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Horse Health Archive

Welcome to the AAEP's Horse Health article search engine. Each of the articles available in this section have been written by AAEP member veterinarians. To use the search, you can either put a keyword in the box that says "Search" or you if you are looking for a specific topic, you may select a topic from the drop-down box under the search box and all articles on that subject will be brought up. 

Equine Reproduction From Conception to Birth

By Benjamin Espy, DVM, DACT Equine reproduction costs money: Feed, electricity, labor, water bills, barns, employees, stud fees, transportation and...

Regulating Estrus

By Les Sellnow Exercise and diet are important in increasing a mare's chances of getting in foal. When a mare is left to her own devices reproductively, she...

Pregnant Mares

The mare from which you have always wanted to raise a foal has just been pronounced pregnant by your veterinarian. Now you just have to wait about 11 months...

Ultrasound and Your Horse

By Benjamin Espy, DVM, DACT Although radiographs are valuable for detecting bony structures, ultrasound is probably the most versatile tool available to the...

Foaling Mare & Newborn: Preparing for a Safe & Successful Foal Delivery

CARING FOR THE FOALING MARE AND NEWBORN If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you're almost home free. Labor and delivery, while...

Expectant Mare: Assuring the Health and Well-Being of the Pregnant Mare

We often think of pregnancy as a delicate and fragile condition. When it comes to horses, this perception is perhaps due to the mare's relatively poor...

Breeding Season Is Near

To help you prepare for the upcoming breeding season, we’ll look at two populations of mares - those that are currently pregnant and those that are maiden or...

What to Expect When Owning A Horse

By AAEP   So you have decided that you want to take the leap and the join millions of others who own a horse? Much like any large animal, horses...

PURCHASE EXAMS: A Sound Economic Investment

Owning a horse can be a big investment in time, money and emotion. Unfortunately, horses seldom come with money-back guarantees. That's why it's so important...

Buying a Horse

By Harry W. Werner, VMDI’m in the market for my first horse. I’ve seen people at my barn buy horses, and they always have a veterinarian check the...

Poisonous Plant Resources

There are many common plants found in gardens and yards that could be potentially poisonous to horses. Below are a few resources that may be helpful in...

Footing: The Most Important Three Inches in Your Horse's Career

By Hilary Clayton, BVMS, Ph.D., DACVSMR, MRCVS Introduction What makes one footing better than another? Is it possible to find a surface that maximizes...

Strategic Layoffs

By Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS, DACVSMR Many equestrian sports have an annual cycle in which a competition season alternates with an off-season. Even...

Tapeworms

By Tom Lenz, DVM, MS, DACT The strong association between internal equine parasites and the risk of colic has been widely known for several types of worms...

Older Horse: Special Care & Nutrition

Proper nutrition, care and exercise will help an older horse thrive. Develop a total management plan for your senior citizen, keep in mind these important...

Senior Citizen Surgery

By Written by: Barrie Grant, DVM, DACVS There are many factors that veterinarians and owners consider when a surgical treatment is recommended for a...

Helping Your Horse Through Its Golden Years

By Jill Beech, DVM, DACVIM and Lydia Gray, DVMFortunately for our nation's horse population, interest in equine geriatrics among veterinarians and researchers...

Cold Weather Nutrition

Horses are naturally well-adapted to thrive in frigid weather if they have the basics of adequate calorie intake, palatable water, and protection from wind and...

Selenium in the Equine Diet

By Amanda House, DVM ,DACVIM, University of Florida College of Veterinary MedicineSelenium is a trace mineral that is essential for cellular function in the...

Nutrition: The Key to Unlocking Your Horse's Health

By Lydia Gray, DVM, MA, Staff Veterinarian/Medical Director, SmartPak   Introduction Nutrition is the foundation of a healthy, happy horse that...

Overweight Horse

Nutrition - Jul 20th, 05A Bayer HealthCare Animal Health Brochure Special Care and NutritionFeeding is one of the most rewarding chores of horse...

10 Tips For Choosing The Best Hay For Your Horse

Written by the AAEP High-quality hay can be an important source of essential nutrients in your horse’s diet. A horse’s protein and energy...

Feeding Beet Pulp

By Karen BriggsNutrition - Jun 18th, 0I’ve been told I should feed beet pulp to help put weight on my skinny Thoroughbred. But I’m worried about...

Hay Quality and Horse Nutrition: Evaluating Your Horse's Nutritional Needs

Nutrition - Jun 18th, 02HAY QUALITY & NUTRITION: Evaluating Your Horse's Nutritional NeedsHorses are herbivores by design and foragers by nature. They have...

Joint Health Supplements: Information and How to Read a Product Label

Nutrition - Feb 22nd, 13A Nutramax brochureNutritional supplements abound – products for joint health support, a shiny coat, hoof care, and much, much...

Managing During Drought

By Doug Thal, DVM, DABVP Abnormally dry conditions pose unique health care and management challenges for horse owners.  Pasture Horses on...

Lameness & Joint Medications

By Benjamin Espy, DVM, DACT and Justin Harper, DVM, MS, DACVS, LA General Information As horse owners, you have been bombarded with numerous articles...

The Lowdown on High Suspensory Disease (Proximal Suspensory Desmitis)

By Sue Dyson, FRCVS INTRODUCTIONThe suspensory ligament can be divided into three separate regions, all of which can become injured: the proximal (upper)...

Is He Lame or Is He Neurologic? (Wobbler Syndrome)

By B.D. Grant, DVM, MS, ACVS, J.H. Cannon, DVM, ABVP "Your horse may be a Wobbler" is a statement made by the attending veterinarian that very few horse...

Tying-Up

By Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD   I just bought a Thoroughbred filly, which was in race training, but retired without running because of recurrent...