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The article outlines the four simple guidelines to ensure that the horse's immunization schedule provides the highest level of protection for the longest time possible. These include adapting to the changes in location, lifestyle and social life, considering health status and activities when scheduling the vaccinations as a horse's overall health could affect their efficacy, and making sensible schedule and considering vaccination against insect-borne encephalitis diseases.

In this article, the author offers suggestions for horse owners to look after their horses. Topics discussed include collection of body temperature of horse using digital thermometer before calling veterinarian, checking the pulse rate of horses using no-frills stethoscope, checking color of horse's gums as it changes color when the horse is suffering from disease from peachy pink to nearly white, and use of drip system if a horse is not cooperating in applying eye drops.

The article offers tips in avoiding contraction of laminitis on horses. The disease is known as the inflammation of the soft tissues of the hoof and is common on lush spring grasses, wherein the infected horse will need months of recovery from the condition. Various actions can be taken to help horses avoid the disease including detecting at-risk horses, inspecting weight of a horse daily, and cutting the sugar and starch consumption of the horse.

A personal narrative is presented which relates the author's experience in pinpointing the cause of the equine allergy his horse D'arcy was stricken off as manifested by the horse's frequent sneezing and repeated rubbing of nose.

The article offers information on the signs of ocular problems like uveitis in horses. Among the signs that cause investigations are aversion to light, yellowing of the iris, and lack of clarity in the pupil. Investigation on the cause of tail rubbing, which involves checking the hindquarters, looking for evidence of pinworms, and inspecting the tail, is also mentioned.

A quiz concerning lumps on the leg of a horse as most probably the source of lameness is presented.

The article presents an advisory removing ticks from horses and managing horse allergies. Horses and their owners can be protected from ticks through actions including wearing long pants tucked to boots or socks, using repellents, and using tweezers to eliminate ticks. People can recognize signs of allergies within horses including nasal and eye discharge, coughing, and hives.

The article provides tips for determining if a horse is experiencing heat distress. Listless behavior and lethargy can be indicators that a horse has slowed down because of overheated body temperature, while a skin-pinch test can be conducted to determine if the horse is dehydrated. The article also mentions that a horse that continues to breath abnormally is an indication of heat stress.

The article presents a couple of questions and answers related to horses including the different health problems affecting old horses and some practical solutions for managing the stalls of horses.

The article reports on the weather-related colic disease to horses, with topics including the reaction of horses to weather condition, the several causes of colic, and the ways to prevent the disease.

The article offers information on things to lookout for when shedding one's horse. The things that owners must have watched for include melanomas which occur on black skin and found on gray horses, sarcoids that are the most common skin tumor of horses, and collagen granulomas which show up in the saddle and girth areas.

The article offers information on scabbing and crusting on a horse's lower limbs. It mentions that if scabs are covering horse's white markings and especially if all areas covered by white hair are affected, then it indicates photosensitization. It informs that diffuse scabbing on a horse's rump or flanks is called rainrot which is condition caused by proliferation of Dermatophilus spp. bacteria.

The article discusses the need to avoid stacking hay, re-bedding stalls as well as sweeping cobwebs where horses are present to prevent respiratory diseases in the animals.

The article offers information on the need to take the temperature of a horse when the horse is not feeling well, where a fever or elevated body temperature can be an early indication of bacterial or viral infection.

A quiz is presented about which condition might a horse have if the veterinarian mentions borborygmi.

The article focuses on the causes and treatment for botulism experienced by horses, where they feel progressive paralysis from the head and throughout the body. The bacterium Clostridium botulinum causes botulism which is usually linked to the feeding silage and wet and spoiled hay. Once the bacteria die, it releases one of the seven types of toxin known as botulin and the best defense against it is vaccination.

A quiz concerning the sign of a neurologic disease in a horse is presented.

A quiz regarding the terms used by veterinarians when describing the location of precision on a horse's body is presented.

The article discusses various ways to help an older horse cope with arthritis in winter which include keeping horse moving, regular exercise to encourage natural lubrication of joints, and putting with a friendly companion to stay active.

The article offers information on the risk of laminitis for horses in the beginning of winter season.

