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John Higdon
Erin Schubach
8th Grade Research
9 May 2014
Common Equine Illnesses
Many people do not understand the common illnesses that can affect the equine family. A
horse owner should learn as much as possible about how to prevent common illnesses in their
horses. A horse owner should also be aware of how to spot symptoms and how to treat the
illness. Some of the most common illnesses that affect equines are colic, laminitis, strangles, and
equine infectious anemia.
Colic is one of the most common medical conditions in horses. It includes all forms of
gastrointestinal conditions which cause abdominal pain. There are many different causes of colic
and it can result in death. It is very important for horse owners to know the signs of colic and to
recognize when a veterinarian should be called.
Colic can be caused by many different factors. A change in weather, feeding, or
overexertion can cause a horse to colic. A sudden change in the quantity or type of feed given to
a horse can cause colic. Moldy feed can also make horses colic. Horses with bad eating habits
like cribbing are prone to colic (University of Kentucky). Colic can occur in horses that do not
drink enough water. Another common cause of colic is internal parasites. Migrating stronyle
larvae damage blood vessels in the intestines, decreasing blood supply which leads to necrosis,
decreased motility and pain (Kellon). When the horse has been given a de-wormer, the dewormer kills the parasites and may cause impaction in the intestines (University of Kentucky).
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Other obstructions in the intestines that cause colic include spoiled silage, a foreign object, or
ingested sand. Colic can also arise from infections in the body, like rabies, pleurisy, and
dermatitis (University of Kentucky).
Horses show many signs when they start to colic. It is important for the horse owner to
know the normal behavior of their horse so they can tell when something is wrong. Some
common signs of mild colic include: pawing, kicking or biting at the abdomen, uneasiness, and
loss of interest in food and water. The absence of abdominal sounds is also a characteristic of a
horse with colic. Signs of severe colic include: rolling, sitting down like a dog, lying on its back,
red coloration of gums and eyes. The horse may have a decrease in fecal output when it is
suffering from colic. The severity of the symptoms will depend on how the horse is treated.
Treatment of colic is determined by how mild or severe the symptoms are in the horse.
Mild colic can be treated by the horse owner. The owner can walk the horse to help prevent
rolling and subsequent intestinal twisting (Kellon). This will allow the horse to defecate which
will relieve the pressure in the intestines. If symptoms are severe, then the horse owner should
contact a veterinarian. The veterinarian may give the horse a pain reliever or laxatives. The vet
may also treat the horse with mineral oil and fluids if the colic is caused by impaction. This
softens the feed ball so it can move through the tract. Grain and hay should be withheld until the
oil is passing through the manure. The horse should be given plenty of water. A horse that does
not respond to this treatment may end up having to go to a clinic for surgery.
Preventing colic is the best way to make sure your horse stays healthy. Exercise and good
dental care are the best preventions for impaction colic. Water is essential to preventing colic.
Horses should have access to clean water at all times. It is important to establish a daily feeding
schedule and stick to it. Horses should have access to roughage continuously. If a horse owner
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needs to change the type of feed or hay given to their horse, they need to gradually switch over
by adding increasing amounts of the new feed and decreasing amounts of the old feed. In sandy
areas, it is a good idea to provide feed in a feeder and not directly on the ground. It is also
important to have a regular worming schedule. You should keep items such as string, rubber,
and nylon out of the reach of the horse. These objects can cause an obstruction in the horse’s
intestinal tract.
Colic is a common yet serious equine illness. If left untreated it can be fatal to the animal.
Colic is not to be taken lightly, and it should never go untreated. Colic can be treated and
preventative measures can be taken by the owner, but in more severe case the owner should
contact their veterinarian.
Laminitis is a common and very painful condition affecting the feet of horses. (Equine
Natural Therapy). Laminitis often called founder is caused by infection in the laminae (small
flaps of tissue inside the hoof). Laminitis affects the feet of a horse; sometimes it only affects one
or sometimes all of the feet. Laminitis mostly affects the front feet of a horse.
The exact mechanisms that cause laminitis are not yet determined. Many causes have
been found; they often begin at organs away from the hooves. The classic case of founder
involves an overweight horse or pony with a good appetite and access to lush pasture.(Equine
Natural Therapy) Laminitis can be due to digestive upsets from abrupt changes in diet, feed
overload, or toxins released in the horses system. Laminitis can also be due to severe colic.
A foundered horse will have many obvious symptoms. Horses with founder will be
reluctant or have a hesitant gait similar to a limp. They will often lean backward to relieve
pressure on the toe. A “sawhorse stance” with the front feet stretched out in front to alleviate
pressure on the toes and the hind feet stretched “camped out” or positioned further back further
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than normal to bear more weight.(Equine Natural Therapy) Sometimes if the pain is severe
enough the horse will lie down to escape pain. Generally in a foundered horse there will be a
noticeable increase in pulse to the hoof.
