Equine botulism toxicity was a grim diagnosis. Cathy and I tried to reassure each other as the expensive antitoxin was administered to Hans at the veterinary hospital. Equine botulism toxin works in a very specific way, binding itself to...
My mentor and friend Dr. George Platt had been an equine vet for 43 years. I was in my third year of practice and had just confirmed a 13-hand pregnant pony had accidentally been bred to an 18-hand Belgian...
Dental care and barn time may seem unrelated, but unexpected tooth pain leads to a scramble to see the dentist. As humans, it’s tempting to equate our horse’s dental needs to our own—but is it that simple?Here, a veterinarian...
Don't let horse allergies hinder your riding plans this spring.We've all been there. It's a spring day of good weather, perfect for a ride. As you amble to the barn to saddle up, you hear coughing. Turning the corner,...
Horse Illustrated's Vet Adventures columnist shares how she discovers a massive horse health problem. Cimarron, a stallion, lay quietly on his side in the snow as I walked up to his pen. He stretched out his neck and halfheartedly nibbled...
In this Vet Adventures column, a horse suffers an accidental injury, but he still finds his perfect match through a strange twist of fate. Everyone had high hopes for Bramble when he was born. The offspring of two prominent Quarter...
For a veterinarian, time is extremely valuable. Every minute represents a chance to save an equine life—but some horse owners don't always respect the value of a veterinarian's time.I checked my watch as I parked at the unfamiliar arena....
Believe it or not, skin is the body’s largest organ, so it makes sense that untreated skin problems can make your horse miserable in a hurry, especially when exacerbated by heat and biting insects. Some skin conditions are also...
When I bought my pony, Ferrous, the former owner disclosed that he had trouble sweating, but a supplement was all he needed to be healthy in the summer. In truth, I quickly realized how anhidrosis, the inability to sweat...
Colic surgery. It’s invasive, astronomically expensive, and there’s no guarantee it will be successful. If your horse does make it through the colic surgery, recovery is long, arduous and time-consuming. And when he’s recovered, he’ll always be prone to...
