Pigeon Fever is Back This Fall
Pigeon Fever, the disease that causes swollen chests and pus filled abscesses is prominent this fall throughout the bay area.
New Information about the Snotty Nose – Respiratory Infections in Horses
A snotty nose, a cough, a fever and poor appetite all signs that your horse is developing a respiratory infection. It can derail your pleasure riding, training and competition, or travel plans with your horse.
Vaccine Recommendations for Your Horse
Vaccination recommendations include Encephalitis, Tetanus, Strangles, Rabies, Botulism, Equine Viral Arteritis, Potomac Horse Fever, Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis and West Nile Virus.
De-Worming Your Horse
he leading cause of premature death in horses is colic. The leading cause of colic is parasites. All horses are regularly infected with parasites. Colic is a broad term for abdominal pain that can range from a little gas to full blown twisted intestine.
Understanding Pigeon Fever
Pigeon Fever is a disease that seems to be unique to California and Texas. This disease causes abscesses to form. The bacteria involved is called Corynebacteria Pseudo tuberculosis. There are two reasons that it goes by the name Pigeon Fever.
West Nile Virus Has Reached California
West Nile Virus is a viral brain infection that came to the United States in 1999. It causes severe neurological symptoms and kills over 30% of horses that contract it.
What Do Horses See?
Vision is a complex process that involves not only the eye focusing and detecting light that may vary in intensity, but also the brain interpreting what the eye is sensing.
Trailering On Long Distance Trips
There are several things to consider when transporting your horse for long periods of time and large distances. First, if you are crossing state lines you will need to have a health certificate.
Colic Risk Factors
Colic is the biggest cause of premature death in horses. It shows up unexpectedly. A horse can be fine in the morning and critically ill by evening. Several studies have looked at risk factors in cases of colic.
Treatment Approaches for Equine Melanomas
Melanomas are tumors that tend to be found in the skin of grey horses. Typically they are dark brown or black firm raised areas. They are the third most common skin tumors in horses following Sarcoids and Squamous Cell Carcinomas.
Ear Plaques and Sarcoid Tumors
Skin conditions are common issues in equine practice. Among those brought to my attention are Ear Plaques and Sarcoid Tumors.
Cribbing and Wind Sucking
During wind sucking or cribbing horses grab a fixed surface with the upper teeth, arch their necks, and suck in air. Cribbing and wood chewing are frequently the same.
Dental Care: Floating, Hooks, Loose Teeth, and Wolf Teeth
Dental problems are a challenging and important part of routine care and medical care in equine practice. Floating, the routine filing of horses' teeth every year to year and a half maximizes a horse's ability to chew his food and respond to the bit.
Hypothyroidism
Is your horse always a little lethargic. Does it have a cresty neck. Has it foundered? These are among the signs of a hormone deficiency known as hypothyroidism.
Keeping Weight on the Older Horse
This is a problem I never thought I would face as a veterinarian. A horse that won't eat enough? Come on. You must be kidding. Yet very frequently I am asked to look at an older horse who just cannot keep his weight up.