The Most Common Diseases In Horses

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Getting animals always comes with a lot of responsibility, whether it’s a dog, cat, or horse. It is always important to adapt to the needs of the animals, to fulfill them, and to give everything for the animal. This also means that pet owners should know their animals well so that they can act immediately if there are even the slightest changes. This is often not as easy with horses as it is with a dog, cat, or another animal that lives directly in the household. No wonder, because horses are usually kept in the stable or in the paddock, which means that horse owners do not see their animals all the time and possible diseases are sometimes not recognized immediately. This article covers the most common diseases, their symptoms and treatment options, and what you should always have on hand when it comes to horse first aid.

The first aid kit for horse owners

No matter how high-quality the feed is, how large the exercise area and how great the care is, it can always happen that a horse gets sick and needs help from us humans. Of course, in the event of an illness, you should always seek contact with the veterinarian and have the horse treated medically. However, it is also important to have some equipment on hand that you can use to help the animal for the time being. We have made you a list of things that should not be missing in any horse stable, so that nothing is missing for quick intervention.

Horse first aid kits include:

Disinfectants for horses;
termometer;
cotton pads and cotton rolls;
Patches of different sizes;
gauze bandages;
Sterile bandages;
Sterile and boxed disposable syringes;
tourniquets.

Is the horse healthy or sick?

Basically, everyone knows what a healthy horse should look like. A healthy horse has clear and alert eyes, and pricked ears and is always alert and interested. The nostrils are clean and the coat of a healthy horse is shiny and soft. The pulse of the animals is even and calm when not exerting themselves.

Once these traits are gone, or even just one of these traits is missing, it can be the first sign that your horse is missing something and is ill. Nevertheless, there are of course certain signs that a sick horse shows that urgent action must be taken. One of the very typical symptoms is, for example, a discharge from the nose, which can be transparent, yellowish, or even greenish. In addition, many animals do not have shiny, but cloudy eyes or even discharge from the eyes. Many horses that are not feeling well also struggle with loss of appetite and do not even touch their favorite food. Sometimes you can even observe that many horses just stand lazily on the meadow or in the stable and let their heads hang instead of observing the area attentively. Typical symptoms include fever, coughing or sneezing, diarrhea, and heavy breathing. Some animals also react with lameness or restlessness as well as sweating.

healthy horse

sick horse

Clear and shining eyes;

Horse watches everything with interest;

Regular pulse;

Nostrils are clean;

The ears are pricked;

The horse is lively and curious;

Eats normally;

The fur shines.

Koors;

Undertemperature;

Sneeze;

Hoes;

Difficult breathing or abnormal breathing;

Cloudy eyes or watery eyes with discharge;

Discharge from the nose ranging from clear to yellow to greenish;

The horse is restless;

Diarree;

Lazily standing around;

Hanging head;

Sweet;

Eats little or not at all;

Dull and/or shaggy coat.

The most common diseases in horses

In the following, we would like to introduce you to some typical and frequently occurring horse diseases together with symptoms and treatment options.

The Mauke

Unfortunately, the disease “mauke” is very common in horses, although there are some animals that are more susceptible to it than others. Mauke is a bacterial skin inflammation that is located in the animal’s fetlock crook, so this horse disease is also referred to medically as fetlock eczema.

Causes of mallenders in horses

There are various pathogens that can cause mud fever. These include mites and various bacteria, viruses, and skin fungi. But constant humidity can also be the cause. The moisture can cause the ankle to bend or the skin to swell at the point, resulting in small tears. The bacteria can now settle and multiply on these wounds. Unclean and wet boxes can also be the reason for such an illness, so it is always very important that you keep the boxes meticulously clean. It can be observed in horses that have a strong curtain that they are much more susceptible to the horse mallenders than other animals. No wonder, because with a long curtain, moisture and dirt can hold on better and longer.

