How much do you know about horse health problems? Horses can be susceptible to almost as many different types of illnesses and diseases as humans, though luckily they don’t suffer from many of the same ones we do (like cancer or diabetes). Still, there are many horse health problems that may arise, which is why it’s important to maintain a regular schedule of veterinarian visits and to keep your horse healthy in all other ways as well. Read on to learn about the most common horse health problems, how to recognize them, and how to take action quickly when they occur.
Worms
Parasites like worms cause serious health problems in horses, including colic. Worming is a part of horse care every horse owner needs to understand, even if you hire an equine vet to do it for you. Horses are often infested with worms at birth, so it’s best to begin worm prevention as soon as your horse arrives at its new home. There are several types of deworming medications on the market today; consult your vet about which one will work best for your individual situation.
Laminitis
This is a painful condition caused by inflammation in a horse’s feet. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications that make walking impossible for a horse. The best prevention for laminitis is regular exercise. Giving your horse ample room to move around can also help prevent him from developing foot problems. Watch out for signs of laminitis— if you see any, contact your veterinarian immediately!
Coughing
If your horse has been coughing for longer than a few weeks, it’s likely that you have some sort of upper respiratory infection (URI) on your hands. Respiratory infections can be tough to pinpoint because they tend to spread quickly through barns and feedlots, but there are several types of infections that have similar symptoms.
Colic
Horses are like humans in many ways, including their propensity for developing colic. Although there is no surefire way to prevent colic, owners can take precautions and pay attention to a horse’s body language when they feel something could be wrong. Here’s what you need to know about colic in horses, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatments, and prevention methods.
Warts
One of the most well-known horse health problems, warts can appear anywhere on a horse’s body. In fact, some horses have them all over their bodies, making them particularly unattractive. Warts are caused by a virus that has transferred from animal to animal via insects (such as flies). Although they’re a common problem in some parts of Australia and America, in other places they aren’t really seen at all – it seems to be down to living conditions.
Biting/Mouthing/Chewing Issues
When a horse is left with nothing to do for long periods of time, boredom can become an issue. If you want your horse to stay happy, and you don’t have enough room for a lot of exercise equipment or pasture area, it might be a good idea to give him something to chew on.
Saddle Sores
When you think of horse health problems, saddle sores might not be on your radar. However, they can occur if you don’t maintain proper hygiene after riding. Read on to learn how to prevent them from happening to your horse or how to treat them if they do develop.
Allergies
Horse allergies can be caused by mites, lice, pollen, environmental pollutants, food additives, or chemicals. When you’re allergic to horses, symptoms may include nasal congestion, facial swelling, and skin irritations like hives. At-risk people should wash their hands after caring for a horse; if someone in your family is allergic to horses, make sure your family members take allergy medication before handling a horse.
Underweight
If your horse has become underweight, it could be because of too much time spent in one place without enough activity. A healthy horse should only lose about 10 percent of its body weight over a period of two to three months if it is not working—it’s a good idea to take your horse for longer rides more often, or if you have access to grassland that’s available for grazing. Poor health can also lead to an underweight horse.
Hoof Issues
Some of the most common hoof issues include laminitis, ringworm, thrush, abscesses, impacted feces stuck in hooves, and overgrown frogs. Keeping your horse’s hooves healthy can be a challenge; it’s important to take care of their feet so that these problems don’t occur. Here are some tips for maintaining healthy feet in your horse
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