How to care for the basic health needs of horses
Does your horse have a cresty neck? Does he gain weight on air? Does he develop laminitis at the mere sight of spring grass? If so, your horse could have insulin resistance. Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA, medical director/staff veterinarian for SmartPa
A few horses out there like to have their ears rubbed, but many are tolerant of ear handling at best, and violently ear shy at worst. When these horses need to have veterinary work done around their ears, such as biopsies or stitching of
This first article of a 12-part series on equine anatomy and physiology discusses basic terminology, the horse’s largest organ (his skin), and how horses and humans are alike (and different).
Spinal cord compression in the neck, more technically known as cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy or CVSM, can cause notable incoordination and affects about 2% of racing Thoroughbreds. Probably the most well-known horse affected by CVSM was
There are 205 bones in the horse’s skeleton, and the spot where one or more bones join is the joint. This installment of the anatomy and physiology series focuses on these critical areas of movement.
The foreleg of the horse is, for the most part, a model of good engineering. Most of a horse’s weight is carried on its forelimbs. Good conformation will help ensure long-term soundness.
No matter the breed or discipline, good conformation of the hind legs will contribute to more successful performance and a better ride. We want a horse to have excellent rear leg conformation so that it can tolerate the demands placed on it.
Anatomy and physiology of the horse’s head and neck, and related structures such as the eyes, ears, mouth/teeth, and upper respiratory tract.
A horse’s conformation and muscle types can determine how well he can perform certain tasks, but all horses are subject to muscle injury and disease. In this article, we’ll take a look at how equine muscles function and are nourished.
Emergency personnel often have their first experience handling horses when they are called to the scene of a trailer collision, barn fire, or other crisis situation.
In order to better prepare fire, police, and medical professionals for
Understanding the equine digestive system can make your horse healthier and give you fewer worries about gastric upset. In this article, we’ll take a look at just how this “factory” is designed and how it functions.
The horse’s circulatory and respiratory systems constitute its engine. Here, we’ll take a close a look at these two systems and the manner in which they function.
The idea of a vaccine is to get the immune system to mount a response against a pathogenic invader while saving the horse from suffering disease symptoms that at best are uncomfortable and inconvenient, and at worst are fatal.
Before WNV reached North American shores, there were two other forms of viral encephalitis for horse owners to worry about. Eastern, Western and Venezuelan equine encephalitis are killers, but vaccination can help stave off these neurologic diseases.
Learn how your horse’s anatomy works with our complete anatomy and physiology guide, including basic terminology, skin, forelimbs, hindlimbs, feet/hooves, head and neck, tendons/ligaments, muscles, digestive, cardiovascular and reproductive systems.
Equine influenza is a common respiratory infection. There are vaccinations against equine flu, but are all vaccines created equally? For the latest news from researchers on equine influenza, read on.
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