Epileptic Seizures Much like in humans, horses suffer from epilepsy. And although equine epilepsy may not be the most common of horse afflictions, it is one that horse owners should

Cryptorchidism in Horses Cryptorchidism is the failure of one or both testes to descend into a normal scrotal position from the abdominal cavity after birth. Cryptorchidism may not be apparent

Anhidrosis in Horses Anhidrosis is defined as the inability to sweat. This problem in horses usually develops over time but can occur acutely. Since horses depend on their ability to

Traumatic Brain Injury in Horses Brain trauma, concussions, and other brain injuries are relatively uncommon among horses and usually are a result of severe trauma such as a fall, kick

Boil A boil, the result of an infection in the skin, is similar to an abscess. It starts out as a small bump and grows over time to become a

Failure of Deciduous Caps to Shed in Horses From the first to fourth years of life of a horse, the permanent teeth begin to grow in, but in order for

Cholecalciferol Poisoning in Horses Cholicalciferol (vitamin D3) is the active ingredient in many types of rat poison. A high dose of cholicalciferol will cause a destabilization of calcium in the

Abortion in Mares It is not uncommon for horses to experience spontaneous abortions (miscarriages). A variety of medical reasons can cause this reaction, many of which depend on the gestational

Atropa Belladonna Intoxication in Horses There are a whole host of wild plants that have been found to be poisonous to horses. One of the more common and especially toxic

Borna Disease in Horses Borna is a viral disease that occurs in horses (and other warm-blooded animals). First discovered in horses in Germany, it is predominantly a disease found in

Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy   Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM) is an illness that affects the skeletal and muscular systems in many of the stockier horse breeds. Among those breeds

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) is a type of muscle disorder that is normally found in the American Quarter Horse breed. Initially, the disease seems has similar symptoms

Environmental Toxins Most instances of lead poisoning in horses occur when they have grazed on pastures that have been contaminated with industrial waste, which is known to contain a great

This Common Shrub is Highly Fatal to Horses The laurel plant is a common shrub, mainly found in the Southeastern United Sates in open wooded areas, mountainous areas, and in

Nephritis in Horses Nephritis, inflammation of the kidneys, is relatively rare overall in the equine population. In most cases, nephritis does not affect adult horses, as their immune systems are

Endotoxemia in Horses The presence of endotoxins in the blood is referred to as endotoxemia. These toxins are generally due to the presence of certain types of bacteria in the

Equine Hernia A hernia is one of many afflictions that can affect foals during birth. There are two types of hernia that a foal can suffer from, both of which

Liver Inflammation in Horses Hepatitis is defined as inflammation of the liver. A vital organ that performs numerous metabolic functions that are necessary for life, much of the liver can

Head Shaking Syndrome in Horses Severe head shaking in horses is a pathological behavior. While some head shaking is a normal behavior, such as in a tool to escape insects

Ankylosis in Horses Ankylosis is the term for when a damaged joint has become fused, usually as a result of chronic or severe joint disease. When a joint ankyloses, it

Botulism    Botulism is a serious paralytic illness caused by toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is normally associated with the ingestion of spoiled vegetative matter while grazing,

Infection Anemia in Horses Sometimes referred to as horse malaria or swamp fever, Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a virus that causes destruction of the horse’s red blood cells, causing

Eyelid Folding Inwards in Horses Entropion is a condition of the eye that is seen in neonatal foals where their eyelids fold inward and press against their cornea. Entropion may

Coprophagy in Horses Coprophagy, by definition, is simply the act of eating dung, or feces. Usually seen in young foals, coprophagy (or dirt-eating, as it is commonly called) is generally

Intestinal Clostridiosis   Intestinal clostridiosis is a disease which causes severe diarrhea in horses. It was not made official or researched much until the 1970s, when Swedish and American workers

Cysts, in general, do not normally affect a great deal of horses. There are many different types of cysts, depending on their origin and where they are located on the

Bladder Inflammation in Horses Cystitis, though typically uncommon in horses, is inflammation in the bladder. It is not often outwardly apparent that the bladder is inflamed, but there are other