There have been many treatments of Habronemiasis reported but no single treatment is consistently successful. Treatment regimens for Habronemiasis should be made with 4 goals in mind: to reduce the size of the lesion, to reduce inflammation, elimination of adult Habronema from the stomach, and reduction of the fly vector populations.

Sarcoids most commonly develop on the legs, head, and underside of the neck or belly, but can occur anywhere on a horse’s body. They also frequently appear in areas of scarring, or wound sites. They are categorized by their appearance. Different types of sarcoid tend to exhibit different growth rates, and some are more locally aggressive than others.

Rain scald is a bacterial infection of the skin surface with Dermatophilus congolensis. It is frequently confused with ringworm, partly because of its appearance, and partly because of similar veterinary names. Ringworm is a fungal infection usually caused by Trichophyton spp. The veterinary term for ringworm is “Dermatophytosis”, hence the confusion. Although ringworm lesions may look similar to those of rain scald, the location tends to be different.

Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU), an immune-mediated disease, is one of the most common causes of blindness in horses. ERU is commonly referred to as “moon blindness” and is believed to have several possible causes including bacteria, parasites, viruses, trauma and immune system disorders. ERU is characterized by increasingly frequent bouts of irritation and inflammation in the eye (uveitis).  

Clinical signs of corneal ulceration include squinting (or holding eye closed), rubbing, tearing, redness or swelling of the conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids), and cloudiness of the cornea. If your horse exhibits any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. All corneal ulcers in the horse are considered an emergency.

Tying up, also known as exertional rhabdomyolysis or ER, is one of the most common causes of poor performance in horses. It usually happens suddenly after an episode of hard work. ER occurs when there is not enough blood flow to the muscles during exercise. The muscle cells don’t get enough oxygen and begin to build up toxins.

Most people wouldn’t buy a used car without first having a knowledgeable person take a look under the hood. So, why should buying a horse be any different? Of course, there are many obvious differences between horses and cars, but the principle is the same: know what you are buying. It can be devastating when a horse is purchased with high hopes of a long pleasure or performance career, only to find a potentially debilitating problem after the purchase has been made.

Heaves, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, is an inflammatory condition of the lungs. It is a common respiratory disease that develops in older horses (greater than 7 years old). It is characterized by bronchospasm, excess mucus production, and changes in the bronchiolar walls (airways in the lungs).

Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by Streptococcus equi. It is spread by direct contact with infected horses or carriers. The disease can also be transmitted via contaminated water troughs/buckets, feed bunks/buckets, stalls, tack, trailers, and people. It usually affects young horses but can afflict animals of any age. Horses in high-density management systems (i.e. breeding farms) and those in high traffic areas such as shows and events are at higher risk of being exposed and infected by S. equi. There are however, many steps horse owners can take to protect their horse from the disease.