Category: Equids

𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬 are the most commonly diagnosed tumour of horses! They occur in the skin, and generally are pretty harmless. There are 6 recognized types, ranging from a hairless patch of skin to large, aggressive masses.

𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢 is a bacteria that is commonly found in the soil and in horse manure. It is considered a 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 pathogen, meaning it needs to invade into host cells in order to survive.

𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚 is a particular form of 𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚 (tumour affecting the lymphocytes, a component of the immune system) that affects the skin. Typically, the animal presents with large masses or nodules throughout the affected area.

The 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 are all viruses of the Togoviridae family, and they all cause inflammation in the brain. There are three viruses we think of in this group, Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE), Western equine encephalitis virus (WEE) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE).

𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐬 are mineralized rocks that can be found in the colon of horses. They are typically made up of 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞, and can weigh up to 10kg!! They typically have a smooth, spherical appearance.

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 is a type of 𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐝, or roundworm, that affects the intestine of horses. These worms can get up to 50cm long!

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is a condition of the lungs in horses, which is similar to human asthma. In this disease, the airways are sensitive to allergens, causing them to constrict and prevent airflow through the lung. In chronic cases, the airways may also become obstructed by overproduction of mucus, or thickening of the airway walls.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 are one of the many causes of colic in horses. In this condition, there is a 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐨𝐦𝐚 (a benign tumour of fat) that is 𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 (a long stalk with a mass on the end). Thanks to this long stalk, the mass can ends up wrapped around a piece of intestine, causing 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (complete loss of blood supply).

𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐬 larvae are the most common parasites of the equine stomach. There are six different species that can affect horses, but the most common ones are 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬 and 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬. In their adult form, these flies are frequently seen buzzing around livestock.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 are tumours of granulosa cells, which are the cells of the ovary that produce hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone. These tumours are often huge by the time they are detected, frequently replacing the whole ovary!