Tying Up is a syndrome and a term used to describe a group of common muscle disorders in the horse. It is one of and controversial syndromes in the horse,…
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in all species including dogs, horses and humans. It is a common cause of lameness and poor performance in the horse, contributing to issues…
The sedation and anaesthetising of horses to perform medical and surgical procedures is very commonly used by veterinarians in equine practice. Here, we are going to look at the history…
“Splints” is the common term given to an inflammatory condition of the splint bones of the leg. Here, we are going to have a look at the anatomy, what the…
Regular dental examination and treatment is an extremely important routine necessity when you own a horse, be it a retired paddock horse or an elite athlete. Equine dentistry has really…
If you own horses, at some stage a medical emergency is highly likely. Emergencies with your horse can be frightening and confronting. Being prepared is the key. In this and…
There are many different zoonotic diseases to be mindful of when owning horses in Australia; some of the more commonly known ones include Hendra virus, ringworm, Psittacosis and Salmonella. Here…
A swollen leg caused by cellulitis or lymphangitis is relatively common in the horse and can be very frustrating to treat. The two terms are often used interchangeably, and there…
Transcript I’m Nathan Anthony I’m an equine veterinarian with West vets equine hospital and I’m also a team vet with Equestrian Australia for our Equestrian Team. I recommend 4CYTE for…
Osteoarthritis (“OA”) is a common cause of lameness and poor performance in competition horses. OA can occur for a variety of reasons. It can occur secondary to developmental orthopaedic conditions…
A very different subject this month but one that is important for horse owners to be awareof – the current shortage of equine veterinarians. Across the world, in the last…
All horses must have access to clean drinking water 24 hours a day so that there is no risk of them not getting enough to drink and becoming dehydrated. The…
There are many plants found in Australia that can be toxic to horses, and some take only low levels of consumption to cause an effect. Being able to identify these…
In this article, we are going to look at the normal birthing process and what to expect, what can go wrong and when to call the veterinarian. Most of the…
Tetanus is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani which is a ubiquitous organism found in soil and in the faeces of different animals (including horses). The bacteria…
Kissing spines is more formally known as overriding (or impingement) of the dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP). It occurs when the dorsal spinous processes (the top blade of the vertebrae) are…
The one one that instills fear and concern in horse owners is the word “colic” – seeing a horse with colic is very distressing and every owner seems to know…
Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) is a contagious viral disease. There are nine different equine herpes viruses with EHV-1 and EHV-4 being the most commonly seen causing disease in horses.
The horse’s eye is a beautiful and exquisite structure. When looking into your horse’s eyes (we all do it!) have you noticed the “brown blobs” that appear to hang from…
The prevalence of gastric ulcers in racehorses has been well known for a number of years. Various studies across the world have reported that 80-90% of racehorses have ulcers. However,…
Shivers or shivering are names that are used to describe a chronic nervous or neuromuscular syndrome in horses that has been recognised for centuries. Traditionally, it was recognised when horses…
In the hot and humid climatic conditions of Australia – heat stress is a serious risk to the horse and can occur in all performance athletes from the pony club…
The risk of travel sickness increases with the duration of travel and can occur even after six hours of travel. There is a dramatic increase in cases after ten hours…
No matter how safe the stable or how well managed the horse is, horses will injure themselves and these wounds and lacerations can occur without warning.
Laminitis is widely accepted as the single most significant health concern in all breeds of horses globally. Typically, the condition of laminitis was believed to only affect older horses and…
Stress fractures are a well-recognised injury cause of lameness and poor performance in thoroughbred racehorses. Stress fractures are most frequently reported in the cannon bone (bucked shins), tibia, humerus, radius,…
Scoping (upper airway endoscopy) is a common procedure performed in racing stables on a daily basis. Due to the importance of the airway for a racehorse to reach their athletic…
The prevalence of gastric ulcers in racehorses has been well known for a number of years. Various studies across the world have reported that 80 – 90 % of racehorses…
Upper airway disease is second only to lameness as the most significant performance-limiting condition in the racehorse. The conditions of the upper condition can be dynamic, changing as horses grow…
In late 2014 the results of Australia’s largest equine parasite prevalence survey were revealed. The study aimed to confirm the prevalence of four key internal parasites of horses, all potentially…
The use of complementary medicine continues to increase in use in veterinary practice. As seen in human sports medicine, acupuncture and other complementary therapies have become increasingly recognised and effective…
The prevalence of gastric ulcers in racehorses has been well known for a number of years. Various studies across the world have reported that 80-90 per cent of racehorses have…
A fetlock breakdown injury is one of the most traumatic events to occur on a racecourse or on the training track. The cause of breakdown injuries have been studied extensively in…
Although most people rarely give their gelding’s sheath and penis a second look, outlined below is what attention should be paid to this area and why. This article acts as…
It’s something we do almost every day as veterinarians: collect some blood from one of our patients to try and determine what is going on internally. But have you ever…
What Is Cushing’s Disease? You may have heard of Cushing’s Disease in humans, however it is not quite the same disease in horses and is more correctly named Pituitary Pars…
Breeding your own horses is an option that many horse owners try at some stage. Most owners have a mare they breed from, however very few owners decide to manage…
Following on from the last edition on the general initial treatment of deep wounds, this month we will discuss some examples of specific types of wounds and how they can…
Finding your horse with a wound can be a stressful situation but it is one which all horse owners will inevitably find themselves in at some stage.In the next two…
