Kate Levasseur has researched on equine health and she is also a scholar student. She wants to generate awareness among peoples regarding health issues of horses.

1. Several Different
Serious Horse Health
Problems
By Acknowledged
Licensee Veteran Kate

2. Common Horse Health Problems
You love your horse, so you no doubt want him to live a
long and healthy life. To ensure this, you should
become familiar with some of the common ailments that
can affect horses.
In addition, establish a relationship with a local equine
vet as soon as you obtain your horse. Follow her advice
on deworming and vaccinations —these will depend on
your location because different diseases and parasites
are more common in some areas than others. Lastly,
observe your horse closely and learn what normal
behavior is for him. Abnormal behavior may be your first
clue that something is wrong. The sooner you detect a
problem, the sooner you can take steps to fix it.

3. Colic
Colic is actually not one condition; it is a catchall name for several
different serious digestive problems that commonly afflict
horses. Make no mistake: You must deal with suspected colic
immediately, as all forms can be fatal. The condition can be
caused by a blockage of the intestines (caused by improper
food, foreign objects, or other factors), excessive gas in the
intestines (usually caused by a rapid change in diet), or the
intestines becoming twisted (causes not well understood). Colic
can also be caused by some gastrointestinal parasites.
The most serious type is colic that results from the intestines
becoming twisted, which normally requires surgery to correct.
Surgery for severe colic is expensive, and not all horses survive.
This is why it is imperative to seek care at the first signs of
colic.

4. If your horse exhibits the following signs, he may have colic:
inappetence, constipation or infrequent bowel movements,
signs of being in pain, repeated flehmen response, teeth
clenching, salivation, stretching the legs out from the body (a
position called “parking”), pacing, nipping at or looking at his
sides, pawing the ground, getting up and down often, and
frequent rolling. If your horse exhibits any of these signs, call
your equine vet immediately.
You can help prevent colic by feeding your horse a proper
diet; ensuring that he always has clean water available; not
allowing him to ingest dirt, sand, or other inappropriate
materials; making any dietary changes gradually; and
performing deworming regularly as recommended by your
veterinarian.

5. Heaves
“Heaves” is the commonly used word for the medical condition
known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). This is a chronic
respiratory inflammation frequently caused by an allergic
reaction to airborne particles. It bears some resemblance to
asthma in humans. RAO is most often seen in horses who are in
their stable a lot and exposed to dust and molds from old hay
and straw.
The signs of heaves include shortness of breath (especially after
exertion), moist coughing (often but not always producing
copious phlegm), and wheezing. In severe cases, afflicted
horses will struggle to breathe—this is a veterinary emergency!
Horses who have heaves for a long time will develop “heave
lines”—a prominent bulge of muscle along the ribs.

6.  The best treatment and prevention for heaves is to
keep your horse outside as much as possible.
Additionally, eliminate sources of mold and dust by
throwing out and replacing old hay and bedding,
soaking hay in water before feeding, cleaning out
his stall frequently, and anything else you can do to
reduce your horse’s exposure to airborne particles.
Once a horse has heaves, he may need to be
medicated for the rest of his life, and his ability to
work or perform may be limited.

7. Laminitis
 Laminitis is an inflammation of certain internal structures of
the hoof. This painful and serious condition causes lameness;
the horse may lie down to try to relieve the pain in his hooves.
The affected foot may feel hot to the touch.
There are numerous causes, most relating to some type of
whole-body stress (trauma, colic surgery, hormonal disorders,
etc.). Another common cause is eating too much grain. Other
less common causes are untreated infections, working a
horse on very hard ground (e.g., asphalt), reactions to drugs,
and reactions to agricultural chemicals—especially herbicides
and fertilizers.
If laminitis goes untreated, it may result in the horse
becoming lame for life. Seek veterinary attention if you
suspect that your horse has laminitis. Treatment may involve
cryotherapy (cold packs), anti-inflammatory drugs, and/or
orthotic devices.

8. Other Hoof Problems
Horses spend much of their time on their hooves,
so it should come as no surprise that these
important and complicated structures can suffer
from a host of injuries and other problems. Check
your horse’s hooves for sprung or shifted shoes,
cracks, strange smells, or any other abnormalities
after each time you ride him or he comes in from
the pasture. If you find anything that looks like it
might be a problem, contact your veterinarian or
farrier.

9. Abscess
An abscess is an infectious pocket within a bodily
cavity—in this case, within the hoof. Usually, this
occurs after a foreign object, such as a nail or
sharp stone, penetrates the hoof. If your horse has
a hoof abscess, he will probably hold his leg up
and be hesitant to put pressure on that foot due to
the pain. Your veterinarian will open and drain the
abscess; you will need to follow up with
medication, poultices, soaking, or whatever else
she prescribes.

10. Parasites
 Horses, like any other animals who spend a lot of
time outdoors, are often exposed to parasites. A
wide range of parasitic organisms can afflict your
horse, including ticks, lice, pinworms, tapeworms,
roundworms, and lungworms. It is virtually
impossible to remove all parasites from your horse;
rather, you should seek to reduce his parasite load
as much as possible.

11. Internal Parasites
Internal parasites (“endoparasites” to veterinarians)
include a variety of worms that usually reside in the
guts, although some may live in the lungs, liver, or
other organs. Most of these parasites can be
controlled through regular deworming as
recommended by your equine vet. Additionally,
reduce your horse’s exposure to possible sources
of these pests by removing manure from paddocks
and stalls frequently and by rotating and resting
your pasture regularly.

12. External Parasites
 External parasites (“exoparasites”) are bugs,
worms, and other organisms that attach to your
horse’s skin and feed on his blood. Ticks, lice, and
pinworms are the most common types. If your
horse is constantly rubbing his skin on objects (like
he’s scratching an itch) and possibly losing hair, he
likely has one of these bloodsuckers. Examine his
mane and tail carefully for ticks, comb them out,
and give your horse a thorough bath. Make sure
that your regular deworming routine provides
protection against pinworms. If you suspect lice,
consult your veterinarian for proper treatment.

13. Tying Up
 “Tying up” is one of many names for exertional
rhabdomyolysis (ER); azoturia and Monday morning
disease are some other common names for this
syndrome, which can result in severe muscle damage
or degeneration. There does not seem to be one
definite cause for this problem. A sudden increase in a
horse’s workload is always part of the cause, but other
factors must exist along with the increased exertion to
cause ER. These other factors include overfeeding
grains, hard work after a long rest, mineral imbalances,
selenium deficiency, vitamin E deficiency,
hypothyroidism, wet or cold weather, and genetic
predisposition. The signs of tying up are a stiff or stilted
gait, soreness in the back or hind limbs, cramping, and
reluctance to move. If your horse exhibits these signs,
he needs immediate rest, and you must contact your
veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment.

14. Social Links To Follow:
Instagram -
https://www.instagram.com/katesplaydate/?hl=en
PressReader –
https://www.pressreader.com/@Kate_Levasseur/collection
/kate-levasseur-scholarship-student
Crunchbase -
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/dr-kate-
levasseur-team-member-at-bear-creek-animal-
hospital#/entity
Twitter –
https://twitter.com/katelevasseur86

15. Dr. Kate LeVasseur, DVM joined
the team at Bear Creek Animal
Hospital in 2016.