The article advises horse owners to avoid feeding a horse with grain in a moving trailer on road as it causes gastric ulcers and choking of horse and suggests feeding hay to a horse as it keeps the digestive system healthy.

A quiz about infection in horses is presented.

The article presents a research study which revealed that veterinarians can interpret results from blood testing in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in any season.

The article offers information on shedding in horses, suggesting that horses who do not shed normally might be suffering from the pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction metabolic disorder.

The article discusses a condition in horses called "stocking Up" where the hind limb swell in winter and looks like Stovepipe. It also mentions that swelling is caused due to inactivity and it becomes normal after the horse starts doing exercises but the condition can come back again.

The article offers several suggestions for providing care for horses in winters including air ventilation to avoid respiratory diseases, winter coats for tolerating freezing temperatures and arrangements in horse stable to provide warmth and removal of dust and ammonia.

The article discusses girth sores and their role in the development of ringworms on horses.

The article offers suggestions for preventing Thumps, a metabolic disorder resulting from calcium deficiency causing twitching of the muscles along the horse's flank. The topics discussed include the role of phrenic nerve in causing Thumps along with measures to prevent thumps including replacement of Alfalfa hays that high levels of calcium. Also discussed are use of electrolyte supplements and limiting the number of bran mashes consumed by horses.

The article focuses on cause, signs and symptoms, preventive measures and treatment of flaky lesions aural plaques in ears of horse. Topics discussed include cause of the plaques by papillomavirus spread by black flies which shows signs of chronic skin irritation, use of fly spray ointment to protect horse's ears and treatment of the plaques by using topical cream contains imiquimod prescribed by veterinarian. It also mentions photographs showing black fly and use of ointment in horse's ear. INSET: IN FOCUS: Aural plaques.

The article offers tips on protecting horse against rhinopneumonitis caused by equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and type 4 EHV. Symptoms include congested breathing, cough, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. Prevention includes considering vaccination, avoiding close contact with other horses and preventing shared water and equipment.

The article offers tips for reducing horses' risk of developing thrush infections. Thrush refers to the foul-smelling infection of the underside of the hoof. Topics discussed include minimizing the horse's exposure to wet footing, keeping up with the daily mucking, exercising the horse regularly and paying attention to the acidity of the footing. Also mentioned is the need to consult a veterinarian about health and lameness issues.

The article discusses basic management measures to reduce the horse's risk of impaction colics, that occur when a mass of foodstuff is lodged within the gut of the horse, blocking the digestive material flow. The author suggests guarding against dehydration by getting a horse to drink enough water, providing access to fresh water, adding a bucket heater in winter, or offering water containing dissolved electrolytes. According to the author, coarse and stemmy forage is hard to digest.

The article discusses ways to control the population of mosquitoes and hence preventing horses from acquiring diseases, such as equine encephalitis, due to viruses that these mosquitoes carry. Vaccination is recommended to protect a horse. Standing water, which mosquitoes use as breeding grounds, should be eliminated. Natural predators, including birds, fish and frogs, that eat mosquitoes, may be introduced to the farm.

The article offers tips and ideas on preventing Lyme disease in horses. Lyme disease in horses is characterized by stiff joints, mild fevers, chronic weight loss and laminitis, among others. To prevent such disease in horses, keeping pastures short and tidy is advised, as well as using repellents and daily checking horse for ticks. Eradicating white-footed mouse, which is considered as a reservoir for Borrelia burgdorferi, is also suggested.

In this article, the author provides information on the four common colic descriptions that exist among horses which include strangulating colic, medical colic and surgical colic.

In this article, the author provides guidelines in protecting the hooves of horses from getting bruised. It is advisable to have a daily check of the hooves and to examine the horse's footing. The hooves must reportedly be protected either by having the horse shod or by using hoof boots. Horse's feet will also stay in good conditions if consistent, quality farrier work is maintained. INSET: IN FOCUS: Hoof Bruises.

The article offers suggestions for horse owners on preventing obesity in horses which may contribute to health problems such as arthritis, insulin resistance and laminitis. It advises to learn the body condition score (BCS) system to track the current condition of the horse as well as the changes as they develop. It also cites the importance of exercise in keeping the horse's weight in check and notes that casual riding is not enough.

