We’ve put together a short list of common horse illnesses / ailments. We hope you find this useful.
Common Horse Illnesses
Azoturia or Tying Up - When a horse is fed too much and is not exercised regularly. Symptoms - The horses muscles cramp and its painful for him/her to move.
Bots - Flies that lay their eggs in the horse's hair and when the horse scratches, it swallows the eggs and the larvae live in the horse like worms do.
Colic - Pain in the abdomen (a bad stomachache). There are many causes for such pain, ranging from the mild and inconsequential to the life-threatening or fatal. Colic may be a symptom of another horse illness and should be taken seriously.
Cushing's Disease - A disease of the endocrine system and there is no cure. With daily medication to control symptoms, most horses can lead a somewhat normal life. Cushing's is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland.
Encepalomy - A horse gets a high fever and then is paralyzed and dies within 2 to 4 days.
EPM - Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a protozoal disease common to horses, particularly in the southern states. EPM is hosted by the opossum and is caused by a parasite called Sarcocystis neurona. This particular horse illness causes mostly neurological problems and can become serious if left untreated.
Equine Infectious Anemia (also called Swamp Fever) - A virus that lives in the blood. Can be spread to other horses. A horse with EIA must be put down.
Equine Herpes Virus/Rhinopneumonitis - A cold. Sometimes called "snots" because of the white discharge coming from the nose. Can be serious in young horses (2 years or younger)
Founder or Laminitis - Serious lameness of the hooves. Symptoms - The horses hooves are hot, painful, and the horse has difficulty moving or standing.
Influenza - The flu. Equine influenza presents with fever, dry coughs, increased mucus production and despondency. Fortunately, unlike many other horse illnesses, equine influenza usually disappears on its own after a week or two
Lameness - Pain somewhere in the horse that makes it unpleasant for the horse (clarify). Symptoms - limping and the horse not wanting to put weight on a leg.
Navicular Disease - A painful condition of the front heels. Navicular Disease may be caused by one of these: Poor confirmation of the hooves and legs, poor shoeing, lack of regular hoof care, working a horse too hard or on poor footing. Symptoms - Horse takes short, shuffling, stiff steps.
Rain Rot - Crusty yellow scabs on the horse's body caused by bacteria
Ring Worm - A fungus that makes the horses hair fall out in a circular pattern.
Distemper of Strangles (strangles) - A bacterial infection that causes the glands near the throat to swell and eventually rupture
Tetanus (lockjaw) - is a bacteria that enters the body at the sight of a wound or the umbilical cord stump in a foal. Its symptoms are early signs of colic and stiffness. Horses will develop spasms in the jaw, neck, hind legs and muscles around the wound.
Thrush - A disease that destroys the frog tissue. Symptoms - Horses feet have an awful smell and there will be a black good in the clefts of the frog.
West Nile Virus (WNV) - A mosquito-borne virus that causes encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and/or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Horses can be vaccinated to prevent West Nile.
Worms - Worms live in a horse's stomach and intestines, eating the horse's hay, grain, and blood.
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