The symptoms of mud fever

The signs of mallenders are different. Small pustules often appear at the beginning of the fetlock bend and redness of the skin as well as minor swellings are among the symptoms of this horse disease. Afterwards, it can often be observed that greasy hair areas form, since the animals’ sebaceous glands are now increasing their production. Then the respective spot begins to fester. This is followed by the so-called dry phase of the disease, in which a crust forms. Under this crust, the mallenders continue to develop and can spread rapidly.

The treatment at Mauke

Of course, mallenders in horses should also be treated urgently. In order to treat this disease successfully, however, the cause must first be looked for in order to eliminate it immediately and completely. A veterinarian has the opportunity to determine which pathogens caused the mallenders. These pathogens are then treated with the appropriate ointment. If the mallenders are due to an unclean box, horse owners should really ask themselves whether they can offer a horse the species-appropriate husbandry that it naturally deserves.

Good to know: Please pay attention to the first signs of mud fever, especially during the wet months, so that you can act as quickly as possible. This disease should not be underestimated under any circumstances. If the mallenders are not treated, long-lasting lameness can result.

Prevent mallenders

In order to spare the animal this disease, you should always try to keep the soil moisture as low as possible. The boxes and the outlets should also be kept as clean as possible. As soon as the legs of the animals are hosed down, it is always advisable to dry them off with a towel afterwards, so that prolonged moisture is also prevented in this situation.

Laminitis in horses

Laminitis in horses is also one of the most common diseases and is very much feared by the owners. No wonder, because this disease affects the entire horse organism, even if the name does not suggest it. This equine disease develops as an inflammation of the hoof corium, during which inflammation of the hoof corium partially detaches. In severe cases, it can even happen that the horn capsule detaches completely. In this disease, a distinction is made between acute laminitis and slowly developing laminitis.

The cause of laminitis

To this day, scientists agree that the development of laminitis cannot be attributed to just one specific cause.

There is traumatic deer, which can be caused, for example, by a bruise, whereby a strain and tearing of the hoof corium can also be to blame. Then there is the so-called stress deer, which is caused by excessive stress. This can be due to improper training or excessive work, among other things.

The fodder deer is triggered by a wrong diet, which often leads to metabolic disorders. This is how released toxins get into the horse’s bloodstream and from there to the corium of the hoof. The liver, which is responsible for detoxification, is severely overloaded and can no longer do its job. In the horse’s hoof itself, the poison triggers a very complicated enzyme reaction, which now ensures that the coffin bone detaches from the horn capsule.

In the case of poisoning deer, the trigger is poisonous plants, including vetches, castor oil, or acorns. In this case, pesticides can also be to blame for the horse’s laminitis. Another widespread reason may be mold, which can occur in the feed, for example.

In the case of birth defects, it can happen that this occurs after the foaling, i.e. the birth of a foal. The reason for this may be that small remains, for example from the afterbirth, remained in the uterus after the birth. In this case, bacterial decomposition occurs and the resulting decomposition products enter the horse’s bloodstream.

Now there is still drug addiction, which can be triggered by an intolerance to certain drugs.

The symptoms of laminitis

If the hoof corium has become inflamed, the hooves are warm, which is noticeable. The upper edge of the hoof capsule, also known as the “Konrad”, is now swollen. In addition, many animals become lame or are extremely cautious when walking. As soon as the horse is in an acute state of illness, it can be noticed that the blood vessels, which are located at the pastern, pulsate. Since laminitis often puts strain on one leg, the horse tries everything to relieve exactly that leg and even if several hooves are affected, the horse always tries to shift the weight to the healthy hooves. The more severe the degree of laminitis, the more conspicuous the behavior of the animals.

Treatment for laminitis

Treatment is particularly important for laminitis and should only be initiated by a veterinarian or animal naturopath. Since this is a horse disease that causes circulatory disorders in affected animals and can have serious consequences, the right treatment is essential. Here too, of course, the exact reason must now be determined in order to select the best possible therapy, with rapid action being very important.

