The Most Common Horse Health Problems

If your horse is sick then chances are it is one of the few most common problems. While anything could happen, you should check for the most obvious problems first and then consult your veterinarian. Whether you’re deciding when to administer horse wormers to your horse, or you think your horse might have a more serious problem, it’s important to check signs and symptoms and fix the issue as quickly as possible.

Colic

Colic can include a variety of digestive problems in the horse’s stomach and unfortunately all of them can be fatal. Horses have weak digestive tracks and any incident of colic should be dealt with immediately in order to prevent fatality. Severe colic usually results in blockage or twisting of the entrails which will usually require surgery to fix, and not all horses survive. Watch for signs of bloating, signs of pain such as clenching the teeth, staring or nipping at the sides, pawing the ground constantly or standing with legs splayed out from the body.

Parasites

Parasites are one of the most common health problems in horses and most horses will have them at several periods during their lifetime. It is important to use horse wormers such as Equest Pramox or similar on a regular schedule to keep your horse from being infected. Try asking your vet about a good worming schedule and then looking for equine wormers online to save money.

Heaves

Heaves is sort of like a horse’s version of asthma because it will cause difficulty breathing. The technical term for the problem is ROA (Recurrent Obstructed Airways) and is usually caused by an allergic reaction to airborne particles such as mould spores in hay. Horses with heaves will have difficulty breathing after exertion and might be short of breath, cough up phlegm, or have bulging muscles under the ribs. You can prevent heaves by keeping your horse outside as much as possible and making sure that the stable or barn is kept as clean and dry as possible to limit airborne particles that could cause heaves.

Hoof Problems

Hoof problems are very common in horses. Problems range from laminitis (or inflammation) to dry rot in the hoof. Most hoof problems can be solved by regularly clipping and cleaning a horse’s hooves. Keeping a hoof pick handy to pick mud and debris out of hooves and keeping the ground dry can prevent most rot. Keeping hooves trimmed will usually prevent ingrown hooves. Unfortunately laminitis can be more difficult to prevent as studies show that it can actually be caused by eating too much grain or stress.

No matter what the problem is, it is very important to have your horse checked out by a veterinarian. Some equine health problems can be quite serious and even parasites can prove fatal if not treated with horse wormers in time. Remember to always ask a vet, and to act as quickly as possible to solve health problems.

Horse owners should worm their horses 4 to 6 times per year. You can purchase horse wormers online to save money or to find the wormers that you want.