Tis the Season...for Equine Botulism

For most people, autumn is the time for falling leaves and unpacking warm clothes.

Unfortunately for horse vets it is also time to start keeping an eye out for botulism cases. Botulism is a very serious and potentially deadly disease that all horse owners should be aware of and vaccinate against. Please read this blog post carefully and share with your horsey friends, even if you have never come across a horse suffering from botulism. I am always very sad when I am faced with a horse that is dying from a case of this disease, and the most common thing I hear from owners is that no one ever told them about botulism, so they had no idea it could be so lethal. By sharing a little bit of knowledge on the disease, hopefully more people can be made aware and save more equine lives.

These Are a Few of My Favorite (Horse) Things!

A Short List of Equine-Related Items that I Couldn’t Do Without

I will start by saying that I don’t have a professional relationship with any of the companies listed, aside from being an “affiliate” with Fly Predators (although I would be quite open to discussing sponsorship or advertising if anyone were interested!).

Tips and Tricks from an Equine Veterinarian:

A Few Things to Make Horse-keeping Easier

First of all, I am sorry to have missed a few weeks of blogging; I have been very busy at work! I will try to stick to a schedule from now on. I thought I would write a more casual blog today, just to share some of the things I have learned over the years that have helped me in my work with horses. There are some tips and also some information that is useful to know when being around horses. Most of these things come up almost weekly in discussions with my clients, so hopefully you will find them helpful. Here goes!

Gastric Ulceration in Horses---The Root of All Equine Evil?

Stomach (gastric) ulcers in horses has been a hot topic for the last few years, and for good reason. Recent research has indicated that many more horses are suffering from this condition than previously thought. Also, the finding that even backyard, non-performance horses have ulcers is surprising to most people, since the misconception in the past was that only high-stress horses such as racehorses and those showing often had problems with gastric ulcers. It is estimated that between 50 and 90% of horses have ulcers, depending on the class of horse, and even foals can suffer from them.

Anterior Enteritis---"But I've Never Heard of That Kind of Colic!"

Anterior enteritis (AE), also known as gastroduodenojejunitis or proximal duodenitis-jejunitis, is a confusing diagnosis for horse owners to understand. It is also difficult for veterinarians to explain, because we don't have all the answers as to why this condition occurs! Anterior enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine

Colic in Horses: What Does it Actually Mean?

Healing a Horse Suffering from Colic with Old Wine and Olive Oil (1271 C.E.)

The word “colic” is one that strikes fear in the minds of many horsepeople. Most owners will have dealt with it at some point, either with their own horse or with that of an acquaintance at the barn, but their experiences will vary depending on the exact diagnosis. What does “colic” actually mean, though? It probably means different things in the minds of different people.

Transporting Your Horse By The Rules

What requirements have to be met and what documentation do you need to move your horse this year?