Koliek by perde

Colic is not only one of the most well-known, but also one of the most common horse diseases, which is greatly feared by horse owners. No wonder, because this disease is not only associated with great pain for the animals, but can also be dangerous. Unfortunately, statistics also show that almost every horse will suffer from colic at least once in their lifetime. For this reason, it is very important that horse owners know how to recognize colic and what to do in such a situation. Even if most colics disappear quickly and no consequential damage remains, the animals should still be observed by a veterinarian, because in the worst case this can mean the difference between life and death. However, colic is more of a collective term that is used for various abdominal complaints.

Tekens van koliek by perde

In the case of colic, a distinction is made between light and severe colic. For example, with mild colic, horses start stamping their front hooves and looking around for their own stomach. Furthermore, some animals bite their stomachs or stretch as if urinating. Many animals are now very restless, they lie down again and again and then get up again. As the colic progresses, these symptoms worsen. With severe colic, the animal sweats and rolls back and forth on the floor. Many horses now sit in a dog position and lie on their backs. Some animals have such severe colic that they cannot get up on their own. They breathe very heavily and often have flared nostrils and anxious eyes. Gums and eyes may be red at this stage.

Cause of colic in horses

Colic can have different causes and it is often difficult to determine the exact reason. Due to the fact that the digestive tract of the animals does not do what it is designed for, many horses even suffer from colic from time to time. Colic can be caused by a change in animal husbandry, such as changing riding habits, a new stable or changing the bedding. But a change of feed, pesticides or other intolerance to the food consumed can also lead to severe colic.

Treatment of colic in horses

If the horse suffers from colic, it is in severe pain. In addition, such a disease in horses must never be underestimated.

You as the owner can now act to support the horse from the start. If you notice signs of mild colic, please proceed as follows:

All feed and straw should now be removed. However, it is important that you offer your horse something to drink and that it has constant access to fresh water.
It is very important that you now monitor your horse carefully, measuring the pulse and temperature every 30 minutes. Always record the values, which also include the respiratory rate, in writing.
Walk your horse around for about five minutes every half hour. The movement promotes intestinal motility and can help to overcome the colic faster and the horse to relax as much as possible.
Make sure that there are no sources of danger in the affected animal’s stall that could cause injury when it rolls over. It is best to sprinkle the horse box with enough shavings or other bedding.
In the past, horse owners and doctors always believed that horses should be prevented from rolling. However, if your animal is only suffering from mild colic and your horse wants to lie down to rest, you can allow him this break. Nothing happens to the animal. However, this is only about lying down and not about rolling.
However, if the horse starts rolling over and over again, this is a sign that the colic is getting worse. A veterinarian must now be called urgently.
By leading the horse, you may be able to discourage your animal from rolling. However, if the horse does not allow it, it is better that you ensure that the animal rolls around in the stall and not in the yard or street, as it is safer for owner and animal in the stall.
Please do not give any medication without consulting a professional veterinarian. Medications can mask some symptoms, making diagnosis difficult.

However, if it is severe colic, the following measures are correct:

Please call a veterinarian immediately and describe any symptoms.
Again, no medication should be given under any circumstances.
Please always stay at a safe distance when the animal is rolling. Numerous horse owners have been seriously injured here in the past.
In the case of severe colic, it is usually no longer possible to stop the horse from rolling.

When the vet has finally arrived, he can also take some measures to treat equine colic. Most veterinarians follow one and the same scheme for equine colic in order to find the cause and treat the horse accordingly.