Finding your horse with a wound can be a stressful situation but it is one which all horse owners will inevitably find themselves in at some stage.In this 3 part…
Vasculitis and lymphangitis are broad terms that cover anything from slightly puffy legs to a sick horse that needs hospitilisation and intensive care. Before talking about these scenarios we first…
Mammary gland problems in the mare are thankfully not common, occasionally however, some issues can arise including; mastitis, abnormal milk production, discharge, swellings, lumps and ulceration. The horse has two…
It is crucial for the newborn foal to obtain antibodies through the dam’s milk because, unlike in humans, there is no natural transfer of antibodies through the mother’s placenta. This…
We’ve all had a case of the hiccups, but did you know that your horse can actually get the hiccups as well? Equine hiccups are more commonly referred to as…
Contrary to what the common name may lead you to believe, swamp cancer is not a cancer, but is caused by an aquatic fungus. The disease is called Pythiosis and…
Summer is nearly upon us, and no doubt we have all noticed the temperature and humidity steadily creeping up. And whilst many of us are able to hide away from…
Every day, your horse’s respiratory tract is challenged by pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and fungal elements. In the majority of cases, your horse’s immune system and defence mechanisms easily…
Welcome to Part One of a new three- part series on respiratory conditions, presented by the team at WestVETS Animal Hospital & Reproduction Centre. This month, Sarah Van Dyck outlines…
Every breeding season there are a multitude of articles written focusing on the health and well-being of the foal, but, what about the mare? As Dr Katelyn McNicol from WestVETS…
Placentitis can be a devastating problem in the horse leading to abortion, stillbirths or weak or premature foals. It is the most prevalent cause of premature delivery of a foal…
The condition known as a locking patella or locking stifle is not uncommon in the horse world. You may have heard horse owners talk about their horse that has stifles…
Despite the widespread media coverage of Hendra virus outbreaks and the release of the Hendra vaccine last November, many horse owners are still uncertain about different aspects surrounding the vaccine…
Having a foal on the way is very exciting and, although most foalings go ahead without a hitch, it is vital to be able to recognise a problem early. It…
With the onset of spring and warmer days comes the arrival of the long anticipated foal. After the costs involved in breeding and maintaining your pregnant mare, a loss of…
Tendon injuries can occur in all equines – young and old, active and the not so active. But, what does a ‘bowed tendon’ actually mean? The first step in understanding…
Poor athletic performance or expistaxis (bleeding from the nostrils) are the most common presenting complaints for horses with exercise-induced pulmonary heomorrhage or EIPH. Epistaxis (bleeding from the nose) generally occurs…
Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) is an incurable viral disease that is spread by biting insects. It is a rare disease in Australia, found most commonly in isolated pockets, particularly in…
Diarrhoea is always an abnormal finding in the horse and an indication of a problem that could get much worse. While a sudden and copious onset should be treated as…
The time leading up to the highly anticipated arrival of a new foal can be very exciting, but may also be a cause for anxiety. Whether this is your first…
Winter is well and truly upon us and these colder months can be particularly tough on our equine friends. One particular condition that all of us are familiar with is…
‘Rattles’ is the name given to a lung infection (bacterial pneumonia) in foals caused by the bacteria Rhodococcus equi (R. equi). The disease is called ‘Rattles’ because of the rattling…
Mammary gland problems in the mare are thankfully not common, however occasionally some issues can arise including; mastitis, abnormal milk production, discharge, swellings, lumps and ulceration. The horse has two…
A very topical issue at the moment is that of Hendra Virus. With the recent outbreaks in Northern Queensland Hendra is foremost in many horse owners minds. Hendra Virus is…
Bone cysts are a condition that frustrate horse owners, and although they are a relatively common occurrence, how and why they develop is still not fully understood or agreed upon.…
Laminitis, also referred to as founder, is a complex and serious disease that every horse owner should be aware of. It can occur in horses and ponies of any size,…
Tendon injuries are unfortunately a common occurrence in equine practice. Work or competition at speed, on unlevel ground, or over jumps increases the risk of sustaining an injury to the…
Moving horses interstate & internationally is a common occurrence in the equine industry. A disease associated with long distance movement is called Travel Sickness, also known as Shipping Fever or…
Horses are obligate nasal breathers, meaning that they can only breathe through their noses. On inspiration air passes up through the nostrils, through the nasal passages and into the nasopharynx,…
Did you know that that world’s horse population is estimated at 75,000,000? Owning a horse or pony can be most rewarding. Aside from the obvious companionship, an equine friend can…
With winter now here, it is time to really think about how to look after your horse in the colder weather. Horses and ponies, particularly older ones, can lose weight…
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), resulting in osteoarthritis, is a common cause of lameness and poor performance in horses. DJD can occur for a variety of reasons. It can be the…
Twins may seem like double the fun, but in reality a twin pregnancy can result in the death of both foals and the mare. Twin pregnancies can occur if there…
Colic is arguably the most feared disease of horses. It seems that every horse owner knows of a horse that has died from colic. Colic is potentially fatal for horses,…
Horses are very dependant on vision both as instinctive prey animals and as performance horses in which ever field of competition they are involved. While many ocular diseases in the…
Definition and Statistics Colic simply means abdominal or belly pain. Most horses will have an episode of colic at some time during their life, but as some owners know, a…
Miniature horses first came on the scene in the 1600’s when they featured as an exhibit at King Louis the Fourteenth’s zoo of bizarre animals. They became a favoured pet…
An average horse has between 36 and 40 teeth, consisting of 12 incisors, 12 premolars and 12 molars. The extras are made up of canines or wolf teeth if present.…