The article offers a guide for the prevention of pigeon fever in horses and protect them against this infection. It suggests horse owners to keep paddocks clear of manure since the bacterium that cause pigeon fever thrives in soil contaminated with manure. It also advises owners to protect horses against flies because they are carriers of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, to keep wounds clean, isolate infected horses, and quarantine new horses.

The article suggests ways to protect horses from arthritis. Aside from not overtraining horses, scheduling easy days for hardworking horses is suggested. Asking the veterinarian about joint support supplements or injections is advised as well as protecting joints from potential traumas. Keeping horses' hooves trimmed and balanced and maintaining appropriate footing are also suggested.

The article discusses ways to prevent laminitis in horses. Laminitis is characterized by inflammation of the laminae inside the hoof. Horse owners are advised to know the risk status of their horses. Inactive and overweight horses as well as those with insulin resistance are at greater risk of the disease. Other preventive measures include limiting the horse's access to lush pasture, restricting his carbohydrate and sugar intake and formulating a weight-loss plan for the animal.

The article presents suggestions to prevent horses from contracting vesicular stomatitis (VS). VS causes unpleasant but generally harmless blisters on the horse's tongue, lips, and feet. The harmless blisters resemble symptoms of foot-and-mouth-disease, a contagious and potentially deadly viral infection of cloven hooved animals. Suggested measures to prevent VS outbreak include keeping horses out of wet areas, applying insect spray on the animals, and implementing quarantine on new horses.

The article presents an answer to a question on providing enough stimulation to a 14-year-old Arabian Morgan cross who was diagnosed with equine metabolic syndrome and is suffering from laminitis.

The article discusses several precautionary measures to prevent a horse from experiencing shipping fever. It defines shipping fever as a pneumonia, which is the infection and inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, due to trailer travel. Several suggestions to lower the risks of a horse from getting shipping fever are cited, including ensuring proper ventilation in the trailer, keeping the trailer clean and feeding the horse dust-free hay and supplying plenty of water.

The article discusses the simple steps to reduce the horse's risk of developing the minor but aggravating skin condition called rainrot. It says that susceptible horses must be kept as dry as possible because chronic wetness helps foster rainrot. According to the author, the skin of the horse must be treated tenderly and keep the brushes and tack clean all the time. The benefits of regular grooming and the need to act right away when the signs of infection appear are also discussed.

The article reports on how to prevent horses from getting infected with a contagious lymph node infection called strangles which affects animals aged four months to five years. The horses may be protected by giving them an intranasal vaccine or an injectable preparation. A precaution against contamination is to quarantine new horses and to provide separate housing to those who travel to horse shows. A separate gear for each horse is advisable as the bacteria is passed by direct contact.

The article offers tips on preventing and treating tetanus in horses caused by Clostridium tetani. The authors recommend vaccination as they say it is best the way to prevent the disease. It suggests eliminating barbed wire, farm tools and debris from the property to avoid the bacteria. When the horse has wounds, they advise cleaning them to prevent the bacteria from entering its body.

The article provides simple precautions to minimize horses' chance of developing severe digestive upset from making feed changes slowly to keeping them hydrated to preventing overeating. It suggests that horses' diet should be high in hay and grass to reduce the risk of colic. The article further recommends plenty of exercise, frequent small meals, and limited sand intake.

The article discusses strategies to prevent Potomac horse fever (PHF). Veterinarians recommend vaccination against PHF every six to 12 months after the initial two-dose series to ensure that horses are protected from severe strains of the bacteria in the future. The article also prescribes external measures for PHF prevention including turning off barn and outdoor lights, storing hay indoors and keeping it covered, enclosing or fencing off natural water sources, and monitoring hatches of aquatic insects.

The article offers guidance on how owners should care for their injured or ill horses as they wait for the veterinarian. It suggests that a horse must be provided with fresh air and kept as calm as possible when he is in respiratory distress or having difficulty breathing. It also discusses how to properly monitor the horse's vital signs.

The article focuses on conditions that predispose horses to develop hoof abscesses. The authors discuss how horses develop hoof abscesses, what happens to them when they develop the ailment and how to help horses with this ailment. They then discuss the conditions that predispose horses to develop hoof abscesses which include poor hoof quality, infrequent farriery care, and chronic laminitis.