We have all walked into a barn and inhaled the familiar scent of ammonia. Even in carefully cleaned stalls, traces of this odor still exist. The source of this odor stems from the breakdown of equine waste, which produces ammonia. Ammonia is a harmful gas that could contribute to reduced performance and overall decreased health Read more »

Every horse owner has the right to know the safety and efficacy of medications a veterinarian prescribes for their horse. But even the most experienced horse owners may not be aware of the health risks involved with using compounding drugs. Compounded drugs are unregulated drugs produced by altering or combining other drugs to serve a Read more »

Rain Rot is one of the most common skin infections seen in horses. It is also called “rain scald” or “streptothricosis”. Rain Rot is an anaerobic infection that requires the absence of oxygen to live and spread. Rain Rot first appears in crusty patches on the horses back, shoulders, and hip area. The hair grows Read more »

Back pain is an ailment common to performance horses. It can be one of the most insidious ailments varying from simple soreness (indicated by sensitivity to pressure), spinal and pelvic misalignments or a full-blown injury. It can be very difficult to diagnose, because as with people, back pain may not be the main source of Read more »

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a broad term used to describe a wide array of clinical symptoms, including erosions and ulcers in the distal esophagus, the glandular and non glandular portions of the stomach, and the proximal duodenum.(1,2)Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) and colonic ulcers have been linked to performance and health problems in Read more »

An allergy is an exaggerated response from the immune system to a substance in the environment, called an allergen. Horses can become allergic not only to a substance in the environment, but also to things they eat, inhale, or touch. Equine allergies can be quite challenging not only for the horse who may have runny Read more »

High temperature, high humidity, lack of air movement, and exposure to direct sunlight all increase the danger of serious heat and sun related problems for horses. The best prevention for equine owners is to take steps to minimize the risk of heat stress, and to know how to identify heat stress in a horse. Horses Read more »

Spring brings warmer temperatures, green grass and spring flowers. It also means that if you own livestock, you will begin a new grazing season, allowing you the opportunity re-think your pasture management program. April and May are critical months in the growth of a grass plant. It is important to protect the spring growth from Read more »

Of the many communicable illnesses that affect horses, respiratory disease is the most common. Early detection of respiratory infection is important for successful treatment. Veterinary treatment can be costly and substantial, as well as the potential consequences of the loss of use of your horse for training, showing, or instruction. There are several causes of Read more »

Proper mare management is essential to ensure the birth of a live, healthy foal with the greatest probability of survival and success in performance. To breed efficiently, your mare must be in proper body condition. Thin mares do not become pregnant or maintain pregnancy as readily as moderate or fleshy mares; however, lower milk production Read more »