When a horse is suspected of having laminitis immediate medical attention or advice
should be sought. Many treatments are available. The sooner treatment begins the better chance
of recovery the horse will have. Treatment may include dietary restrictions and or removal of any
other relevant factors. You can also provide a soft pad or soft surface for the horse to lie on.
Encouraging the horse to lie down will decrease pressure on the laminae and promote healing.
Opening and draining abscesses that develop will help treat the problem. Cooperation between
the veterinarian and farrier would bring several views forward as to how you should go about
treatment. Techniques that may be helpful include corrective trimming, frog supports, and
therapeutic shoes or pads. (Equine Natural Therapy)
Extra care is recommended for any horse that has suffered from laminitis. Appropriate
and well balanced diet, restricted access to feed, and access to mineral supplements and some
hay are recommended measures to prevent founder. Regular exercise and monitoring of weight
and body condition also aid in the prevention of founder. Consider adding a founder preventative
feed agent if risk of foundering occurring is high. Routine hoof care and therapeutic shoeing is a
good preventative measure. Founder may result in the horse having to be euthanized.
Laminitis is a serious yet treatable condition. If your horse acquires laminitis immediate
treatment is recommended. A horse that has had laminitis will require extra care, but
preventative measures can be taken. Founder is a serious condition but if treated correctly it can
be fixed. Laminitis is not to be taken lightly. It can result in the death of a horse. Founder is easy
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to treat if proper steps are taken during treatment. Farrier veterinarian cooperation is necessary to
ensure proper treatment. Laminitis is a very common yet severely painful condition.
Equine strangles is another very serious and contagious illness. Strangles can kill or
render the horse severely ill. It is an extremely infectious and easily transmitted disease. This
disease is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus Equi. (Prescott) Strangles is most common
in young horses under 5 years of age, but can affect horses of all ages. Transmission of the
disease can be direct or indirect contact with susceptible animals.
There are several signs a horse owner notices in their horse when it has strangles. The
horse will have a high fever that comes on rapidly. You may notice depression in your horse.
The horse may also have some nasal discharge. The horse will have a decrease in appetite and
difficulty swallowing. This is due to the fact that the horse’s lymph nodes are swollen, if the
disease progresses, then the lymph nodes may abscess. (Prescott)
Diagnosis is made by culturing a swab from abscessed lymph nodes or from the nasal,
pharynx, and guttural pouch of effected horses. (Prescott) Several cultures may be needed to
prevent any false negatives early in the infection. Sometimes blood work is necessary to find out
if a horse has strangles. A positive strangles blood test will indicate high white blood cell count,
elevated fibrinogen, and high neutrophil count. (Equine Strangles) Endoscopies also can give a
positive answer as to if your horse has strangles.
Strangles can be treated with antibiotics, but some veterinarians disagree because using
antibiotics can harm the development of antibodies. Strangles disease is highly susceptible to
penicillin. It is one of the most common drugs used to treat Strangles. Naxcel is another popular
antibiotic used. If antibiotic treatment is started after lymph node enlargement, the disease is
often just arrested and will again progress when antibiotics are discontinued. (True) Banimine is
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a great drug to reduce inflammation and pain. Draining an abscess is necessary to the treatment
and recovery of the horse. Treatment should last at least ten to fourteen days if not more. During
treatment the horse should be well rested and have adequate shelter. Easy to swallow food such
as soaked or mash feeds should be fed to encourage eating. Water should be available at all
times.
There is a vaccination for the Streptococcus Equi bacteria. Giving the strangles vaccine is
considered to be a risk. The vaccine should only be given to horses at risk of having the strangles
disease. The vaccine can be administered in the face of an outbreak.(True) New vaccines are
being developed, and tested. Administering S. Equi with intramuscular vaccinations can result in
abscessing. (True)
When an outbreak occurs you should immediately isolate all of the infected animals.
Whenever an animal is infected it should be isolated and seen by a veterinarian. Isolated animals
should have adequate shelter and food. Isolation is the best way to prevent the outbreak from
going further. By quarantining your other animals from horses from other farms you can prevent
other horses from getting infected.
Quarantine, vaccination, and abscess drainage are great ways to prevent strangles.
Strangles is a very dangerous disease it can be fatal if not treated immediately. It is very
important to contact a veterinarian to get an expert opinion, and to run the proper tests to get a
positive identification. The strangles virus needs rigorous care and treatment to get rid of it.
Draining an abscess is a great way to speed up healing. Soft food is good encouragement to get
the horse to eat. Fresh water should always be provided as well as adequate shelter. Quarantine
also prevents further outbreak of the disease.
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Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a viral disease that can devastate an equine population.
EIA is caused by equine infectious anemia virus, a lent virus in the family Retroviridae (Iowa
State University). EIA is a potentially fatal disease and has been found nearly worldwide
(Virginia Tech). EIA infected horses remain infected for life and many never show signs of the
disease. These animals can still transmit the disease to other equines.
