The equine cecum is a large muscular sac located at the junction of the small and large intestines. The ileum, or last part of the small intestine, enters into this large organ, which can hold up to 8 gallons of material. What is the main function of the cecum? The Read more…
Common clinical signs include swollen mammary tissue, abnormal mammary gland secretion, fever and anorexia; less common signs are hindlimb lameness and a swollen mammary vein. How do you get rid of mastitis in horses? Treatment of mastitis in a mare usually involves frequent hand milking to remove inflammatory cells, fluid Read more…
This type of swelling may be seen and felt just behind the mandible. Horses with strangles will run a fever and may develop thick nasal discharge. In some cases, the affected lymph nodes may become so enlarged that they put pressure on the horse’s airway. How do you tell if Read more…
Arabian horses. Arabian horses don’t just look like they have shorter backs than other horses; they actually do. This is because they have one fewer vertebrae than other horses, as well as one less pair of ribs. Why do Arabian horses have one less rib? Additionally, they also have one Read more…
The cecum in horses is significantly larger than that of most other domestic species so that it serves—along with the large colon—as an important site of microbial digestion. What is the function of the large cecum? Cecum: This first section of your large intestine looks like a pouch, about two Read more…
The three most commonly reported cancers in horses are squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and sarcoid tumors. How do you tell if a horse has a tumor? Symptoms include weight loss, depression, anorexia, fever, and anemia. Cancerous cells and tissues can migrate through the blood or lymph system and create additional Read more…
Horses that develop lymph node abscesses may require hot packing or topical ichthammol treatment and flushing of the abscesses with povidone-iodine solution once they have opened. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used to decrease swelling and encourage eating. What causes horses lymph nodes to swell? Cause: lymph nodes become Read more…
Strangles is an upper respiratory disease of horses caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi). The disease has been reported as early as the thirteenth century. It causes a distinctive swelling under the jaw and around the neck, prompting early veterinarians to name the disease “strangles”. How Read more…
Muzzle. The muzzle is the part of the horse’s head that includes the area of the mouth, nostrils, chin, lips, and front of the nose. The muzzle is very mobile and sensitive. Whiskers help the horse sense things close to its nose and the skin is almost hairless. What are Read more…
The cannon bone is centered below the knee and the laser line bisects it perfectly as well as the ankle, pastern and hoof. Notice we are not standing directly in front of the horse. Where is the cannon bone located on a horse? lower legThe cannon bone is a weight-bearing Read more…