Skip to main content

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. 

Hoof Abscesses

By Brian W. Fitzgerald, DVM The scenario is all too familiar for many horse owners… yesterday your horse was sound, but today you find him crippled, with...

Understanding Lameness

By Doug Thal, DVM"Every horse owner should have a basic understanding of lameness."Doug Thal, DVM  WHAT IS EQUINE LAMENESS?Lameness is a term used to...

LAMENESS EXAMS: Evaluating the Lame Horse

 Stress, strain or injury can take a toll on any horse, even one with no obvious conformation defects. When lameness occurs, you should contact your...

Lameness and Performance in the Sport Horse: Dressage

By Sue Dyson, FRCVS  THE SPORTThe Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) dressage rules state that the object of dressage is the "harmonious...

Lameness and Performance in the Sport Horse: Show Jumping

By Sue Dyson, FRCVS  THE SPORTThe athletic demands placed upon the elite show jumper are huge. It must be able to jump large fences with precision,...

Lameness and Poor Performance in the Sport Horse: Eventing

By Sue Dyson, FRCVS Eventing (horse trials) combines dressage, show jumping, and cross-country, together with steeplechase and roads and tracks phases in...

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Horses: What We Know

By Scott R. McClure, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Diplomate ACVSMRA shock wave is an acoustic (pressure) wave with very high amplitude and rapid rise time. There...

Arthroscopic Surgery: Is It for Treatment, Diagnosis or Both?

By Lydia F. Gray, DVMArthroscopic surgery is the best tool veterinarians have for visually inspecting the condition of a joint. That gives it a place not only...

Popped Knees

By Barrie Grant, DVM, Dipl. ACVSI was talking to one of my e-mail friends last night, and she said her horse had a "popped" knee. I hated to seem ignorant, but...

Why And How Do I Clean My Horses Sheath?

By Ben Espy, DVM, DACT Question: I just bought my first horse—a gelding. My fellow barn mates tell me that I need to clean his sheath several times...

How Do I Take My Horse's Temperature?

By Ben Espy, DVM, DACT Question: What’s a normal temperature for a horse, and how do I take it?  A. For an adult horse, any body temperature...

Equine Gastric Ulcers: Special Care and Nutrition

By Scott R. McClure, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Diplomate ACVSMR Why Do Horses Get Ulcers?  Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse at any age. Up...

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

By Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, DACVIMGastric ulcer disease is common in foals and horses and the term Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) has been used to...

Laminitis: Prevention & Treatment

Every day veterinarians across the country see hundreds of cases of laminitis, a painful disease that affects the horse's feet. What is especially alarming is...

Laminitis

By Andrew H. Parks, MA, Vet MB, Diplomate ACVS My horse had mild laminitis in the past, but is rideable now. Can you tell me how to explain this disease...

Equine Canker

By Tracy A. Turner, DVM, MS, Dipl. AC VSCanker is an unusual condition of the horse’s foot that affects the frog, bars, and sole. The name comes from the...

Emergency Foal CPR

By Laura Javsicas, VMD, DIPL. ACVIMCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the restoration of spontaneous circulation and breathing and is used in cases of...

Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia in Foals: An Update on Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia in Foals: An Update on Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention By Noah D. Cohen, VMD, MPH, PhD,...

Neonatal Care

By Dana N. Zimmel, DVM, DACVIM, DABVPRoutine and Emergency Care of the Neonatal FoalThe best chance to improve the survival rate of a newborn foal is adequate...

Evaluation & Care of Newborn Foals

By L.R.R. Costa, MV, MS, DACVIM Identifying the Signs of Impending Parturition  The normal gestation period of mares varies from 320 to 360 days. As...

Collecting Colostrum

By Fairfield T. Bain, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVP, ACVECCHow Can I Collect Colostrum From a Mare and Save It For Future Use? How Long Can I Keep It?Colostrum or...

Foal Growth: Special Care and Nutrition

A healthy foal will grow rapidly, gaining in height, weight and strength almost before your very eyes. From birth to age two, a young horse can achieve 90...

Foal Heat Diarrhea

By Christina Cable, DVM, DACVS Can you please tell me what foal heat diarrhea is, and what causes it? Some people say it's because of the mare's hormones...

Foal Diarrhea

By Roberta M. Dwyer, DVM, MS, DACVPM Foal diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and non-infectious conditions such as lactose intolerance,...

Should I Sweat It? (Anhidrosis in Horses)

By Jeremy Frederick, DVM Anhidrosis, or nonsweating, is a poorly understood condition affecting thousands of horses worldwide. Horses are most commonly...

Keeping Horses Cool

By Heather Heiderich-Farmer, DVMWe all long for warmer weather and the longer rides summer affords. But heat and humidity are major concerns for rider and...

WOUND MANAGEMENT & BANDAGING

By Erin Denney-Jones, DVMFirst Aid / Emergency Care - Feb 17th, 06WOUND MANAGEMENT & BANDAGINGErin Denney-Jones, DVM Florida Equine Veterinary Services,...

Disaster Planning For Horse Farms

By Dana N. Zimmel, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, ABVP (Equine Practice), University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and...

Heat Stroke

By Steven M. Haugen, DVMThe body maintains its normal temperature in hot weather by moving heat through the muscles and out through the skin. Blood also...

Guidelines to Follow During Equine Emergencies

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. There are several behavioral traits that make horses especially...