When veterinarians evaluate horses for lameness, they usually provide the owners with written descriptions of what they observe. For example, “Lame at trot, left fore, +3 ... ,” is what you might find scrawled in a vet’s notes. While...
If you become incapacitated during an accident, you can make sure your horses will be taken care of by leaving information that will help direct emergency responders. You may also want to include the phone number of your equine...
Getting out on the trail gives you and your horse an opportunity to enjoy a change of scenery or a new challenge. But being out on the trail also means that you may be on your own if faced...
After his long winter off, you’ve put your horse through a springtime conditioning regimen, and he’s ready for competitions, weekend camping trips or plenty of pleasure riding on the local trails. You’ve been slowly putting him through his paces,...
Galloping down a cross-country course, leaping three-foot fences or sliding to a stop puts an enormous amount of stress on fine, delicately built equine legs. But there is a lot going on behind the scenes. A sound horse maintains...
Veterinarians and researchers often debate the semantics and definitions of navicular disease, navicular syndrome and navicular-type pain. Susan Dyson, MA, VetMB, Ph.D., FRCVS, head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust in...
Ringbone is a common diagnosis. Horses young and old, backyard pets and high-level athletes alike are all susceptible to the disease. Some horses are unaffected; for others it spells the end of life, and for those in between it’s...
Nothing can be more satisfying to us vets than a really good hoof abscess. Right from start to finish, they can make our day. It starts with the call, pretty much always the same, "Horse was fine yesterday; very...
You’re watching your vet head down your driveway. He’s examined and diagnosed your horse—now it’s up to you. You’re clutching a large plastic bottle filled with pills that need to be administered twice a day. Unscrewing the cap, you...
Gels, clays, lotions, oils, muds and more—package labels on liniments and poultices tell you these products provide "cooling heat,” "warmth,” "a cool, soothing sensation,” "relief for sore muscles and overworked tendons.” But do they really benefit an achy horse...