In order to get as much information as possible about the condition of the animal, the vet will pepper you with various questions. It is now important that you make a note of all the measurements that you have carried out in advance.
Normally, veterinarians now also observe the horses a bit in their box, as many animals sometimes tend not to show any symptoms as long as a stranger is around.
The general state of health is now being examined. This includes measuring the temperature, pulse rate, breathing, heart murmurs, etc. Depending on the condition of the animal and how it behaves, the doctor may have to give a sedative before the examinations.
In order to determine if there are abnormal bowel sounds, the vet now needs to examine the horse’s flank.
In some cases, a tube has to be inserted into the stomach, which is done through the animals’ noses. This is because the stomach could contain gas and liquid in addition to the food. Of course, since horses are among the animals that cannot vomit, the gases must escape, which can be done this way.
A rectal examination is also not excluded. This enables the veterinarian to determine changes in the intestines, although only 30 to 40 percent of the intestine can be examined in this way. This examination can provide the veterinarian with valuable information.
Many veterinarians also choose to examine what is known as the peritoneal fluid, which is a clear fluid that has the job of allowing all organs to slide past each other with ease. This liquid is taken through a needle on the underside of the horse’s den.

This is how it goes on

The veterinarian can now initiate treatment based on the results of his examination. So there is the possibility of treating colic in horses with medication or continuing the treatment in a clinic. The treatment with medication must now take effect quickly, otherwise, you should definitely call the vet again, because even under medication, it can happen that the colic worsens and in the end, an operation in the clinic is necessary to save the animal rescue. In the case of colic, it is always important to keep a close eye on the horse after the treatment to make sure that the colic is really over.

Thrush in horses

Thrush is a horse disease in which a bacterial hoof disease is present. With this disease, the radiant tube is attacked by putrefactive bacteria, which continue to spread and, in the worst case, even get into the animal’s bloodstream. Timely treatment is therefore urgently needed, otherwise this disease can lead to severe blood poisoning. Furthermore, steel rot in horses can lead to bleeding in the frog or in the ball area and can therefore be life-threatening. Due to the fact that horses’ hooves should normally be scraped out every day, thrush can usually be recognized quickly and in good time.

Simptome van sproei

When scratching the hooves, a slightly foul smell is immediately noticeable. This odor comes from a black-brown secretion found in the horses’ frog grooves. In addition, the furrows of the hooves are deeper than usual. In the past, it has been found that the hind legs are more frequently affected by thrush than the front legs of the animals. In addition, the beam appears softened. Some parts of the horn may already be loose and will need to be removed. Under certain circumstances, the corium of the hoof can already be free, which is considered to be very sensitive. Affected horses are therefore in severe pain and often lame. As a reaction to the inflammation, rings can form on the wall of the horn, which are also a clear sign of this disease.

The causes of thrush in horses

There are several causes that can be to blame for thrush, because horses’ hooves are considered to be very sensitive. For example, if animals are often left in damp and unhygienic bedding, putrefactive bacteria will have an easier time multiplying and infecting the horse. The jet horn softens and thus creates the perfect conditions for bacteria. Unfortunately, it often happens that horses live in stalls that are rarely mucked up and dirty, where of course many bacteria and viruses peddle. In addition, there is urine containing ammonia, which also attacks the horses’ hooves. Poor hoof care, which of course includes infrequent hoof cleaning, is also a common cause of this condition. Furthermore, too little movement, a hoof misalignment or unsuitable shoeing can be possible causes.

Treatment for thrush

If the horse is suffering from thrush, appropriate treatment must of course be given as soon as possible. For this, the veterinarian must create a normal and functional hoof. The destroyed horn parts of the frog are cut off and the hoof is cleaned. Furthermore, the veterinarian will always advise affected owners to keep the animals hygienically, because a dry and clean environment is urgently important for healing. So healing is promoted and greatly accelerated by movement on dry ground and keeping and stables with clean bedding. Furthermore, the jet now has to be cleaned and disinfected every day, for which the vet usually prescribes a special solution.

Lameness in horses

When a horse is lame, it is not putting its legs down properly, which is usually because the animal is in pain. So the movement is disturbed. The good thing about this disease is that owners are quick to spot it. Because of the pain, the horse now tries to relieve the affected leg of the weight as best as possible and to shift it to the other legs. This disease is also known as limping. When it comes to lameness, veterinarians distinguish between supporting leg lameness and hanging leg lameness. Both forms can also occur together. While in hanging leg lameness the presentation phase of the leg is altered and the stride length is shorter, in supporting leg lameness it is the loading we just reported on.

