Category: Equids

𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 species are long, thread-like worms that live within the abdominal cavity of many species.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 is a mysterious disease that causes 𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬 (rapid onset liver inflammation) in horses. Ultimately, this disease results in severe liver failure.

𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 is a viral disease caused by a 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐬. This disease is highly transmissible with no known treatment, and infected horses will carry the virus for the rest of their lives. Therefore, prevention of this disease is critical!

𝐇𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬 are aggregates of the nutrient fluid found within the placenta that are a 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 in many species. However, they look kind of weird, and can scare producers if they aren’t aware of them!

Today’s case is of a 16 year old gelding who presented for lameness in both front feet.

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 are collections of 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥 that form large, tumour-like nodules. We most commonly see these in the brain!

𝐓𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 is more properly known as 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐲𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬. In this condition, exercise causes rapid degeneration of the muscle fibers, which can be extremely painful!

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧 is an 𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞, which are common feed additives found in ruminant diets that helps promote growth. However, these compounds are 𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐞-𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 toxins, meaning that having too much is a bad thing!

𝐑𝐚𝐠𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭 plants contain the toxin 𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞, which causes liver damage. Other plant species that contain this toxin include 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 (rattleweed) and 𝐀𝐦𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐚 (tarweed).

𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 is a common type of clover found throughout North America, that is associated with liver disease in horses. Alsike clover’s scientific name is 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐡𝐲𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐦.