WELL CARED FOR, horses remain in good health and your main contact with the vet should be for worming medicines, vaccinations and an annual health check. However, there are a number of common illnesses and problems that occur even in the best managed establishments.

 

 

Lameness is the most common complaint that horses suffer from. It can be caused by something simple like a stone in the foot, or by disease. Tendon injuries through strains or knocks are common, whereas problems such as wind galls (swellings on the other side of the fetlocks) and degenerative joint disease (arthritis) are caused by wear and tear.

 

  If a horse repeatedly rests the same leg, it can be an

 

    Laminitis occurs in ponies, cobs and horses that are good doers (needing little feed to keep weight on) as its most common cause of over-feeding, although it can be caused by any blood disorder. Laminitis can result in the horse having to be destroyed, and you should call the vet immediately if you suspect your horse has it.

    Navicular disease, which affects the navicular bone in the foot and is caused by excessive strain or jarring, can also cause chronic lameness.

 

 

Allergies are increasingly common in countries where horses are kept mainly in stables, and are due almost entirely to bad ventilation in stables. They give rise to a number of complaints, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), formerly called broken wind. This is now known to be the result of an allergic reaction to mould spores, mites or dust in feed or bedding, which cause damage to the lungs. The horse will have a harsh, dry cough and will have great difficulty breathing.

    Influenza is a highly infectious disease which can permanently damage the lungs, and which needs a convalescence of several months.

    Strangles is a diphtheria-like infection which, again, can cause permanent damage to the lungs and heart, and is very contagious.

    Roaring also known as laryngeal paralysis, is caused by wasting of the muscles around the wind-pipe. The nerves become damaged, causing paralysis and affecting the air flow to the lungs, and the horse makes a loud whistling noise when it inhales. Horses can also get sinus infection, coughs and chills.

 

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

 

Colic accounts for the majority of digestive problems. The signs of colic are lethargy, loss of appetite, pawing the ground and rolling.

 

                If a horse rolls and gets up without shaking itself, it could be feeling internal pain, and you should watch for other indications.

 

There are three types of colic, spasmodic, flatulent and twisted gut. Colic can be caused by poor or irregular feeding, bad management, over eating, food which ferments very easily, stress, or, most common of all, worm damage.

    Grass sickness is also a form of colic, in which in which the bowels become paralyzed.

    Azoturia occurs when the horse is worked hard after being rested on a full working diet. The horse becomes stiff and unsteady and may reach the point of collapse.

    Horses suffer from worm infestation, which causes loss of condition, and should be wormed regularly. Worms can cause diarrhoea, as does too much grass.

 

SKIN DISEASES

 

Many skin diseases are contagious so strict attention should be paid to hygiene when treating them.

    Lice are common among horses, especially grass-kept horses in the spring. Sweet itch is caused by an allergy and affects the mane and tail. Ringworm is a fungal infection that can be passed on to other animals and humans. Warbels cause a painful swelling on the back and are caused by the warble fly maggot. Skin allergies can be due to something the horse eats or to its bedding. Other skin diseases include mud fever, cracked heels and nettle rash.

 

 

Every horse whether or not it is working should have an annual veterinary check. For horses doing general riding and harness work, the vet will check the heart - listening to the rhythm of the heart beat as well as the number of heartbeats per minute. He or she will also assess the horse's lungs, looking for signs of congestion, possibly as a result of infection or allergy. Other checks will include looking at the condition of the hooves, eyes, and coat, and the way in which the horse moves - any stiffness could indicate arthritis.