The causes of lameness in horses

The causes that can cause lameness are very diverse. In principle, however, it is pain, which of course can have different reasons. For example, it can be fractures or broken bones, sprains, contusions or other injuries to the tendon. Inflammation is also often to blame for lameness in horses. Typical diseases associated with lameness are arthrosis, arthritis and laminitis. Infections, deformities and overload or a disease of the circulatory system are also possible. So, as you can see, the list of causes is very long.

The symptoms of lameness

If the horse suffers from lameness, the movement is disturbed. The animal does not put weight on all four legs evenly, so that the weight is shifted to the healthy legs. In addition to relieving one leg, as in supporting leg lameness, the performance of the leg can also be disrupted, where we have not arrived at hanging leg lameness. There are both the very pronounced symptoms and a very slight lameness, which is not consistently present. At the vet, this disease is divided into four different areas. These are called degrees of lameness.

The first degree denotes an indistinct lameness which is only visible when the horse is trotting.
The second degree of lameness can already be recognized at the step.
The third degree of lameness is clearly visible at both the walk and the trot. The animal now raises its head and neck due to the pain in its front legs.
In the fourth degree of lameness, the limbs are not loaded, so the horse always tries to completely relieve the affected leg.

The diagnosis of lameness

In order for a diagnosis to be made, the veterinarian must of course examine the horse thoroughly. As with the other diseases, you will be asked for details, after which a typical general examination of the horse takes place. This includes checking the pulsation on the feet. If it is a possible inflammation, the veterinarian can feel this through an increased pulse. The horse is also judged both standing and moving, with different gaits being important. Many veterinarians also want to see the horse on different floors. In addition, the joints must be touched. In addition, the veterinarian may induce a pain reaction with a hoof-examination forceps. This falls under the area of provocation tests, whereby, for example, a slight lameness can be increased in order to be able to find the causes better. The aim of such an examination is, of course, to pinpoint the exact spot which is responsible for the lameness.

Treatment for lameness

Lameness in horses is always treated depending on the cause. Various medications are often administered which have a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect, as is the case with cortisone, for example. In addition, it may be that the animal first has to be protected or needs special fittings. Of course, it can also be the case that the horse needs an operation, which of course is often the case with fractures.

Respiratory diseases in horses

The respiratory system in horses is very efficient, so it can also be sensitive to poor air quality. Horses can also suffer from respiratory diseases, which can include not only equine flu but also bronchitis or a contagious cough. All the diseases listed belong to the so-called infectious diseases, which can be treated with medication. Furthermore, there are also allergic reactions to respiratory diseases in horses.

Symptoms of respiratory disease in horses

The symptoms are often not recognized at the outset. Many horses eventually start coughing. But nasal discharge is also part of it, which is often transparent at the beginning and can unfortunately also be purulent as the disease progresses. Many horses are no longer as powerful as before. In addition, the eyes can water and lose their luster and many horses do not enjoy eating as much as they used to.

behandeling

As soon as an animal shows even one of the symptoms, you should definitely call a veterinarian. For example, if the bronchitis is not treated, it is possible that the affected horse will have to struggle with chronic bronchitis for life and have to take medication for it every day, which would also be very expensive. It is now important that the irritants in the air are kept as low as possible. In addition, an adequate supply of fresh air must be ensured. It is also advisable not to store bales of hay and straw in the stable in the future, as they naturally create dust and irritate the horses’ respiratory tract. As soon as the stall is mucked out, the horses should wait outside or be in the pasture, as this also creates dust.

Ons gevolgtrekking

Of course, there are many other diseases that have not been covered in this article. If you are not sure whether your animal is really doing well, it is always important and urgently necessary to have a vet check it up. True to the motto “Better once too many than once too little”, you can ensure that your protégé does not lack for anything. A disease in a horse should therefore never be taken lightly because all diseases can worsen and thus have dramatic consequences.