Equine Infectious Anemia is mainly transmitted from horse to horse by biting insects
such as horseflies. The bites of these flies are painful, and the horse’s reaction interrupts the
flies’ feeding. (Iowa State University) After being interrupted, the fly attempts to resume
feeding either on the same animal or another nearby animal. This can result in the transfer of
infected blood from one animal to another. The virus can also be transferred in blood
transfusions or contaminated needles, surgical instruments, and teeth float (Iowa State
University). EIA may also be passed from a mare to her foal through the placenta or colostrum
(Washington State Department of Agriculture).
Symptoms of EIA will vary from horse to horse, and some horses may not show any
signs at all. Owners may not know that animal carries the virus until it is tested. Symptoms of
EIA include fever, depression, rapid weight loss, and decreased appetite (Washington State
Department of Agriculture). Equines may also have bloodshot eyes with watery discharge,
swelling of the legs, or a wobbly gait (Washington State Department of Agriculture). Some
equines will become gravely ill and may die.
There are three forms of equine infectious anemia: acute, chronic, and in apparent
(Washington State Department of Agriculture). Acute is characterized by a rapid onset of
symptoms and possible death. Chronic varies from remission to disease. In apparent carries the
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disease but does not show symptoms (Washington State Department of Agriculture). It is very
important to contact your veterinarian if you feel your horse may have this virus.
There are tests to determine whether the animal has equine infectious anemia. The most
common test is called a Coggins test. This test is required before transporting any equine. The
test detects the presence of EIA specific antibodies in the blood. (Washington State Department
of Agriculture) A positive test indicates that the equine has acquired the EIA virus. A negative
result indicates the horse does not have the EIA virus. However, if that horse has been exposed
to an infected horse then it should be retested in a few months. (Washington State Department of
Agriculture) Equines with EIA are euthanized, donated to a research facility, or permanently
isolated from other equine to prevent transmission.
There is no effective treatment or vaccination for EIA. You can help prevent the
spreading of EIA by disinfecting and sterilizing equipment or instruments between uses. You
should always use disposable needles and syringes when giving medication or vaccinating your
horses. You can protect your equine from biting insects by using fly spray on your animals.
Most countries require an owner to show proof of a negative Coggins test before the animal can
enter the county. Most states in America require a Coggins test before the horse can be entered
into an organized activity or before the horse can be sold. Regular testing of equine on farms, as
well as testing of new animals before introduction, is helpful in maintaining an EIA free herd.
(Iowa State University)
Equine infectious anemia is a deadly disease. If an animal gets this disease, the anima
may die or have to be quarantined for the rest of the its life. The EIA virus is untreatable and a
very dangerous disease. Therefore it is imperative to test your animals, and keep them away from
known carriers of the virus. Equine Infectious Anemia is a very contagious virus and should be
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kept under very serious watch. If not taken care of, your animal may die or be very sick for the
remainder of its life.
If you are planning to be a horse owner or already are learn as much as possible about horses.
Horses require a lot of work and it is necessary to learn all about the common illnesses, their
symptoms, and their treatments. Horse owners should learn how to troubleshoot problems and
see be able to spot symptoms of illness in their horse. Colic, laminitis, strangles, and EIA are
some of the most common equine illnesses.
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Ballarat, Nicky Stone. "Department of Primary Industries." Founder (Laminitis) in Horses. State
Government Victoria, July 2007. Web. 22 Sept. 2013
Beadle, Ralph E. "Treatment of Laminitis." Treatment of Laminitis. Louisiana State University,
n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2013.
"Equine Infectious Anemia." The Center for Food Security and Public Health. Iowa State
University, Aug. 2009. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
"Equine Medicine." Equine Medicine. University of Tennessee, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2013.
Hirtzel, Tamme. "Equine Infectious Anemia Facts." Washington
State Department of Agriculture. N.p., July 2002. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
House, Amanda M. "Content Tagged “Equine Medicine”." Large Animal Hospital. University of
Florida, 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 26 Sept. 2013.
Kellon, Eleanor. "Equine Colic." EquiSearch Equine Colic Comments. Equisearch, n.d. Web. 22
Sept. 2013.
"Laminitis or Founder." Laminitis or Founder. Centre of Equine Therapy, n.d. Web. 08
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"Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center." Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center.
Virginia Tech, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2013
"Treatment." Equine Strangles -. Equine Strangles, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2013.
University of Kentucky. "Animal Sciences." University of Kentucky Ag. University of Kentucky,
n.d Web. 22 Sept. 2013
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"What Is Equine Medicine & Surgery?" What Is Equine Medicine & Surgery? University of
Colorado, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2013.
Prescott, Dr. John. "Strangles in Horses." Strangles in Horses. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
True, Claudia. "What Are the Symptoms & Treatment for Horse Strangles?" What Are `the
Symptoms & Treatment for Horse Strangles? Pet Care Tips, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2014.