Horses are sensitive animals who often suffer from a variety of diseases and ailments. Fortunately, horses are also susceptible to a number of preventative measures. If you take good care of your horse, their health won’t suffer as much as it could with poor management or improper care.
In this article, we’ll discuss the most common equine diseases and how to treat them. We’ll go over the symptoms and severity of each disease, risk factors involved in contracting them, and recommended treatments for each condition.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a condition in which a patient suffers from seizures or intermittent seizures. Horses suffering from epilepsy often suffer from repetitive, rhythmic jerking movements caused by seizures. These seizures can be due to a number of factors, including epilepsy, trauma, infection, metabolic disorders, and certain medications such as phenobarbital.
Epilepsy is a hereditary disorder. This means it’s present in the majority of your horse’s bloodline. If you don’t know your horse’s family history, it’s a good idea to get a complete pedigree. If you’re in the equine medical field and need to rule out epilepsy as the cause of seizures in your horse, you’ll need to rule out other possible causes, such as trauma and metabolic disorders.
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)
Myeloencephalitis (ME) is a serious and sometimes fatal disease of horses that affects the brain and spinal cord. EPM is caused by a protozoan infection, and it’s highly contagious between horses. Because this disease can be fatal, it’s important to isolate any sick horses and treat them with strong antifungal medications as soon as possible. If a horse catches this disease, they’ll suffer from fever, lethargy, seizures, and a decreased appetite.
They may also have a thickened tongue, diarrhea, and an enlarged spleen. If your horse catches this disease, they should be treated with an antifungal such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, or miconazole. It’s also a good idea to give your horse an equine anti-inflammation supplement such as Equine-Lyds. This will help decrease the chances of your horse developing a dangerous case of blood-stream-clogging inflammation.
Equine Syncope
Syncope is a condition in which a patient suffers from a temporary loss of consciousness caused by blood pooling in their lower part of the body. This can lead to a loss of muscle control and the collapse of the patient.
For example, your horse could collapse from the knees down if they were to faint from the waist down. The most common causes of syncope are heart-valve abnormalities, high blood pressure, and drugs. Heart-valve abnormalities can be caused by mild to severe murmurs. If your horse suffers from a mild murmur, they may be able to manage the issue by resting, eating a low-carbohydrate diet, and drinking plenty of fluids. If your horse suffers from a moderate or severe murmur, they may need to undergo heart surgery.
High blood pressure can also cause syncope, particularly in obese horses. If your horse suffers from high blood pressure, give them Equinutrol to help lower their blood pressure and prevent syncope. Drugs that are known to cause syncope include the antidepressants bupropion and citalopram, the diuretic torfemil, and the muscle relaxants etizolam and etomidate.
Equine Trichomoniasis (ECT)
Equine trichomoniasis causes an infection in the horse’s reproductive tract, most commonly in the uterus, oviduct, and vagina. This infection is caused by a parasite called a treponema. The organism can infect a horse in a number of ways, including through contact with an infected horse, contaminated food, contaminated water, or by contact with human feces.
Unfortunately, you can’t see or smell the organism that causes this infection, so it’s important to treat the horse for ECT even if the only symptom they have is a vaginal discharge. This infection is treated with an antibiotic such as penicillin, gentamicin, or fosfomycin. It’s important to note that this infection can be passed to humans, so be sure to make sure humans don’t come into contact with your infected horse.
Equine Tremor and Stereophotoration (EST)
Equine tremors are a condition that causes twitching of the muscles in the horse’s head. This is often accompanied by a stereotypical, rhythmic head bobbing. Tremors are a result of neurotransmitters in the brain being released too quickly, causing uncontrollable muscle contractions.
There are several ways to treat tremors in your horse. Some veterinarians recommend using a botanical supplement, while others recommend using botanicals to treat the underlying cause, such as low magnesium levels. Another effective treatment is a combination of amino acids such as L-theanine, sponges, and garlic.
Exocrine and endocrine disorders
Exocrine and endocrine disorders are a group of diseases that affect the reproductive and gastrointestinal systems in the horse. They’re often the result of an underlying illness or injury. For example, exocrine disorders are often the result of a bacterial infection, such as cholera.
Endocrine disorders, on the other hand, are often caused by hormonal imbalances. These disorders can affect any organ of the body. Endocrine disorders are often treated with replacement hormones, though some endocrine disorders, such as Cushing’s disease, can’t be treated.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders are a group of disorders that affect the stomach, intestines, and bowels of a horse. These disorders can be caused by an underlying illness, such as ulcers, or they can be caused by an injury, such as colic. Treatment for gastrointestinal disorders can include medications, gut healing supplements, and dietary changes, depending on the cause of the disorder.
Genito-Urinary Syndrome (GUS) and Urogenital Disorder (UGD)
Genito-urinary syndrome and urogenital disorders are a group of conditions that affect the reproductive and urinary systems in a horse. These disorders are often caused by an underlying illness or injury, though some can be inherited.
Immunological Disorders
Immunological disorders are a group of diseases that affect the immune system in the horse. These disorders can be caused by an underlying illness or injury. Treatment can include medications, gut healing supplements, and dietary changes, depending on the cause of the disorder.
Neurologic Disorders
Neurologic disorders are a group of diseases that affect the neurological system in the horse. These disorders can be caused by an underlying illness or injury. Treatment can include medications, gut healing supplements, and dietary changes, depending on the cause of the disorder.
Obesity-Related Disorders
Obesity is a dangerous condition in horses that can cause a wide variety of disorders in the horse. Some of the most common disorders caused by obesity are insulin resistance and hyperadrenocorticism (HHC). HHC is a syndrome in which the adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of cortisol, which can lead to a number of health problems in the horse including obesity, diabetes, and poor fertility. Obesity can also lead to a number of other disorders, such as osteoarthritis, chronic bronchitis, and colic.
