Health Topics

Health Topics

Picture of a sialolith that was surgically removed from a horse

Sialolithiasis

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Carrie Finno
Sialolithiasis is the formation of salivary stones (sialoliths).
A horse with sidewinder syndrome walking away from the camera with its hind limbs drifting to the right.

Sidewinder Syndrome in Horses

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Monica Aleman
Sidewinder syndrome causes a horse's hind limbs to drift to one side.
Close up of the back of a dark bay horse.

Silicate Associated Osteoporosis (SAO)

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Sue Stover
Silicate associated osteoporosis (SAO) is a bone fragility syndrome characterized by extensive bone loss and remodeling.
Rider and horse kicking up dust while trotting in an arena.

Silicosis

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Sue Stover
Silicosis is a respiratory condition caused by inhaling silica dust.
Close up of a gray horse looking to the right

Strangles

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Nicola Pusterla
Strangles is a highly contagious disease of the equine upper respiratory tract.
Horse with the acquired form of stringhalt

Stringhalt (Equine Reflex Hypertonia)

  • by Amy Young, Dr. Scott Katzman, and Dr. Carrie Finno
Stringhalt causes a gait abnormality characterized by involuntary, exaggerated upward movement of one or both of the hindlimbs.
horse with summer sore on lip

Summer Sores

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Stephen White
Summer sores, also known as habronemiasis, are a parasitic disease of equids linked to the life cycles of stomach worms.
bay horse head

Temporohyoid Osteoarthropathy (THO)

  • by Amy Young, Dr. Monica Aleman, and Dr. Carrie Finno
Temporohyoid osteoarthopathy (THO) results in bone thickening and fusion of the temporohyoid joint to the skull, potentially causing pain and nerve deficits.
horse at fence in field

Tetanus

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Carrie Finno
Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease characterized by muscular spasms caused by a bacterial neurotoxin.
horse with tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Carrie Finno
Tetralogy of Fallot is a set of four cardiovascular defects that affect the flow of blood through the heart.
Horse tilting head

Trigeminal-mediated Headshaking

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Monica Aleman
Trigeminal-mediated headshaking is characterized by uncontrollable shaking, flicking, or jerking of the head, sometimes violently, without any apparent cause.
horse grazing at dusk

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE)

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Carrie Finno
Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) is a viral, vector-borne disease in horses and humans that causes inflammation of the brain.
close up of grey horse muzzle

Vesicular Stomatitis

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Carrie Finno
Vesicular stomatitis is a contagious viral disease that causes lesions in and around the mouth.
Bay horse in pen weaving to one side

Weaving in Horses

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Carrie Finno
Weaving is a stereotypy in which horses move their head and neck side-to-side.
Swarm of mosquitoes

West Nile Virus

  • by Amy Young and Dr. Carrie Finno
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that affects humans, horses, and other animals.
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