Taxonomy term

Cross-Training the Sport Horse

Updated:

July 24, 2014

“Whether it be a football player studying ballet or a dressage horse learning to work cows - cross-training is a central pillar to athletic success and longevity,” says Dr. Brianne Henderson BVMS MRCVS, Ferguson Equine Veterinary Services & Toronto Equine Hospital.

How to Cool Out a Hot Horse

Updated:

July 4, 2014

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The last ten to fifteen minutes of every ride should consist of walking on a long or loose rein to allow the horse to relax, stretch his muscles, and, if he is winded from the exercise, catch his breath. This may be all the cool-down the average horse requires in order to physically recover from moderate exercise on a cool to warmish day. But intense workouts can strain muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and when coupled with soaring summer temperatures can cause your horse’s body temperature to skyrocket.

What is Shipping Fever?

Updated:

March 24, 2014

By Christina Weese - "Shipping fever” is a common name for pleuropneumonia, a serious infection involving the lungs and pleural cavity (the space between the lungs and the chest wall) that’s often caused by the stress of travel.When fluid is found only in the lungs, and not in the pleural cavity, it’s simply referred to as pneumonia.

Estimating Your Horse's Weight

Updated:

November 25, 2013

By Shantelle Roberts - Being able to weigh your horse from time to time not only helps you monitor his body condition for overall health, it’s also important when developing a feeding program and calculating appropriate dosages for dewormers and medications. Unfortunately, your bathroom scale doesn’t stand a chance under the 1200 or so pounds of the average horse. A livestock scale typically provides the most accurate measurement of a horse’s weight, but this equipment is not available at all large animal veterinary clinics. In this case, there are two primary alternatives – the standard equine body weight formula or a weight tape.

Botulism Beware

Updated:

November 1, 2013

By Jess Hallas-Kilcoyne - Commonly found in soil, decaying animal carcasses, and, sometimes, decaying plant material, Clostridium botulinum is the bacterium responsible for producing the toxins that cause botulism. These powerful toxins prevent the release of neurotransmitters that control muscle contractions, resulting in weakness and, often, paralysis. Botulism in horses, as in humans, is frequently fatal.

Preventing Colic in Horses

Updated:

October 17, 2013

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The term “colic” means “pain in the abdomen” or “pain in the belly.” There are many causes for such pain, ranging from the mild and inconsequential to the life-threatening or fatal. One of the problems with equine colic is that it can be very difficult in the early stages to distinguish the mild from the potentially fatal. This is why all cases of abdominal pain should be taken seriously right from the onset.

Hydrate for a Healthy Horse

Updated:

September 13, 2013

By Jess Hallas-Kilcoyne - For all the time that we spend deliberating about what type of hay to feed, or whether to add this supplement or that, the majority of horse owners tend not to spend a great deal of time thinking about the most important nutrient of all – water. Water helps maintain the healthy functioning of all the organs and systems in your horse’s body. Among many other things, it is essential to aiding digestion, regulating body temperature, eliminating toxins from the body, and lubricating the joints.

The "Trots": Equine Undifferentiated Diarrhea

Updated:

August 12, 2013

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Diarrhea is the hallmark clinical sign of equine colitis (inflammation of the colon), a condition which can occur in horses of any breed, gender, and age. Horses are particularly susceptible to acute, severe, and sometimes fatal diarrheal illness because of their large colon and caecum. Considerable progress has been made in the last decade in understanding what used to be called “colitis X.” However, many cases of colitis have no known cause. Therefore, in a large proportion of equine cases, the cause of the diarrhea cannot be established. These cases are usually classified as undifferentiated, undetermined, or idiopathic colitis, which is a diagnosis of exclusion made once other known causes of colitis have been ruled out.