common Horse diseases: how can help?

Wild horses must always live in fear of predators and can therefore not afford to show weaknesses, otherwise, they are an easy target for their enemies. So it is sometimes difficult for us to recognize diseases at first glance with our domestic horses. 

Does your horse hit its stomach with its hooves, is it restless and keeps lying down? Does it tend to wheeze more intensely, sweat a lot, and look around at its stomach more often? Then it is likely that he is suffering from colic. 

The term "colic" initially describes abdominal pain symptoms and is not a specific disease with a clear cause.

Possible triggers for abdominal pain are, for example, cramps, constipation, or flatulence. 

psychological stress - for example, from transports, tournaments, or ranking battles - can also result in colic. Abdominal pain does not always have to indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The urinary system or the genital organs can also cause problems.

Unfortunately, based on the behavioral changes that occur, it is not possible to reliably assess how big your horse's problems really are. That can only be clarified through a thorough investigation. So if you suspect your horse may have colic, call a veterinarian immediately. 

Only he can make the diagnosis and recommend the correct therapy. Until the vet is on-site, supervise your horse and cover him with a light blanket if he should sweat.

The sweet itch: itchy plague

An allergic reaction causes a sweet itch. The horses affected by the allergy react primarily to the female blackfly's bites and sometimes to other insects as well. The stings cause an uncomfortable itch. Horses try to prevent the itching by scrubbing in different places whenever possible. 

The main damage is the skin and hair in the area of ​​the mane and tail. In addition, the constant pushing makes the itching even worse. Over time, rubbing creates bald, scaly patches that develop into open, weeping wounds when scratched. Basically, there is no patent remedy for sweet itch. Rather, it is necessary to avoid contact with the allergy triggers, the insects strictly. 

Eczema blankets for grazing and staying in the stable during twilight, the unloved pests' main flight time, help here.

Lameness: One Symptom, Many Causes

Lameness is a symptom rather than a causal "illness." Depending on the appearance, the veterinarian speaks of a "support leg lameness" (the animal does not load the legs evenly).

 In the case of "hang leg lameness," the leg's demonstration phase is noticeably changed. The stride length is then usually shorter than normal. In either case, the horse is extremely painful to step on.

The lame can have very different reasons, e.g.

- joint inflammation

- tendon injuries

- Sehnenscheiden- or bursitis

- muscle tears

- laminitis

- Hufabzess

- Huflederhautentzündungen

- damage to the skeleton

If you are not quite sure whether your horse is limping or walking differently, then have the animal shown to you first at a walk, if it is not abnormal, at a trot, preferably on hard ground (for example, on asphalt). You can often hear whether the horse is running in time.

 If you still can't see it, switch to soft ground, for example, the indoor arena. You can also ask the person leading the horse to do a small circle. With some lameness, it becomes clearer which leg is affected. 

The exact diagnosis is one of the tasks of a veterinarian. For example, he can use x-rays and ultrasound, or other methods to find out what is causing the lameness.

Cough: A serious warning sign

 

Like us, horses can catch colds or suffer from allergies. The most common respiratory diseases include infections, parasite infestation, or chronic respiratory diseases such as RAO (Recurrent Airway Obstruction) or COB (chronic obstructive bronchitis), which in the worst case can lead to dizziness. 

Especially when horses spend a lot of time in dusty stalls, chronic respiratory problems such as coughs and dust allergies often arise.

Colds mainly occur when there is insufficient coverage in winter or when horses only rarely go out to pasture in winter and struggle with the "unfamiliar" temperature fluctuations associated with them. 

On the other hand, animals kept in open stalls suffer significantly less from respiratory problems because they are often in the fresh air and have sufficient opportunity to adjust to the seasons' temperature changes.

By the way: Compared to humans, horses need a much stronger stimulus to cough. This means that every cough from a horse should be a warning sign to the owner.

If your horse has caught a cold, cold medication prescribed by the vet, such as expectorants, can help.

 In the case of chronic problems, good stable management is crucial: instead of straw, wood shavings should be sprinkled, and only wet hay should be fed.

Dust exposure by straw storage near the box is to be avoided. Access to plenty of fresh air and exercise outdoors are important. Symptoms of respiratory diseases are:

⦁ A slimy nasal discharge.

⦁ Increased breathing rate.

⦁ Weakness.

⦁ Possibly fever or unwillingness to eat.

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