a few days. 

However, horses with a milder chronic form of this disease might not only survive but can also make a full recovery, so prompt intensive nursing treatment should be sought. 

 

 

Seasonality and risk factors 

A strong correlation to any particular season has not been observed, as cases can occur at any month of the year though EGS peaks between April and July. 

The risk factors are still under study, but animals that have undergone severe stress (travelling, breaking, mixing with strange horses, among others) and that have access to grass fields where the soil has been mechanically disturbed, has a high nitrogen content or a high number of horses, might increase chances of developing grass sickness. 

Usually, only one animal is affected, but outbreaks where several horses fall ill simultaneously are possible. 

 

Due to a still elusive cause, equine grass sickness remains a very complicated illness to manage and prevent! If you have any concerns about your horses or the conditions of your pastures, don’t hesitate to contact your vet for further information.

Would you like to know more about horses? Check our Equine Courses:

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